Even my own child quit music lessons

Something you probably didn’t know: even my own child quit music lessons.

I called it a “sabbatical".” Because, to be completely honest, I felt pretty guilty about letting my own child quit something that he had worked at for years. Especially since, you know, I’m the director of a music school and music lessons are pretty standard in our family.

But I also knew that I couldn’t continue to let my own child cry while practicing, and feel horrible about himself when he went into lessons.  I knew that, if I really believed that music lessons should instil confidence and pride (and I do), then we were really missing the mark.  My son wasn’t just losing interest in the violin, he was losing his ability to believe that he could be good at playing the violin, and that was a deal-breaker for me.

So, he was allowed to quit.  And I struggled to reconcile this for months.  

We decided to revisit the idea of music lessons this year, but with a twist: My son will now be studying guitar instead of violin.  If there’s one thing I know for sure, his years of violin lessons will not be lost; much of his note-reading and finger dexterity skills will transfer.  But a new instrument will mean he’s not revisiting the same old pieces he struggled with last year. He’ll also get to apply his developed skills to a new instrument, making progress faster at the beginning of his guitar journey.

If your child has needed to step away from music lessons because it was having the reverse effect on their confidence, I understand.  But please know that often, a fresh start, a change of instrument or teacher, or a new approach can make a huge difference.

If you’ve taken lessons before and you’re ready to try something new, this fall is a great time to dip your toes back in.  Even if you’ve been at LSM before, we’ll happily welcome you back with a free trial lesson at a time that works best for you.  You can request yours HERE.

Making music should be a source of pride. If you’re ready to find the right fit to give your child the gift of confidence, The Lane School of Music is ready to help you do just that.

Warmly,

Rebecca