Congratulations!  Your decision to provide your child with a music education is a positive investment in your child's future. Medical research has proven that, over time, learning to play a musical instrument greatly enhances memory skills, coordination skills, self-expression, creativity, achievement, problem solving, teamwork, self confidence and self esteem, concentration skills, poise, and much, much more.

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

The following information will assist you in giving your child the best possible chance for his/her sucess.  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 and be passed down from generation to generation.

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 experience, including musical event attendance, family music making, performing for and with family and friends, learning about the lives of the composers and the cultural heritage of western civilization, as well as a sense of pride and accomplishment for the entire family.

Your child's progress will be greatly enhanced if you do not; use practice as a punishment, insist your child play for others when they don't want to, ridicule or make fun of mistakes or less-than perfect playing, apologize to others for your child's "weak" performance, start your child on an instrument that is in poor working condition, and/or expect rapid progress in the beginning.

If your child loses interest in his/her music studies, don't panic.  Discuss the situation with your child to determine why their interest is declining, and speak to your child's music teacher to see what might be done to rekindle their enthusiasm.  Encourage your child to stick with lessons for an agreed period of time, and offer increased enthusiasm and support.

Always keep in mind that your support is a key element in your child's success with music study.  Schedule practice times, and remind your child that music achievement requires effort over a period of time.  You can help your child by providing a quiet place in which to practice, remaining nearby during practice as often as possible, scheduling a consistent daily time for practicing, and praising your child's efforts and achievements.

• Encourage your child to play for family and friends, but don't push them
• 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/her lesson
• Make sure your child's instrument is always in good working order
• Allow your child to play many types of music, not just study pieces
• Listen to your child practice and acknowledge improvement
• Help your child build a personal music library
• Agree to a minimum commitment (1-2 years) to his/her studies