Many parents want their children to grow up in music lessons, school band, orchestra, or other similar activities – this is nothing new. But should you force your child to take lessons? Will creating yet another requirement rob them of any enjoyment they may otherwise receive from music?
This blog will tackle a few things: whether or not you should force your child to take lessons, how to make them want to practice, and what the end result should be.
Making Your Child Take Music Lessons
We all know a family that forced their children to start taking lessons when they were four, five, or six years old. It doesn’t matter how good those piano lessons may be, the child probably resisted regular practice, dreaded lessons, and wanted to quit the piano (or other instruments when they reached middle school or high school.
It’s certainly possible that your child will grow to like music even if it is another task – kids sometimes grow to like history and math as well. But music should be different.
In short, you would be better served cultivating a love of music in your child, even if you can’t start them in lessons until they are a bit older – trust us, the two years of lost time will be made up quickly.
How To Spur Musical Curiosity
The notion of discovery learning has been talked about in educational circles for decades, and that’s because it is the most lasting kind of learning. If you create an environment where your child happens upon music and starts to engage with it naturally, the foundation is set for music lessons.
Musical Toys
If you place toys in your child’s path that encourage musical discovery, you may not have to force them into lessons. Try a roll up piano, for instance – they come with numerous instrumental sounds, are made out of plastic, and can be stored almost anywhere. Your child won’t realize they are being encouraged to ask for piano lessons!
You can also get a piano mat, an incredibly fun Automotone, or other musical toy – your kid will ask for lessons before you know it.
They Will Imitate You
Perhaps your child is a bit too young for formal music lessons in your home, but that doesn’t mean you should do music with them. Singing is a great place to start – if you sing often, your child will too. Better yet, maintain a singing time with your child.
If you want your child to get interested in the piano, the best thing you can do is have a piano or keyboard in your home and play it a bit yourself. You don’t have to be an expert – Simply Piano and similar apps make it easier than ever for you to learn a few tunes.
In Conclusion
The idea of forcing your child to take music lessons from an early age is a bit antiquated. You have YouTube on your side, a number of fun apps, and access to affordable instruments that you can have at home. Take advantage of these things and place music in your child’s path – if it’s meant for them, they will get curious and start engaging with music before you have to make them do it.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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