How to be a Supportive Parent

As parents, we always want the best for our children, and we want them to participate in the best experiences. But, how can you be a supportive musical parent? Whether or not you have any background in music yourself, children need the support of their parents to really have a successful practice at home. Maybe you are not musical yourself and you are thinking, "How can I possibly know how to help my child if I don't even know much about music?" You are in luck because it is not necessary for you to be a music guru to be the best support that your child needs. Here's a list of some tips and ideas to help you be the best supportive parent that you can possibly be:

1. Be invested in your child's music lessons. Teachers LOVE it when you ask questions and you want to hear and see how your child is improving and developing! Don't be afraid to talk to your child's music teacher. I know I am giddy when a parent wants to learn more details about how lessons are going, how so-and-so is improving, and then I can be the proud teacher and let them know just how amazing their child is doing! It's seeing improvement, helping connect the dots to understanding concepts, and seeing the "lightbulb turn on" that really excites us as teachers. Seriously, give it a try, and ask for some updates if you don't already. It's amazing!

2. Make sure your child has a specific practice area. This is very important and applies not only to location, but to time as well. Children DO thrive on schedules! Set a consistent time during the day that will work really well for your child. If they are more productive in the morning, maybe encourage a morning time practice; if they are busy, maybe an afternoon or an evening practice might be better. Make sure that whatever their practice area looks like, it makes them feel safe and confident to be able to practice. Sometimes children will feel self-conscious around their family and may not feel comfortable to want to practice, so ensure that they know they are safe to practice is crucial for their development as performers. Bottom line, you are their parent, and you know how your child will find the best success.

3. If you have a really young singer, sit in on several lessons. Being there to actually observe what your child is learning and how they are learning will help you when you get back home to know what your child can work on specifically, or if they have learned any musical games, then you will know how to play along and be engaged with them during their practice.

These are three really big small things that you can do to become an amazingly supportive musical parent! Do you have any other thoughts? What do you do as a parent to stay engaged and supportive of your blossoming musician? Feel free to comment below!