MY PARTIAL LIST:
THINGS OF DEEP VALUE THAT MY KIDS HAVE GOTTEN THROUGH THEIR MUSIC STUDIES
by Miranda Hughes
violin teacher and parent
- the experience of committing to something over the long term
- the experience of small incremental gains resulting in impressive overall progress
- experience breaking large overwhelming tasks into small achievable ones
- a long-term community of fellow learners
- a meaningful daily chore/routine
- an appreciation of the fact that everyone learns differently and at different speeds, and that there's value in all learning
- guided experience with the supportive appreciation of others' good work
- meaningful, authentic and non-competitive involvement in 'teamwork' endeavors
- the abiding knowledge that they have something they can do very well
- something that they are expected to work very hard at... especially important for children to whome much comes very easily
- an arena in which to work the kinks out of the parent-as-facilitator/child-as-learner relationship
- something to do as teenagers besides hang out at the mall or the corner store
- a common language with children and adults from other places, other walks of life and other cultures
- a ticket into non-age-stratified groups where they are valued for their contributions
- meaningful, long-term relatinships with adult mentors
- copious exercise for the "memory muscle"
- the chance for the child to figure out what learning strategies and learning modes suit him best
- a window into history
- a creative / emotional outlet
- opportunities for travel and cultural exchanges
- a positive visible profile in the larger community
- a useful marketable skill... and one that can be used to contribute voluntarily to the community
- experience with preparing and executing a performance/presentation in the public limelight
- a cohort of similarly-committed peers to draw on for friendships during adolescence and beyond
- an intuitive appreciation of the mathematical patterns inherent in music
- the sense of being part of a family 'culture' of music
