As a parent of an aspiring musician, I think about parental practice tips all of the time. How do I keep my child engaged in the learning process? There are a couple caveats that you should be aware of when helping to cultivate their skill-sets. Some of the parental practice tips for aspiring musicians I have learned along the way include:
- Aspiring musicians enjoy audiences
- Appreciation for their hard work
- Understanding their play styles and discussions about their hobby
- Videoing them when playing when they are ready
- Feedback on progress
- They enjoy your company
Parental Practice Tips – Experience with an Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musicians Enjoy an Audience.
Next, encouragement and confidence building is an incredibly valuable contribution that you can make as a parent that does not cost much money or require tremendous effort on your part. Most musicians relish the opportunity to perform music for an audience, they are fed by the energy of the audience and live for standing ovations.
For many aspiring musicians, their musical journey begins at home – and these parental practice tips help make them thrive. They may start by learning to play an instrument or experimenting with their voice, and it is within the comfort and familiarity of their family environment that they gain confidence and develop their skills. Parents often become the first listeners and witnesses to their child’s musical progress.
When a young musician shares their music with their parents, it can be a deeply meaningful experience. Parents, being the closest and most supportive figures in their lives, provide a safe and nurturing space for the budding musician to express themselves. Whether it’s singing a song, playing an instrument, or even composing their own music, parents are often the first to witness and appreciate their child’s creative journey.
Appreciation Goes a Long Way for Aspiring Musicians
From there, sometimes the progress is slow as there are so many factors that go into playing even a simple piece of music. By just paying attention to his dedication and hard work you are rewarding him with your presence.
Aspiring musicians pour their heart and soul into their music. They spend countless hours practicing, honing their skills, and exploring their creative abilities. In this journey of self-expression, validation and appreciation from their parents can have a profound impact on their motivation and confidence.
When parents express genuine appreciation for their child’s musical endeavors, it creates a positive feedback loop. It reaffirms the musician’s belief in their own abilities and serves as a source of inspiration to continue their musical journey. It instills a sense of pride and accomplishment, which can be a powerful driving force for their continued growth and dedication.
Parental Practice Tips – Aspiring Musicians Love to Teach
Overall, teaching you what he has learned helps reinforce the progress that he has made and helps to develop a foundation on which to build his musical repertoire.
Aspiring musicians often have a strong desire to teach their parents about their musical hobby. Sharing their knowledge and passion with their parents not only allows them to deepen their connection but also helps their parents gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of their musical journey.
Music is a powerful form of self-expression, and aspiring musicians often feel a strong urge to communicate their emotions and experiences through their art. Teaching their parents about their hobby becomes a way to invite them into their creative world, allowing them to understand the depth and significance of their musical pursuits.
Parental Practice Tips – Video Recording Helps Feedback
Equally important is videoing – even if you only have the skill set of a tripod it’s enough to satisfy this one, better yet share the videos with family and friends, if appropriate, and they will also be a great feedback mechanism for positive reinforcement. Always ask for permission before sharing these videos just to make sure that they are ok with it. Sometimes a musician does not want the work released until they have perfected certain aspects of its performance.
Thus, video recording performances provides aspiring musicians with an opportunity to critically evaluate their own abilities. By watching themselves play an instrument, sing, or perform, they can observe their technique, stage presence, and overall musicality. This self-reflection helps them identify areas for improvement and make necessary adjustments to their performance style.
Parents can play a pivotal role in this process. By recording their child’s performances, parents provide them with a platform to review and analyze their musical abilities objectively. They can capture both the strengths and weaknesses of the performance, allowing the aspiring musician to gain a clearer understanding of their progress and areas that require attention. Parents can offer valuable insights and observations, helping their child recognize patterns, correct mistakes, and refine their musical skills.
Aspiring Musicians Need Parental Feedback
Be honest and kind at the same time, offer suggestions as to what you enjoyed and what you think could be improved, always compliment more than you critique, be honest yet kind and nurturing.
Constructive feedback from parents can help aspiring musicians identify areas for improvement. Parents, being familiar with their child’s musical journey, can offer specific observations and suggestions. They may comment on technical aspects, interpretation, dynamics, or expression, providing valuable insights to enhance the musician’s performance. This feedback helps the aspiring musician develop a critical ear and refine their skills to reach higher levels of proficiency.
Aspiring musicians need consistent feedback loops to progress and become better, Every aspect of the musical journey is a way to enhance the cognitive capabilities of your child, teen, or young adult.
Aspiring Musicians Enjoy Parental Company
At the end of the day this is the most important dynamic to me, kids grow up so fast and having this memory of our time together will be both of ours to keep long after the practice or concert is over.
I don’t know which of the above points is most valuable but I suspect they are all important.
He could just be messing with me though he’s thirteen, so anything is possible and to be honest I’m pretty sure to him it’s more like
Practicing music together can also foster a sense of teamwork and collaboration between the aspiring musician and their parents. They can engage in discussions about musical interpretation, technique, or even song selection. This collaborative approach creates an atmosphere of shared learning and mutual respect, where both parties can contribute their insights and perspectives.
“If I have to suffer through these scales lady, so do you”.
I think I could write entire chapters about the listening woes of thumb positions gone bad. It’s the nails on the chalkboard kind of bad. I wonder when/if Bass families have similar internal moments of trying to smile encouragingly while your brain is screaming “Please make it stop”? This is exactly why I need to remember the six key points of practice as parents that are listed above. Keep practicing, parenting and keep the music playing. Hopefully these parental practice tips help with your child’s musical journey!
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