Like so many adults who took music lessons as a child, I stopped taking music lessons much too early in life. I began studying piano at age 7, and by the time I was 12, I had decided to stop, much to my mother's dismay. I wish I would have stuck with it longer. I can't remember what originally made me stop, but to my former teacher, Ms. Starr... I apologize.
It's a problem that continues today — made worse by the increasing amount of distractions for children.
In a recent article, Grammy-nominated trombonist Anthony Mazzocchi offers some helpful tips for parents and teachers to keep children from quitting their instrument. Including:
— Being aware of basic instrument maintenance, and making sure that repairs occur as needed. A student may become frustrated with a malfunctioning instrument and think that they're doing something wrong.
— Creating a decent amount of performance opportunities for students. Parents could even create small concerts at home over a Friday night dinner or for visiting family members.
— Assuring that their children have enough "fun" music to practice, which will keep them motivated and interested.
For more tips, read the full article here.
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