The 7 Best Things Parents Can Do To Raise A Musical Child
Music exists in some form or another throughout all human cultures in the world, and is often a part of the daily lives of many people. People use music as a part of cultural ceremonies, social events, and for personal enjoyment, and is used in weddings, for birthdays, holidays, dancing, working, lullabies, relaxing, exercising, sports, in movies and TV, and for personal creative expression, just to name a few examples. In some cultures everyone is expected to take part in the music making of their community, whereas in other cultures music making has become divided into different groups based on musical ability and training, for example amateur, student, and professional musicians. Whatever culture you happen live in, the joy of listening to and making music is something that I encourage everyone to be able to experience, and if music is something that you value as a parent, it makes sense to want to pass along a love of music and your musical cultural traditions to your children. The following is a set of 7 tips on how to encourage your children to make music a part of their lives:
Sing. Singing can be one of the best ways to first introduce music to your children after they are born. It does’t matter if you think you have a good singing voice or not, but singing to them, and later singing with them as they get older, is one of the easiest and most effective ways to make music a daily part of their lives.
Play music recordings. Playing music at home or in the car is another easy way to make music a part of daily life. Play your favorite recordings, but also seek out new music to explore together. Discussing the instruments, sounds, and emotions within the music is also another good way spark an interest in music.
Have musical instruments in the home. Having some kid friendly musical instruments, such as drums and other percussion instruments, kazoo, tin whistle, ocarina, ukulele, toy piano, small electronic keyboard, piano, or other similar instruments, and letting kids explore those instruments is another great way to get them interested in music.
Attend concerts together. Going to a live orchestra, choir, band, solo performer, chamber music, or other concert is another great way to experience music. Seeing the musicians performing and being a part of an audience adds a lot to the musical experience! Look for concerts being held by performing groups, university music departments, schools, folk groups, or other musicians or organizations, and try to attend some concerts as a family. If attending concerts is difficult, even just watching a concert video online can be fun!
Play music together. Playing music with family or friends is another great way to make music a part of daily life. When kids make music with their parents, grandparents, siblings, cousins, friends, or other people, they get to enjoy some of the social aspects of music, and are much more likely to continue playing music throughout their lives. When they are old enough you can also encourage them to join a community or school ensemble, such as choir, band, or orchestra, or encourage them to start a band with their friends.
Encourage musical creativity. Encouraging your child to improvise or compose their own music is another great way to get them making music. All music tells a story in one way or another, and letting children tell their own stories through music can be a great way for them to express themselves through music.
Encourage your child to take music classes or lessons. Learning from an experienced music instructor is another great way to have your child grow further as a musician. In music lessons, kids learn in a step-by-step order how to play an instrument, learn new music, learn how to practice at home, learn how to perform, and they attain a sense of accomplishment as they advance. Making sure they understand how to practice at home, making sure they keep a regular practice schedule, and sometimes reminding them to practice, can help greatly with the learning process. Parents can even take music lessons on their own and learn alongside their child! Learning an instrument takes time, so also make sure that your child understands that it takes a commitment over a long period of time to get to an advanced level. Helping them set goals along the way can also help them continue with their playing.