TALK TO YOUR TEACHER: THE IMPORTANCE OF PARENT-TEACHER COMMUNICATION
As we celebrate Valentine’s Day and the meaningful connections in our lives, we wanted to touch on a key part of any good relationship: communication. From significant others to business partners, having an open dialogue is crucial to any healthy, happy partnership. The same can be said about your relationship with your child’s music instructor.
We’re lucky to have truly dedicated professionals on our teaching staff here at MnSOM. They all have the experience and skill to make a difference in your child’s music education. However, they can’t see every aspect of your child’s life. As a parent, you can provide valuable insight into struggles your young musician may be having at home.
When a student struggles during home practice or feels they aren’t being challenged enough, they may think there is nothing they can do. In these moments, it’s easy to become frustrated or bored — and the idea of avoiding their instrument becomes more and more enticing. Left long enough, this small practice problem could have your child convinced they just don’t like playing music.
In these moments, it can make a world of difference to bring their teacher into the conversation. Teachers can change practice styles, teach new techniques, and even adjust the difficulty of the exercises. Our teachers want students to learn and grow through their practice and have no problem adjusting to your child’s needs. They just need to know a problem exists in the first place.
So, if practice frustrations have your child thinking of giving up their musical education prematurely, have a talk with their teacher. Don’t throw in the towel at the first signs of trouble. Chances are, a minor change can get them back to enjoying music and the learning process.