Are Music Lessons Necessary?

Are Music Lessons Necessary?

          Parents and children probably have more demands on their time than ever before.  A common question is often how can we find time to include music lessons in our busy schedule?  Someone has said if you want something done ask someone who is really busy.  Parents who really consider music to be valuable to public and private worship do not have time but rather make time to involve their children in music training.

            When should a child start taking lessons?  Although there is no absolute answer to this question, the answer is early!  Certainly most children are ready for beginning lessons on piano or strings by the age of five or six.  Some instruments like brass, double bass or guitar, will demand some more years of physical growth before readiness to begin lessons.

            Parents who do not play an instrument often believe that they cannot help with music lessons.  This is far from the truth.  When young children are taking lessons (ages 4-7), two things are most often necessary.  First, the parent should attend each lesson.  The parent should keep quiet and let the teacher direct the lesson and control the child’s behavior.  Second, practice with the child every day!  Most likely parents are wasting their money on a four-year-old child’s lessons unless they practice with the child every time he or she practices.

            How often should the child practice?  I will answer this question by telling you what one of our children's violin teachers told us, “Only practice on the days that she eats.”  Seriously, I would say that children need to practice at least five days per week.  Young children do not need to practice for long periods of time, but they do need to practice regularly.

            Why must parents make this sacrifice?  Because our children are worth it.  God demands our best and our best requires giving our children the opportunity to prepare musically so they will be able to give God their best.  I believe that God’s Kingdom will suffer in the first quarter of this century if we don’t prepare our children to give their musical talents back to God!