How to Encourage Your Child to Play a Musical Instrument
Encouraging your child to play a musical instrument enables you to give him a gift that lasts a lifetime. But while many children naturally gravitate toward music and enjoy singing or making up their own compositions, other children might be a bit more reluctant or resistant to the idea of playing a musical instrument. Yet even the most hesitant child might be persuaded to give it a try when he sees his friends participating in music lessons or hears his siblings practicing their instruments. Being involved in music isn't just fun, it also provides benefits like improved reading ability, better reasoning and cognitive skills and higher self-esteem, says Kids Health.
Instructions
Expose your child to a variety of musical experiences, such as classical music concerts, jazz ensemble gigs and rock or pop performances. In an article for the Greatschools website, Robert Cutietta, professor of music education at the University of Southern California, suggests asking your child questions about the instruments, such as, "What does that instrument sound like to you?" This can help your child focus on the instruments that most capture his attention. Ask your child if she would like to play an instrument. Some children have a strong sense of what instrument they might enjoy learning to play, while others may need education about the available options. Bring your child to a music store and point out different instruments. Talk to the staff at the music store and ask them to let your child hold some of the instruments. Let your child choose the instrument she wants to play -- her interest is the best predictor of the likelihood that she'll stick with it. Play music frequently in your home, advises Kids Health. Sing along with the radio, dance around the house to your child's tunes or cook and perform chores while listening to music. The earlier and more frequent the exposure your child has to music, the more likely it is that he will develop an interest in playing an instrument. Avoid imposing your own unfulfilled desires on your child, advises an article on choosing an instrument on the "Creative Child" magazine website. For example, if you've always wanted to learn to play the piano, don't force your child to choose this instrument. Instead, consider taking your own music lessons as a way of fulfilling your dreams. Encourage daily practice time once your child has selected her desired instrument. Set up a dedicated practice location in your home, advise Ardene Shafer and Christine Stinson of MENC, the National Association for Music Education, in an article for the FamilyEducation website. Provide your child with plenty of opportunities to show off her new skills during informal family concerts. Enroll your child in private lessons at a local music studio, even if her school offers instrumental instruction. Private lessons can help reinforce what your child is learning in school, says Cherylann Bellavia, owner of Discover Music in Pittsford, New York, in an article on the website of the Children's Music Workshop.
