Developing Joy in Music Lessons for Children

Elizabeth Turner is a professional musician who teaches Piano and Singing lessons online. Find out more on her Lessonface profile.

While it is important to instill a good practice routine and discipline in a young musician, developing a joy of music for the young music student is more important.

Joy should not only come from the music instructor, but also come from within the student. A passion for performing, composing, or teaching must be demonstrated by the adult first. Children and teenagers will then pick up on this passion and commitment to music and apply it to their own studies. Parents can also help facilitate joy and musical expression in children from an early age by exposing them to music in various ways. Sometimes students may become discouraged or bored by long practice sessions or repertoire they are not interested in. Here are some tips to help sustain joy in music for young students.

Tips for Parents

• Expose children to private music lessons and group performing ensembles.

   

• Play music around the home, in the car, and going to bed at night.

   

• Take children to see live musical performances regularly, i.e., the symphony or ballet.

   

• Develop a healthy practice routine fit for the student’s schedule and age (for example, 30 minutes a day, three times a week).

   

• Avoid being overly critical of the student’s musical ability. Let the teacher introduce vocal techniques, breathing, and posture, or music theory to the student.

Tips for Educators

• Provide age-appropriate repertoire for students.

 

• Allow students to sing or play through the entire piece first before critiquing.

 

• Introduce music theory concepts gradually and connect them to the repertoire.

 

• Sing or play an instrument together with the student at times to demonstrate or encourage collaboration.

 

• Demonstrate healthy stage performance and audition techniques.

 

With these simple approaches from both parents and instructors, students will feel confident pursuing music lessons or group classes. The young musician should feel comfortable playing in front of the instructor and practicing at home. Families should create a safe practice space at home free of distractions, where the student can play their instrument or sing as loud as they want! Students should look forward to weekly music lessons, and practicing their instrument or voice should not be viewed as a chore. Students will express joy in music by collaborating with peers their age, taking their own initiative in practicing their instrument or singing along with their favorite artists, and enjoying live music. 

The young musician may be apprehensive about performing or auditioning at first. Encouraging students to participate in group activities with other students is a wonderful way to overcome any fears or doubts. Group recitals with students at the end of the semester are a terrific way to encourage student participation and reward the student for all of their hard work practicing. If parents or instructors show appreciation for the joy of music, the young musician will likely follow.

I hope these tips will help your young musician discover the great joys and benefits of music lessons.

ABOUT ELIZABETH TURNER Elizabeth Turner, Soprano originally from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, is an accomplished performer who has captivated audiences across the globe. Trained in classical, jazz, musical theatre, and contemporary music. Elizabeth’s warm voice, playful attitude, and vibrant inner beauty come alive on the stage, screen, and in the studio. Elizabeth earned her degrees in Vocal Performance from the Berklee College of Music (M.M. & B.M.). She is a current Doctoral Candidate of Education and Director of Choral Activities at St. Thomas University. Elizabeth resides in Miami, Florida, with her Swiss Husband, Pianist/Composer Andreas Häberlin.  Book a lesson with Elizabeth Turner

Elizabeth's lessons are rated five stars in 15 verified student reviews, like this one:

My children really enjoyed their first-ever voice lesson and have been singing and practicing what they've learned ever since. Elizabeth was patient with my shy children and guided them through the lesson and was very encouraging.

-Crystal McClean, review from August 14, 2017