Music in the home can be such a great experience and yet presents challenges to all involved, including the siblings who are not directly involved with an instrument or the music making process. Regardless of participation, music affects everyone in the home and carries with it a number of benefits that are often either overlooked or simply not considered at all. Just as parents get heavily involved with sports, the performing arts can often be left in the dust and seen as just another class at school. Students are sent home to practice and parents (and hopefully the entire family) attend the occasional school concert.
I often adjudicate Solo & Ensemble festivals and it’s amazing to me how many students seem to really love to play their instrument, but don’t take private lessons to support that interest. There are a number of good to great teachers out there both for the in-person experience as well as for the online option, all of which that can provide an extra level of support.
So, what are the advantages to getting the whole family involved, and not to say that everyone needs to take lessons, but rather to help support the child that is involved with music. And, perhaps even provide as much support for their music classes as from the stands or bleachers out on the field.
In my years of teaching, I have noticed that there are unique benefits to having music in the house hold. My observations indicate that:
- Music helps develop close relationships within the family. This is particularly important due to the number of hours committed to the child by the parent, and vice-versa. It’s true that while the private teacher is one day a week, the practicing parent becomes the teacher the other 6 days of the week.
- Music encourages peace in the home. And, there is no substitute for this because music, and music alone is sensitive to the soul creating a special feeling in the air. Obviously, there is no peace when it’s a constant fight to get your child to practice, but when it’s a mutual agreement and both parties are equally dedicated to improvement, it can be a beautiful thing.
- Music provides a regular opportunity for quality time together. Beyond the many hours involved in music lessons, there is also time at recitals, concerts, performances, festivals and attending professional concerts (if available). I also ask my studio parents to doing special with their child to celebrate their performance either by taking them out to dinner or to get some ice cream. All of the years and occasions accumulated can foster a great relationship within the family as the whole family is involved in the celebrations.
- Music encourages a positive home environment. At least, that is the goal and in fact, nothing productive comes from a hostile practice session. If practicing is a routine with specific extrinsic rewards (even just for awhile), practicing can be a fun activity for the student and parent. It is also important that consideration is given to when and where the practicing will happen within the home as siblings also need to have their space respected.
- Music fosters inter-generational bonds. What grandparent doesn’t want to come see their grandchild perform on stage, no matter what the child’s ability is on the instrument. Using music as a relationship builder with grandparent is one of the easiest ways for this to be accomplished. I’ve often had grandparents even take their grandchildren to lessons in the absence of the parent and they have a wonderful time doing so.
One of the most memorable experiences that I’ve had with my own children is to have performed Silent Night together in a church meeting. The ensemble consisted of piano, cello and two violins and the time we spent practicing and collaborating for the performances is one of many memories that we all share. Music has a way of bring family members together when perhaps nothing else will. And, even as the family grows and to a degree we go our separate ways, we will always have music that brings us back together!