Congrats! Your child is officially signed up for music classes or lessons and about to begin their musical journey. Now what?
First things first: Pat yourself on the back! You’re giving them one of the greatest gifts of all, because music is so much more than playing notes on a page. Learning music is also the gift of discovering a new passion, of freely expressing oneself, of finding a community where you belong.
And you’re their partner and #1 fan throughout all of it. Your involvement in your child’s music education can profoundly influence their progress and long-term love for music. Through your support, you’re able to send the message that their music matters, boosting their confidence and enhancing their motivation.
↓ Read on as our music education experts share actionable tips for supporting your child’s musical journey.
1. Get Excited About Their Musical Interests
It’s time to get curious! Show interest in what your child is learning in their music classes and pay attention to what excites them.
A few potential questions to get the conversation started:
- I love hearing you play. Show me the coolest thing you learned in today’s music class/lesson!
- What do you like more: practicing music alone or playing with others?
- What’s your favorite song you can play right now? How does it make you feel? What are some bucket list songs you dream of playing?
These discussions aren’t only enlightening for you; they help your child reflect and better understand their interests, preferences, and feelings around music.
⭐ Bonus tip! Ask your child to put on a playlist of the songs they’re learning during car rides or to host a concert for the family in the living room.
2. Celebrate Progress
When kids are first getting started with music, it can be frustrating not to hit the high notes, play the fastest rhythms, or play their favorite songs right away. It’s important to celebrate both big wins and small achievements along the way. Playing “Twinkle, Twinkle” while maintaining correct hand positioning? Hurray! Finally conquering the F chord? Let’s party! Performing in their end-of-year recital? Save me a seat in the front row!
And remember, progress ebbs and flows. If they’re feeling down in the dumps because they’re in a progress plateau, offer positive encouragement by pointing out how far they’ve come and remind them that making music is also about having fun. The slumps are inevitable, but they don’t last forever!
3. Create a Supportive Home Environment
Consistent at-home practice is the key to improving and growing as a musician. Plus, it teaches students self-discipline, perseverance, and focus—skills that will serve them for a lifetime.
Establish a practice routine by setting a specific time for practicing every day. Maybe it’s right after school or just before dinnertime—choose what works best for your child and your family. Keep in mind that while consistency is key, sometimes a bit of flexibility helps prevent burnout.
If you’re able, set up a dedicated practice area with limited distractions. Of course, this isn’t always an option with siblings, city life, and space constraints. There are still small things you can do—like finding a corner that’s away from high-traffic areas, removing clutter, and making space for storing their music supplies.
4. Communicate with Instructors
Think of your child’s music teacher as your co-pilot on this journey. They’ll help to set achievable goals and find creative strategies for keeping your child engaged and motivated.
Stay in touch with them about your child’s progress, challenges, and achievements. Regular check-ins can help you better align on goals and make sure you know how to best reinforce those goals. Don’t be afraid to ask them for personalized tips and advice for supporting your kiddo at home.
5. Tap Into Resources & Opportunities
Performances, masterclasses, connections within the music world—there’s usually much more to music schools than you realize (especially community music schools like Merit 😊). Visit your music school’s website or talk to your teacher to look into what additional resources they offer.
Here are some of the resources available to Merit students that we encourage you to take advantage of:
- Opportunities to perform in recitals, concerts, and more*
- Free musical storytimes, sensory-friendly concerts, and other community events → View calendar
- Masterclasses, visits, and residencies with world-renowned musicians and professors from top music colleges*
- An expansive instrument library (plus, sheet music, music books, and so much more!)
- Free tickets and special pricing for performances by professional orchestras and music artists (keep an eye on your email for these!)
- Summer music camps and workshops
- Financial aid and scholarships (for qualifying families)
- Personalized recommendations for future programming
*Some of these opportunities are available to students in select programs. Talk to your teacher or program manager if you’re interested in learning more.
No matter where your child is on their musical journey, we hope these tips help you feel more equipped to support them.
As a parent, playing an active role in your child’s music studies can be as simple as showing interest in what they’re learning and helping to set an at-home practice routine. These actions have a profound impact on their motivation to stick with music.
Even when life gets hectic and you start to worry you’re not doing enough to support your child’s music, remind yourself that you’ve already taken the most important step—giving them the gift of music education!
