What Your Child Needs to Know AS THEY START LEARNING AN INSTRUMENT
The initial stages of learning an instrument are an exciting time for your child; it’s a period of rapid learning and new horizons. Besides unlocking deep neurological benefits, your child is developing skills and mindsets that will aid them for the rest of their lives, including patience, persistence, delayed gratification, curiosity, and problem-solving. In order to foster these mindsets and encourage playing music as a lifelong hobby, what you tell your child is important. It’s all too common to abandon musical pursuits after it becomes difficult or progress slows.
Make sure your child knows they’re allowed to fail. Struggle is a significant part of learning a new skill. Missed notes are expected. However, it’s key that your child views these missteps as learning opportunities rather than a convenient reason to quit. You may have the most talented child in the world, but you need to stress to them that consistent, hard work will outweigh talent every time. Efficient, regular practice will result in your child surpassing other students who only rely on raw ability. It takes no small amount of dedication to learn an instrument. Perhaps most importantly, it’s vital that your child understands that music is a long-term commitment. There will certainly be times when they become frustrated and discouraged. Let them; it’s part of the process. However, don’t let them quit at the first sign of trouble. Instead, let them learn the value of persistence. Breaks are okay, but you should get your child to commit to an instrument for at least a couples of years with consistent effort.
Laugh Break
Recipe of the Month: RITZ CRACKER ICE CREAM SANDWICHES
Ingredients
• • •
4 ounces dark chocolate pieces, melted 24 Ritz (or generic butter round) crackers
1 pint your favorite ice cream
Instructions
1. Melt chocolate pieces in a double boiler or in the microwave. Stir until smooth and drippy. 2. Arrange crackers, bottom side up, on a cookie sheet. Use fork to drizzle melted chocolate over crackers, then place them in freezer to cool quickly. 3. Remove crackers from freezer and place small ice cream scoop in the center of 12 crackers. Press remaining crackers, chocolate side down, onto the ice cream scoop. 4. Freeze at least 4 hours before serving. Wrap individual sandwiches in plastic wrap to store in freezer for up to 7 days —but they’ll never last that long.
Recipe inspired by bonappetit.com.
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