CONGRATULATIONS! Your decision to provide your child with a quality musical education is an investment in your childʼs future. In making it possible for your child to play a musical instrument, you are providing the opportunity for self-expression, creativity and achievement.
Numerous studies indicate parental attitude, support and involvement are important factors in a childʼs ability to successfully learn to play and to enjoy music. These guidelines are designed to assist you in giving your child the best support possible for his or her musical endeavors. Like any skill, interest counts far more than talent. With the right support from you, playing music will become a natural part of your childʼs life.
Benefits For Your Family
A childʼs music study also offers opportunities for shared family experiences, including:
· Music event attendance
· Family music making
· Performing for and with family and friends
· Learning about the lives of composers and cultural heritage of many civilizations
· A sense of accomplishment for the entire family
How You Fit In
Your support is extremely important in your childʼs success with music study.
Schedule Practice Times
Music achievement requires diligence and dedication over a period of time. You can help your child by:
· Providing a quiet place for practice.
· Remaining nearby during practice times as often as possible.
· Scheduling a consistent, daily time for practice.
· Praising your childʼs efforts and achievements.
What To Do
To give your child the best possible support, you should:
· Encourage your child to play for family and friends.
· Offer compliments and encouragement regularly.
· Expose your child to Christ-honoring music, including concerts and recitals.
· Encourage your child to talk with you about his or her lessons.
· Make sure your childʼs instrument is always in good working condition.
· Allow your child to play many types of Christ-honoring music, not just study pieces.
· Listen to your child practice, and acknowledge improvement.
· Help your child build a personal music library.
· Try to get your child to make a minimum two-year commitment to his or her music studies.
· Insist on faithful attendance to every lesson
What Not To Do
Your childʼs progress will be greatly enhanced if you:
· Donʼt use practice as punishment.
· Donʼt insist your child play for others when he or she doesnʼt want to.
· Donʼt ridicule or make fun of mistakes or less-than-perfect playing.
· Donʼt apologize to others for your childʼs weak performance.
· Donʼt start your child on an instrument thatʼs in poor working condition.
· Donʼt expect rapid progress and development in the beginning.
If Your Child Loses Interest
In the event that your child loses interest in his or her music studies, donʼt panic.
· Discuss the situation with your child to determine why his/her interest is declining.
· Talk to your childʼs music teacher to see what might be done to rekindle their enthusiasm.
· Encourage your child to stick with the lessons for an agreed period of time.
· Offer increased enthusiasm and support.
Numerous studies indicate parental attitude, support and involvement are important factors in a childʼs ability to successfully learn to play and to enjoy music. These guidelines are designed to assist you in giving your child the best support possible for his or her musical endeavors. Like any skill, interest counts far more than talent. With the right support from you, playing music will become a natural part of your childʼs life.
Benefits For Your Family
A childʼs music study also offers opportunities for shared family experiences, including:
· Music event attendance
· Family music making
· Performing for and with family and friends
· Learning about the lives of composers and cultural heritage of many civilizations
· A sense of accomplishment for the entire family
How You Fit In
Your support is extremely important in your childʼs success with music study.
Schedule Practice Times
Music achievement requires diligence and dedication over a period of time. You can help your child by:
· Providing a quiet place for practice.
· Remaining nearby during practice times as often as possible.
· Scheduling a consistent, daily time for practice.
· Praising your childʼs efforts and achievements.
What To Do
To give your child the best possible support, you should:
· Encourage your child to play for family and friends.
· Offer compliments and encouragement regularly.
· Expose your child to Christ-honoring music, including concerts and recitals.
· Encourage your child to talk with you about his or her lessons.
· Make sure your childʼs instrument is always in good working condition.
· Allow your child to play many types of Christ-honoring music, not just study pieces.
· Listen to your child practice, and acknowledge improvement.
· Help your child build a personal music library.
· Try to get your child to make a minimum two-year commitment to his or her music studies.
· Insist on faithful attendance to every lesson
What Not To Do
Your childʼs progress will be greatly enhanced if you:
· Donʼt use practice as punishment.
· Donʼt insist your child play for others when he or she doesnʼt want to.
· Donʼt ridicule or make fun of mistakes or less-than-perfect playing.
· Donʼt apologize to others for your childʼs weak performance.
· Donʼt start your child on an instrument thatʼs in poor working condition.
· Donʼt expect rapid progress and development in the beginning.
If Your Child Loses Interest
In the event that your child loses interest in his or her music studies, donʼt panic.
· Discuss the situation with your child to determine why his/her interest is declining.
· Talk to your childʼs music teacher to see what might be done to rekindle their enthusiasm.
· Encourage your child to stick with the lessons for an agreed period of time.
· Offer increased enthusiasm and support.
© J & K Sacred Music Studios serving the St. Louis and the Metro East area since 1998.