The expectation that my child will be a musician or at the very least, musical, is very high. Both my husband and I are professional musicians, teachers of music, and musical directors. We both came from families in which our own parents did not have music professions. And, we have seen the statistics and the hard-knock life facts within our colleagues in the U.S.A., and it is simple supply and demand. The supply of capable musicians and music teachers is higher than the demand. So, you really do have to be the best of the best to make a living in music here. 

Now, I’m not saying to discourage your child from being a musician. On the contrary, I think music is a VERY important part of brain development, social interaction, learning, and creativity. Plus, you know the studies - we really are smarter and our brains do amazing things when we are on music. 

• Our approach is to let our child lead the way. With our engagement in our own music, and the joy we derive from that, we know that our influence is a pertinent part of his impression of music, its place in our lives and society. If he shows interest, we utilize that opportunity and build on it. 

• I feel accessibility to instruments from a young age, (like drums, shakers, recorders, melodicas, keyboards, anything goes!) is important for their ability to easily express interest. 

• Witnessing other children make music (not necessarily at a prodigy level!) helps them imagine themselves making music. 

• Joining a local baby, toddler, children’s music class or choir is great (we loved Kindermusik!) 

• Short stints of FUN and child-like “mini lessons” as they can hold attention, but not forcefully. Only extending the length of time as their attention span can handle.

• Dance! Movement and music go together in creativity and expression.

• And, of course, singing….lots of singing. Children’s songs, and classical, and everything in between. The main thing we sing a LOT is solfege. Along with the hand signals. 

Do not let your child fall OUT of love with music. This is the most important thing. Forcing practice, forcing a certain instrument, or an allotted amount of time to “have to or else….” of music, especially at a young age, will only ruin the fun of it, and the relationship with music will become a negative one.

Whether or not my child becomes a professional musician is NOT up to me. No, its up to him. And, I will support my child in whatever his life’s journey is leading him to do. If music is a part of that and we can share it as a family, I will be thrilled! But if not, I will find other wonderful things that we can have in common and bond over. 

So, don’t be a tiger mom/dad! Observe what your child loves, is passionate about, and thrives doing. And then, cultivate that and allow them to lead the way as you support it.