If you’ve been a mom for more than 5 minutes, you know parenting comes with its share of choices. Some are easy. But others are hard and come with the looming threat of regret.
Like when you let a particular word slip one too many times and learn that your little exhibits his expanded vocabulary at daycare.
Or when you needed 10 minutes of peace and quiet only to discover your munchkin used the time to try her hand at dog grooming. And now your poodle is sporting what can only be referred to as the “dog vs. lawnmower” cut.
Let’s not forget when you let the kids talk you into getting a snake. It was all fun and games until someone left the cage open. And now you have a snake loose in your house. Just waiting to make his appearance when you least expect it.
Parenting is full of fun little life lessons.
But there is one decision that, when made, you’ll never regret. And that decision is enrolling your kids in piano lessons.
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At a Glance: Top Reasons for Enrolling Your Kids in Piano Lessons
At this point, you may be asking yourself why I dare to make such a bold statement. You’re likely asking yourself what I’m trying to sell. Or whether I have ulterior motives behind convincing you to enroll your kids in piano lessons.
And the simple answer is that I am the product of being enrolled in piano lessons as a child. I started piano lessons at the age of 7 and continued through college.
Of all the decisions my parents made on my behalf, I am most thankful they decided to sit me down in front of the piano. It’s been the blessing of a lifetime and one I encourage you to consider for your children.
And since I know you’re busy, here’s a bulleted list of the top reasons you should consider enrolling your kids in piano lessons:
- Spark their creativity
- Teach them how to solve problems
- Boost their confidence
- Inspire them to view failure as an opportunity to learn
- Ignite a passion they can pursue for the rest of their lives
- Ensure they will reach their full potential
And if you have a few quiet minutes to yourself, please know how much I appreciate you spending them with me! Silence is a precious commodity in parenthood, and your support means the world. 🙂
I promise to make the time worth your while, so let’s dive right in!
Spark Their Creativity
When you hear the word “creativity,” what comes to mind? In the context of your kids, maybe macaroni art and Crayola scribbles come to mind. My brain automatically travels to cut and pasted creations hastily stuffed into backpacks at the end of the day.
But did you know that creativity has broader applications beyond hand-eye coordination and the ability to follow directions? According to an article written by Paul Patrone on LinkedIn, creativity is the most important skill in the world.1
Patrone explains that creativity is widely valued because employers want innovation. They want people who can approach old problems in new and exciting ways. Jobs that can be automated are typically on the lower end of the pay scale or have been eliminated thanks to AI.
Success in work and life, therefore, demands creativity.
And although glue, crayons, and construction paper have taken creative credit for years, learning a musical instrument is another fantastic way to introduce creativity.
Learning to play the piano simultaneously stimulates multiple areas of their brain and encourages alternative forms of creativity. And expanding creativity is only one of many life skills gained by enrolling your kids in piano lessons. Let’s move on to the second.
Teach Them How to Solve Problems
“Life is a continuous exercise in creative problem-solving.”
Michael Gelb
One of the most exciting parts of having kids is watching them figure stuff out. And when kids are young, they LIVE to do things independently! It doesn’t matter how simple the task; kids love self-reliance.
How many times did you stand outside in the rain so little Addison could buckle her own seatbelt? Or watch Logan spill milk all over the counter because he insisted he could pour it all by himself?
If you think about it, life is about solving a never-ending series of problems. And as we get older, the problems tend to become more complicated.
So, wouldn’t it make sense to equip your kids with as many tools as possible to help them overcome life’s obstacles?
Piano lessons give kids a completely different set of skills. And with a different set of skills, there’s no limit to the type of problems they will eventually be able to solve with confidence.
Boost Their Confidence by Enrolling Your Kids in Piano Lessons
And speaking of confidence … is there anything better than watching your kids proudly display a newly mastered skill? Whether it’s spelling “mom” for the first time or scribbling their first Mother’s Day card, you LOVE seeing their confidence soar!
Imagine seeing the joy in the eyes of your kids when they can play a familiar song for you. Or their excitement when they ask their music teacher to play something they’ve learned for their classmates.
By enrolling your kids in piano lessons, you’re giving them unique skills. And the opportunity to showcase those skills.
With each new piano challenge they encounter, your kids have the chance to triumph. And once they learn that they can triumph in the music room, your kids will know they can triumph in life as well.
Does it honestly get any better than that?
Inspire Them to View Failure as an Opportunity to Learn
Do you have perfectionist tendencies? If so, have you noticed these same tendencies in your little ones?
Thanks to a combination of nature and nurture, perfectionism tends to be a trait easily passed from one generation to the next.
Perfectionism has its perks, but for the most part, it’s a debilitating mindset. It’s often accompanied by procrastination and low self-esteem. And it can be incredibly difficult to correct, especially if not recognized and addressed at an early age.
I was an adult before I realized how much perfectionism held me back. If I had a time machine, I would go back and tell my younger self to chill out. That everything would be ok. And that mistakes are part of life.
But since I can’t go back in time, I’ve made a vow to help my kids with perfectionism. And I’ve found that introducing them to piano lessons has been the perfect medium to make mistakes.
I encourage my kids to have fun with music. We sing, clap, and talk about how music relates to life during lessons.
And when they become frustrated, we sit with those emotions. We explore frustration and talk about creative ways to channel it. But most of all, we talk about how learning can’t happen without failure.
Through piano lessons, my kids learn that failure means you’re trying. And that the only way you lose is by not even trying in the first place.
Ignite a Passion They Can Pursue for the Rest of Their Lives
Passion is a funny thing. Some kids are born knowing what lights them up inside and then spend their lives pursuing that thing. Other kids bounce around from one interest to the next. They never spend too much time in any one area but seem to excel in a variety of areas.
Regardless of which type of kid calls you “mom,” one thing is certain—your never-ending love and desire for them to lead fulfilling lives.
Today’s world offers a limitless array of activities in which to enroll your kids. You can get them involved in soccer, 4-H, theater, or karate at any given time.
And I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with involving kids in a wide range of hobbies.
But I will ask you to consider how many of those hobbies can be pursued well into adulthood. The list narrows a bit, doesn’t it?
By enrolling your kids in piano lessons, you give them the gift of a lifetime hobby. They will have skills applicable for years and years to come. Even if they end up playing pop songs for themselves at home, I guarantee they will consider the time well spent.
Click here to read more about why people with multiple interests have limitless potential.
Ensure They Will Reach Their Full Potential by Enrolling Your Kids in Piano Lessons
Your goal as a mom is to raise creative, well-adjusted, and well-rounded kids. It’s not an easy job, but it is fulfilling. Especially when you can move forward knowing you’ve given your kids the tools they need to succeed in this crazy, messed-up world.
There’s a ton of scientific, research-based evidence out there about the benefits of piano lessons in childhood. By enrolling your kids in piano lessons, you’re helping them improve their visual and spatial skills. You’re also helping them with memory and math skills. There’s even evidence out there that playing the piano wards off dementia in later years.
But for those of us who love the instrument, learning piano in and of itself is enough.
I would have never considered myself a serious player when I was younger, but I’ve always loved sitting down and playing. And I still do. The piano has opened up a world of opportunity for me, and I’m thankful every day for what I’ve learned from the instrument.
The piano has taught me about persistence. It has taught me that learning never ends. And practice, the right kind of practice, always means progress.
It’s for these reasons, and so many more, that I make the bold statement that you will never regret enrolling your kids in piano lessons.
And if you’re ready to move forward with lessons, make sure to check out my Resource page for a listing of piano teachers currently accepting students. Many teachers now offer online lessons, a convenient option for busy moms and kids!
Don’t forget to leave a comment below with your thoughts on this post. What challenges do you face as a mom with kids in piano lessons? Did you take lessons as a child? And if so, do you still play?
Stay tuned for more upcoming posts geared towards parenting piano kids!
Make sure to check out the following posts for more piano inspiration:
- 5 Simple Reasons You Should be Calling Yourself a Pianist
- Easy Brain Hacks to Upgrade Your Piano Playing
- SkillShare for Pianists: 2 Classes Guaranteed to Advance Your Skills
- 5 Simple Tips for Adults Who Want to Learn Piano
- How to Find the Right Piano Teacher for You
1. Petrone, Paul. (2018, Dec. 31). Why creativity is the most important skill in the world. LinkedIn. Retrieved January 2, 2022, from https://www.linkedin.com/business/learning/blog/top-skills-and-courses/why-creativity-is-the-most-important-skill-in-the-world
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