5 things parents can do to keep their children in music classes longer | K12 Schools - Study International News

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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Music lessons for children often stop when they turn 11, denying them the benefits of music. Here are five steps... by Study International Staff.
 

Boring lessons are one of the main reasons children want to stop music lessons.
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The Australian Bureau of Statistics shows children are mostly likely to start studying music between the ages of nine and 11.

Researchers in a 2009 UK study suggested the dramatic drop in music tuition after age 11 was linked to children starting high school.

The study also revealed the main reasons for children ending music lessons were boring lessons, frustration at a lack of progress, disliking practice and competition from other activities. Some children regretted stopping music lessons.

Stopping as soon as a child experiences difficulty or expresses frustration denies that child the benefits of music and reinforces the message that, if something is hard, it’s not worth doing. But continuing lessons for someone who has come to resent them is futile.

Fortunately, there are some things parents can try which might keep kids in music class longer. And if that doesn’t work, it’s OK to stop.
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Source: Study International News