Tips for Parents

By giving your children exposure to music through lessons and musical activities, you are providing them with skills for a lifetime. They learn discipline, to concentrate, to set goals and to think! But mainly they develop a sensitivity to the beauty of life and art, an invaluable gift.

What do you do to help their progress?

• Make sure they practice every day, preferably at the same time.
• Take an interest in what they are doing and frequently ask them to play for you.
• Be sure they have a quiet, private place to practice.
• If possible, try to be within earshot of their practice.
• Everybody does better with praise. Use praise as much as possible. Nagging and scolding usually have negative results.
• Encourage as much as possible. Have them perform for friends and family.
• Let your child play as much music as possible, especially anything he/she particularly likes. They do not have to play only the lesson pieces. Church songs, pop songs, Chinese songs, anything….so they can explore.
• And finally, make sure they have a decent instrument to play on. Imagine yourself trying to learn to drive a car when most of the gadgets don’t work!

WHAT NOT TO DO:

• Do not expect fast progress. It is slow, tough going, especially at first. That is why they need your encouragement. 
• Do not ask them if the “like” it! They do not know. Give them at least a two year chance. Most would not go to school at first if they did not have to! Just as parents go to their jobs, your children have their jobs too, which is to learn music and school work. 
• Do not force them to perform for others if they are not happy to do so. 
• Do not use practice as a threat or punishment. Practice is just expected. 

IF THE CHILD LOSES INTEREST:

Talk to the teacher. They can do many things. They can change the style of pieces to be learned, give examinations a miss, team up with another student for duets and many other fun things.