Whether music has always had a special place in your heart or you’ve decided to take your love of music further by studying for an online master of music in music education degree, it’s likely that you want your kids to follow in your footsteps. However, this is something that can be difficult, especially if your children are older and already have an idea of what they enjoy and what they don’t. For some advice, keep reading.
1. Listen
There are a lot of different types of music out there. Sometimes, this means you will have to listen to what your children enjoy. Although your online MMME program may require you to specialize in classical music, your children might prefer hip hop or dance. When it comes to encouraging a love of music in your kids, it’s important to take your cues from them. If they like a song or a particular band, listen with them. If they see you being interested in what they like, they’ll be more encouraged to listen to other genres as well.
2. Sing
When children are young, they love singing, and if their parents are willing to sing with them, even better! A lot of parents don’t feel comfortable singing, but your kids don’t care about that kind of thing. Whether you’re tone deaf or you don’t know all the words, your kids will still have fun. You can sing your favorite childhood songs with them or lullabies at bedtime. No matter what you choose to sing, this will help encourage your children to get involved.
3. Play
Having a parent who plays a musical instrument can be a magical experience for children. Whether it’s a guitar, a flute, or even a trumpet, your kids will love listening to you play – especially if you play songs that they know and can sing along to. In time, your children may also want to learn an instrument themselves. So, set a good example and help them to flourish.
4. Dance
Dancing with your kids is not only a great way to get physically active but it can also be a lot of fun. Even games developers have started to create dancing games as they know how much fun they can be for families. You can either teach your kids a scripted dance routine or just put some music on and have fun with it. It really is up to you.
5. Attend
Finally, one last way to encourage your kids to love music is to take them to music events. There are a lot of family-friendly festivals held each year that can be tons of fun to visit. Your kids will love watching live performances and they will learn how to act as part of a crowd. They can get up and dance with other people, sing along to the songs, and clap and cheer with everyone else.
Have you encouraged a love of music in your children? Let us know how you did it in the comments.
This is a collaborative post.
