High School Band helps Child Self Esteem

A Parent’s Guide to Enhancing Your Child’s Musical Experiences

CONGRATULATIONS! Your decision to provide your child with a quality musical instrument is an investment in your child’s future. In making it possible for your child to play a musical instrument, you are providing the opportunity for self-expression, creativity and achievement.

Numerous studies indicate parental attitude, support and involvement are important factors in a child’s ability to successfully learn to play and to enjoy music.

These guidelines are designed to assist you in giving your child the best support possible for his or her musical endeavors. Like any skill, interest counts far more than talent. With the right support from you, playing music will become a natural part of your child’s life.

Benefits

FOR YOUR CHILD Music participation enhances: • Problem solving • Teamwork • Goal-setting • Self-expression • Coordination • Memory skills • Self-confidence and esteem • Concentration • Poise • and much, much more!

FOR YOUR FAMILY A child’s music study also offers opportunities for shared family experiences, including: • Music event attendance • Family music making • Performing for and with family and friends • Learning about the lives of composers and cultural heritage of many civilizations • A sense of accomplishment and pride for the entire family

How You Fit In
Your support is an essential element in your child’s success with music study.

SCHEDULE PRACTICE TIMES
Music achievement requires effort over a period of time. You can help your child by:
• Providing a quiet place for practice.
• Remaining nearby during practice times as often as possible.
• Scheduling a consistent, daily time for practice.
• Praising your child’s efforts and
achievements.
SELECTING A MUSIC TEACHER
Formal music instruction can help your child’s progress. In choosing a teacher, consider these points:
• Background and experience
• Comments from other parents and students
• Provisions for sharing music through performance
• Your child’s band director may be able to recommend excellent private teachers. You may also wish to contact local music stores who will provide you with a list of qualified instructors.
WHAT TO DO
To give your child the best possible support, you should:
• Encourage your child to play for family and friends.
• Offer compliments and encouragement regularly.
• Expose your child to a wide variety of music, including concerts and recitals.
• Encourage your child to talk with you about his or her lessons.
• Make sure your child’s instrument is always in godd working condition.
• Allow your child to play many types of music, not just study peices.
• Listen to your child practice, and acknowledge improvement.
• Help your child build a personal music library.
• Try to get your child to make a minimum two-year commitment to his or her music studies.

WHAT NOT TO DO
Your child’s progress will be greatly enhanced if you:
• Don’t use practice as punishment.
• Don’t insist your child play for others when he or she doesn’t want to.
• Don’t ridicule or make fun of mistakes or less-than-perfect playing.
• Don’t apologize to others for your child’s weak performance.
• Don’t start your child on an instrument that’s in poor working condition.
• Don’t expect rapid progress and development in the beginning.

IF YOUR CHILD LOSES INTEREST
In the event that your child loses interest in his or her music studies, don’t panic.
• Discuss the situation with your child to determine why their interest is declining.
• Talk to your child’s music teacher to see what might be done to rekindle their enthusiasm.
• Encourage your child to stick with the lessons for an agreed to period of time.
• Offer increased enthusiasm and support.

CREDITS
This message has been developed by the following organizations in the interest of making music study and participation an enjoyable and richly rewarding experience for children and thier families. Appreciation to these organizations:

AMERICAN MUSIC CONFERENCE
303 E. Wacker Drive, Suite 1214
Chicago, IL 60601

MUSIC EDUCATORS NATIONAL CONFERENCE
1805 Robert Fulton Drive
Reston, VA 22091-4348

MUSIC TEACHERS NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
617 Vine St., Suite 1432
Cincinnati, OH 45202-4348

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUSIC MERCHANTS
5140 Avenida Encinas
Carlsbad, CA 92008-4391