How do I inspire my children to continue with their music lessons?

Question

My 8 year old son has been taking guitar lessons and 10 year old daughter has been taking keyboard lessons for 6 month. Now both of them want to quit - they dont' like to practice. How do I help them to see the value of continuing? All they want to do is watch TV & play w/ friends. Their instructor is fantastic, he's young, in touch w/ the music of today and lets them play what they want - he's learning chords for Green Day & Ozzie songs, she's playing songs she likes too. It's not like they have limited leisure time either, they just seem to always want to be slacking off.

They are not sheltered from other activities. They are both in scouts, both play sports and both are allowed to have playdates every week.

Answer 1

They need a purpose for playing. Whether it's performing, taking exams or playing with friends. What is their motivation for playing? Is it because you want them to or because they want to?

I started learning piano when I was 10 and did yearly exams and performances. I wanted to give up at 12 but mum said I had to continue. I finally gave up at 16 and took up oboe which I played in the school orchestra and went on an overseas music tour. When I gave up piano lessons, I started playing at church and was forced to learn to sight read and play with a non-perfectionist attitude. When I left school, I was not involved in playing for perfomances or exams or with friends and so have not played for years.

Can you get them involved in a local music group or doing a duet with another student of the same teacher? Or perhaps their teacher could organise performances where he accompanies them.

Answer 2

The best way to inspire your children to continue with their music lessons, are to just let them be they probably just want to take a breather from all of that and then get back to it. Because I'm 13 years old and I've been playing the piano since i was 9 or 10, but i just got tired of practicing music notes and chords so i stopped for a little while just to be around my friends and hang out. so just give them a couple of months or days to just relax, and dont worry about them forgetting their lessons, because if they are really interested and are having fun playing their instruments they wont forget anything they've learned. so dont push them and become one of those parents that are living through their child's life.

Answer 3

Well, I'm already grown up, but when I graduate college, I still don't know what I want to do, even though I only have a year and a half left. I guess that's what grad school's for, more time to waste without having to decide a real direction in life. But if I go to grad school, it'd be for a MFA in creative writing, so if possible, writing, but other than that, I don't know.

Answer 4

Kids go through fads, styles, stages, mOoDs! It just might not be them. Maybe they would rather join the boy/girl scouts or something right now. I only use that example because it's a more active activity - your kids seem like they want to do more and interact more. Hey, maybe setting aside their time to "sit" and play and instrument "alone" is not what they need after doing that while paying attention in school all day. Try sports instead. There are more activities they can be involved in than just music.

My 8(almost 9) yr old did scouts then soccer. She loved scouts but doesn't want to do it next year to save room "to try new things," she says. She turned out being a first time little soccer PRO... but probably doesn't want to do it next year because she wants to try gymnastics. (Boy was her dad disappointed..awww)

Anyway... kids just wanna move and try different things. I also really think this age is a turning point. They start to find who they are a little bit now.

Answer 5

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Answer 6

Do not pressure them. This was my Mothers biggest mistake, she used to basically duct tape me to the piano bench every day for at least an hour. I so hated it.

That is until I went to the music store one day and bought the sheet music for Star Wars. At that time it was my favorite movie and I actually sat down and learned to play it. I then started to get more music for things I liked and enjoyed playing the piano. My skills improved and I started to compete in local festivals because I was able to pick my music.

I'd like to tell you but I turned out to be famous pianist but I too discovered boys and friends became more important so the piano thing was put to rest.

So maybe talk to them and find out why they aren't interested any more. Maybe they just need to take a break for awhile. Who knows they could take it up again in a year or so if they are reaaly interested in it.

Answer 7

Well I would not pay them like the first comment!!
I told my daughter she had to stick it out for two years, she did and then changed instruments, she is in High School now and doesn't play but the experience was very good for her and the time they put in will be worth it. Also, lots of praise !!!
Kids always want to play but they have to earn their privileges. WORK HARD PLAY HARD

Answer 8

Kids. The more you pressure them to do something the faster they will reject it. Other than offer them $100 each for every lesson they go to, you are out of luck!

All you can do is explain to them why you think it is important for them to take the lessons, or why it is important to you.

Good Luck!

:)

The comment about paying them was a JOKE, for those of you that I have to spell it out for. ;)

Answer 9

Six months isn't long. Keep them doing it for a little while. They may takea liking to it yet. Do you play any instruments. My daughter likes to play duets with me on the piano. I didn't know that eight year olds would care about Ozzie.

Answer 10

Do you know what bands they are impressed with? Point out that quitting practicing and taking lessons did not get those people where they are today.