If you want to be a parent that offers their child an all-rounded education and experience of growing up, then fostering their creativity is a great way to do it. One of the ways parents tend to do that is to introduce their child to a range of hobbies to see which stick. Some children find that music is where their passions tend to lie. While this can undoubtedly be a fantastic creative endeavor to get into, it also takes work, not just from the musician, but from their parent, too. But you can make it a little easier to fit your child’s music hobby into your life. Here are a few ways to do that.
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Stay supportive, positive, and patient
Any parent of a child who has gotten into music can tell you that it’s not always pretty. Especially when they’re first starting out. A lot of the sounds they will be making will be, to put it bluntly, not good. However, you shouldn’t say that much to your child, especially as they’re just getting to grips with a new instrument. Even if you’re joking around, it’s going to affect their confidence in how and when they practice with the instrument. Be encouraging, remark on when they make genuine improvements, and be patient as they get to grips with their instrument. If you’re not a musician yourself, don’t try to correct them, either. If you can’t offer constructive and practical advice, then it’s better to just leave them to it.
Agree on a schedule with them
You want to make sure that your child is not only putting the time into practice that’s necessary for them to keep growing their skills, but you also want to make sure that their practice isn’t going to be interrupting and disrupting you at all times of the day. Coming up with a regular practice routine is crucial, especially if you work from home. Agree on the times that they’re able to practice in and encourage them to make use of that time. Of course, you don’t want to make it feel too much like homework, but it’s good to incentivize them to keep getting better.
Give them space to practice
You have to ensure that your child feels confident and secure in their ability to practice at home. Not only does this mean that you shouldn’t tell them off for “making noise” when they’re trying to learn, it means you should support them in creating a space to do just that. Let them have the office as a practice space or make use of one of the bedrooms. You can keep a closet for storing their gear and even use things like an audio cable organizer so you can easily tidy away their musical gear once they’re done practicing. Making room for your child’s creative endeavors is going to help them feel much safer about pursuing their passions.
Help them stay engaged and motivated
Even when someone is getting to grips with something that they truly love, their motivation is going to wane if, for instance, they come up against a new hurdle. To that end, you should make sure that your child is always staying connected to the love of music that helps them get through the tough patches. You can also reinvigorate your own love of music, or discover a love for a whole new kind of music, by listening along with your child. Whether this means simply going through Spotify for new music or classic artists to spark that inspiration or visiting local live concert events, it can help make the passion for learning all the stronger.
Get them some help
Of course, there are few ways to learn that are as effective as having someone teach. To that end, if you haven’t already, then look at some of the lessons that you could find for your child. Having them spend an hour with a music teacher a couple of times a week can definitely help you get some rest from having to hear them practice constantly, but it might be more convenient to look for online tutors as well. Mentors play an important role not just in terms of practically getting better with an instrument, but in providing a personal role model that they can follow to grow as an artist.
If you want your child to grow, excel, or even just enjoy their creativity, then you have to support them. This includes making room for their hobby.
