Piano lessons were not an option for me as a child. As a trained musician, my father insisted his four daughters start piano lessons at an early age. I didn’t always enjoy it, and often grumbled about the mandated practice sessions before and after school. My teacher was strict and had high expectations of his students, but I’m thankful today that piano lessons were a requirement my parents didn’t budge on.
As parents, we sometimes put so much emphasis on our children’s achievement and progress in one or another core academic subject (language arts, maths, science, social studies) that the importance of participation and achievement in complementary subjects (art, music, languages, physical education) may be undervalued. In an effort to give our children an edge, some parents encourage early specialization in some area of learning. When parents put so much of a focus on core academics, there is a trade-off: increased time focusing on core academic subjects rather than spending time on complementary subjects and interests.
Many parents want their child to play a musical instrument proficiently. But at what age and what instruments should they start with?
Calgary’s Child Magazine © 2021 Calgary’s Child
