Making Music a Permanent Part of Life for Your Kids or Grandkids
By: Gregory R. Zinser
Although I did not pursue music as a career, it has always been a big part of my life. I took a
few piano lessons when I was eight years old, was in a band all through high school and played
in piano bars during most of my college years. I continued playing in bars and at private events
when I started my career in accounting after graduation, and still play and sing on a regular
basis. However, the most important thing I did with my love of music is pass it on to my kids.
The two boys are now 36 and 33 years old and when I see the appreciation and talent for music
they have today, and think back on how it all happened, I’m convinced there is a direct
connection between what I did when they were growing up (some on purpose and some by
accident) and where they are now. I’m equally convinced that any parent or grandparent can
give the gift of music to their kids or grandkids to some degree regardless of their own musical
ability, background or financial means. If you are able to devote some time and attention to this
when the kids are very young, you can give a profoundly life-enhancing gift that studies have
shown to have a direct link to academic success, attitude, confidence and overall quality of life .
My career in health care administration did not involve music.
I’m a business person, and when business people talk about something other than business, it typically
involves either hobbies or kids. In my case, either one invariably leads to a discussion about my musical
interests. During the past 50 years, I’ve met very few business people fortunate enough to also be musicians.
Of the rest, almost all wish they had taken up music in some form when they were young. Stories
of their parents forcing them to take piano lessons or play some instrument in the high school
band usually end with their regret they did not stick with it. If they have young kids or
grandkids, they would love nothing more than for the kids to have music in their lives, but often
assume it would be impossible for them to pass something on they never had themselves. I
believe it is possible and will suggest ways to create an environment that can inspire an interest
in and love of music.
This gift comes in two forms:
Appreciation—a recognition and love of different types of music; and
Participation—playing an instrument, singing, performing, etc.
Creating an Awareness and Appreciation for Music
An appreciation of music has great value regardless of whether or not it turns into participation,
and there is excellent music to be found in every genre. The first step is to put together
collections of what you consider to be the “best of” each type of music. After searching your
own collections; you can use online resources such as iTunes, Spotify or other similar
download sites. When my kids were young, there were no such resources online. I bought
countless individual CD’s (and yes, even vinyl records) in search of the best music I could find,
and then recorded those songs onto a cassette tape. Today, this job is as easy as selecting
songs from a website and then downloading them to your phone or burning a custom CD on
your computer. The selection of good music can’t be left to the radio (even satellite radio) or
TV’s music channels. These sources play a wide variety of music within each genre--and that
is the problem. In any musical genre you explore, you'll probably find music you really like and
other music not as much. And this is the beauty and convenience of the technological age we
currently live in--we get to CHOOSE the music we'd like to experience. The key is variety. If
you can find the best of many types of music and then expose the kids to it in small doses and
at appropriate times, they just might grow to love all of it.
It’s extremely important to do this during a period I call the time of “Maximum Parental
Influence.” While there’s no standard for this, I consider it to be the time from birth to about
eight years old when kids:
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Don’t have other activities outside the home to compete with time devoted to music;
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Don’t yet have peer pressure to influence the music they listen to or instruments they choose to play; and
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Look up to their parents and grandparents and want to do things with them.
There’s no such thing as too young. Start providing this exposure as early as possible and
play the best of all types of music in the car and in your home. We never believed in a quiet
home. In our home, music or television was always on and it was always 80/20 in favor of the
music. When the TV was on, it was often music specials or concerts by great bands or solo
artists. Even some of the network TV shows like Sesame Street and the Bugs Bunny cartoons
had good music; and my kids remember all of it to this day.
Exposure and Encouragement
Once you’ve assembled a collection of the best of all types of music, initiate music-related
activities having an element of fun for the kids. Some examples include:
1. Headphones--Small kids love putting on headphones. Make sure the volume is right,
then watch their eyes light up as they hear the sounds that seem to be coming from the
center of their head!
2. Percussion--Play Latin or other music with a great beat, and have the kids play along
with simple percussion instruments. Tambourines, maracas, claves, shakers and small
drums are all great choices. This is a two-for-one, as they’re gaining an appreciation for
the music and learning to keep a beat at the same time.
3. Start Musical Traditions --Devote a specific time each week to a particular type of music
you love. In our family, we would always play classical music during Sunday morning
breakfast.
4. Add music to Other Family Activities—Have theme dinner theme nights (Mexican, Italian,
French, Hawaiian, etc.) and play the appropriate theme music while preparing and eating
dinner together. You can add another fun dimension to this by wearing some of the garb
consistent with the theme—even just a hat is a nice touch the kids will enjoy when they
are young and remember long after they’re out of the house.
5. Use of Travel Time -- Car time is one of the few times you have your kid’s undivided
attention. Besides being a premium opportunity to talk about important things, it’s also a
perfect time to introduce different types of music and promote the many positive aspects
of singing.
6. The Universal Instrument--The voice is an instrument all kids love to “play”, and singing
with recorded music can help them develop the ability to match tones and keep time with
their voice. Music for singing along should be simple, fun and easy to learn. Many of
our favorites when the kids were 3-5 years old were done by Raffe, a well-known artist
specializing in songs for children. Singing with or to your kids when they are young is
another two-for-one in terms of both music appreciation and participation.
7. The Power of Performing - Another way to encourage kids to love music at a young age is
to have them perform—for you, your relatives, or anyone else coming into the house who
will listen. Learning a song as a “present” for mom or dad also has many benefits,
besides the lifetime memories for you as a parent. The quality or length of these
performances is totally unimportant. When kids are young and impressionable, a short
vocal rendition or a few strums on the guitar will have the same effect as Beethoven’s
Fifth Symphony. Whether they’re singing a song or playing a percussion instrument to
recorded music, this is absolute magic. The positive feedback and approval children get
by performing will encourage them to do more like nothing else can. As is the case with
listening and singing, it’s never too early to start performing.
8. Recording--With equipment of any kind (audio or video), you can record kids’
performances and give copies to friends and relatives. They are likely to tell the kids
how much they enjoyed seeing or hearing the performance. In addition to encouraging
young kids to learn more things to record, the performing aspect and related
reinforcement also begins to build confidence.
9. Experience it Live--We also took the kids to live concerts. It’s never too early, but when
they are very small, get seats as close to the front as you can where they’re able to see.
Hearing won’t be a problem but, for obvious reasons, you need to be sure you’re not too
close to the speakers and always bring earplugs just in case. Music festivals are
particularly good venues with a variety of activities for the kids. In any form, the magic of
live concerts is for kids to watch the performers having a terrific time and see the crowd’s
reaction. There is no substitute for the impact on a young child of seeing an inspiring live
performance.
Other Ideas That Worked
When my two boys were in high school, they listened to the popular music of the day, but also
listened to classical music, rock and roll from the 50’s through the 70’s, old standards, Latin jazz
and more. Today at 36 and 33 years of age, they love many types of music and have their own
collections. They appreciate the beauty of a great classical piano performance as much as a
high-energy rock concert. They recognize the power of music to express or change the entire
range of human emotions. All of this began with the exposure efforts described above and, in
their cases, the appreciation also developed into an interest in becoming musicians themselves.
Recap of suggestions relating to music appreciation
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Create a “best of” collection for several types of music and provide exposure at home, in the car;
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Introduce percussion instruments and headphones;
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Create musical traditions and integrate with other family activities
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Singing—at home and in the car;
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Perform for others (singing or playing percussion instruments);
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Record performances for family and friends;
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Attend live concerts and music festivals.
Creating and Sustaining an Interest in Making Music—The Early Years
With the possible exception of leaving a very large trust fund, there may be no single thing you
can do for your kids that will provide more lifetime enjoyment than creating an interest in playing
a musical instrument. Most parental responsibilities during early childhood development are “directive.” Parents
typically do not rely on “creating an interest” in going to bed on time or finishing dinner before
leaving the table. Music training is different. It never works to force lessons or the selection of
a particular instrument over another. To be sustainable, music lessons must not be viewed as
a chore or an obligation. In this case, the parental task is to motivate and inspire, and it starts
by creating an environment within the home where musical interests are likely to grow. In the
preceding section, I emphasized the importance of creating an appreciation for music at an
early age. Creating an interest in playing an instrument must also be done early before school
and friends become a priority, and before peer influence becomes stronger than parental
influence. Once that happens, it’s difficult to generate any interest in spending the time and
effort it takes to learn a musical instrument.
Instrument Exposure
Creating a musical environment begins with having all types of instruments around the house
and encouraging the kids to play them. As mentioned above, playing percussion instruments
with your kids along with recorded music will not only make the early exposure to music fun, but
will also teach rhythm--an important part of the learning process for playing other instruments.
Rather than just allowing them to make noise, show them how to play in time to the music.
When you hear them trying to do it themselves without you (which is exactly what you want)
help them improve to the best of your ability.
While percussion instruments are fun, inexpensive and easy to store, there are many other
instruments to consider. The ukulele is an especially good choice as it is the right size for the
kids and easy for them (and you) to play. Guitars, horns, string instruments or even a piano are
other instruments that can be purchased used for a very limited investment. Even if no one
ever plays them, they can always be sold later to recoup some portion of the investment. The
potential benefit of the exposure to these instruments coupled with the very limited risk of
financial loss, make used instruments the right investment in any home with young kids.
However, of the many great choices available, the instrument kids are most likely to be drawn
to is a piano. If properly placed, it’s hard to ignore and almost impossible to resist.
There are probably three things many of you are thinking at this point:--too expensive; no room for it; and
no one knows how to play it. Allow me to make the case for getting one anyway. An old spinet
style piano can be found for hundreds of dollars, not thousands, and a space as small as four-
by-six feet is sufficient. If no one in your family plays, that might be the best reason of all to get
one. The cycle of passing music down from generation to generation has to begin somewhere,
so it might as well be with you. As long as the piano can be placed in a high traffic, high
visibility area, the kids will likely be drawn to it whether they can play or not.
When the kids were very young, I would sit at the piano with them on my lap and hold one
finger of their right hand to play a melody they would recognize. When they were a little older
(two to four), I would point to the keys for them to press themselves. It was also at this age they
would enjoy pounding on the piano without my hand on theirs. Allowing some of this is OK, but
most of the exposure should be to show how the piano can sound when recognizable melodies
are played. If you’re fortunate enough to be able to play the piano yourself, play songs they
recognize and enjoy, and let them hear what it sounds like to play them with more than one
note. If not, take them to hear others play or watch YouTube videos with someone playing a
song that they recognize. Any type of exposure to playing the piano at an early age can lead to
an interest in taking lessons.
In addition to the piano, we also had an old acoustic guitar around the house from the time the
kids were born. I could play only a few chords, but it doesn’t really matter if anyone knows how
to play it. The important thing is the exposure to this type of instrument. Much like the piano
experience, I would strum a few chords while they were in their high chair or playpen (my first
captive audience). I let them strum the strings to get an idea of the sound. It was easy to see
they were enjoying it immensely. You can also enhance the experience even further by
occasionally singing simple songs.
Fortunately, you needn’t have all of the instruments around the house to provide
exposure—music stores sell a wide range of instruments. A few times each year, I would take
the boys on “field trips” to the largest music store in our area where there was a great variety of
tempting musical “toys”. These trips were extremely fun and productive, as we could wander
around and play all the instruments, and at the same time, hear other accomplished musicians
demonstrating what the instruments could sound like when played by someone who had taken
lessons. These trips always gave the boys ideas and inspiration. As an example, it was in the
music store where Jason, my oldest, first realized there were many types of guitars used to
produce very different sounds. This exposure most definitely contributed to his interest in a wide
variety of music from classic rock to country to contemporary.
It was also on one of these trips we happened to see what I consider to be one of the best
instrument investments I ever made, in terms of both how much they enjoyed it and the level
they were able to achieve. With young kids, the percussion department will always be a big hit,
and my kids were no exception. When the boys were about eleven and fourteen, we
encountered a set of electronic drums. Someone was playing them with the headphones on.
We couldn’t hear anything, but noticed the person wearing the headphones was enjoying
himself immensely. We hovered in the department until we were able to commandeer the drum
set and headphones. After about five minutes of playing around with this new toy, it was pretty
obvious my boys were hooked. While the very thought of drums and the noise typically
associated with them causes a negative reaction for most parents, I strongly encourage
exposure to this much-maligned instrument by describing how it is different from what you might
assume. Electronic drums are set up just like a traditional drum set, but they don’t require
nearly as much room.
The drumheads are made of either hard rubber or synthetic material and
when they are struck, it triggers an electronically generated sound either through the
headphones or an external amplifier. The sounds produced are extremely realistic, especially
through the headphones. You can also attach a CD player (or iPhone) so the kids can play
along to any of their favorite songs. When we first got this set, none of us had ever played
drums. We began by trying to keep a simple beat (as you would with any other percussion
instrument) to some of our favorite music. Through the internet, we learned how to hold the
sticks and some of the other basics. This opened up a whole new world of music for the kids
and they soon became obsessed with learning to play better. They would compete for practice
time and would often get up early to play before they had to leave for school—always with the
headphones on and without bothering mom and dad. You never know what the kids will
become interested in playing or what level they might achieve if they are exposed at an early
age and properly inspired.
Whether singing, playing the piano, guitar or any other instrument, young and impressionable
kids will naturally want to do what they see and hear their parents or grandparents doing. If you
play some type of instrument yourself, it’s particularly inspiring for kids to see their parents
performing. While I had the pleasure of playing and singing for my kids when they were
younger, almost everyone has sung to their kids at one time or another. If you don’t play an
instrument, don’t let it stop you from letting the kids see you try. Pick out a few notes on the
piano or pluck a few strings on the ukulele or guitar, or play some type of percussion
instrument. You might also consider taking lessons with your kids, which will be very inspiring
for them and a great bonding experience for you. All of these things have a positive impact that
is hard to measure.
So never miss an opportunity to sing and play the instruments you have around the house,
either with them or for them. Sing the best you can and pretend to play the instruments even if
you don’t know how. Chances are the kids won’t know the difference. Your one-note rhapsody
or slightly off key vocal rendition will most likely get the same look of admiration and joy you
would get if you were a professional.
One final comment about the exposure to instruments involves the old adage of “out of sight,
out of mind”. The instruments should be in plain sight around the house at all times. We had a
piano, an acoustic guitar, a bass guitar, an electronic drum set and all of the percussion
instruments in a place where the kids walked by them every day on their way to the kitchen.
When they had free time, this visual contact resulted in actual contact that would not have taken
place if the instruments were put away out of sight.
Turning a Music Lover into a Music Player
So now, if all has gone well, you have children or grandchildren who love all types of music and
you will occasionally catch them playing with one or more of the instruments to which they have
been exposed. If all is going extremely well, they may become excited about the possibility of
playing some of the music they love in the same way they have heard others play it (either at
home, on TV or at concerts). Sometime during the period of “Maximum Parental Influence”
(usually at about age six), they may embrace the idea of taking lessons. This often happens
when they hear a song they love and really want to learn how to play it. This is your window of
opportunity, but there are several important things to consider that will improve the chances of
long term success when starting lessons.
While interest in any instrument is worth pursuing, starting with piano lessons should be
encouraged, but not forced. Lessons learned in the first few years of piano instruction can form
the foundation for learning all other instruments. In addition, piano is an instrument kids are
most likely to stick with their entire lives. When they are older, a piano will likely be available in
their college dorms, other public places and at friends’ homes. This means both opportunities
to practice and to perform. This is why most people wish they could play the piano—there is
always one around somewhere to remind you of how much fun it would be to play for yourself
and others.
I still remember the day I decided I wanted to play the piano. I was about seven and my sister
was seventeen. Her boyfriends came to the house on a regular basis and like many younger
brothers, I would hide and spy on them and was generally annoying. However, one boyfriend
stands out from the rest. His name was Kenny and he was the pianist for a gospel quartet.
When he came to the house, he would play for my sister and I would see first, how much fun he
had playing, and second, my sister’s reaction, along with anyone else who happened to come
in. Right then, sitting on the floor of the closet, I decided I wanted to learn to play. After Kenny
would leave, my parents saw me at the piano trying to play some of the things he’d been
playing and they knew it was time to take advantage of my interest. Within a few months I was
taking piano lessons and it was the beginning of my life-long devotion to music.
Whether the interest you help to create is in piano or some other instrument, the next critical
step is to find the right teacher who can establish a relationship with your child that is the right
combination of nurturing and motivating. Some teachers are much better with kids than others
and it will require some time and research to find the right one for you and your child. The
temptation, however, is to find the one closest to your home and assume it will work. This is
exactly what we did with our oldest, and for him, it happened to work out well given his specific
areas of interest and ability, but for our youngest, it soon became apparent he needed a
different type of teacher. In any case, I encourage you to make physical proximity a distant
second or third in the order of priorities. More important considerations include experience
working with kids, the type of music they’ll teach (after teaching the basics); how they keep the
lessons interesting and fun, and their willingness to teach kids songs they want to learn.
Talking with other parents whose kids have been with this teacher for more than one year is
essential. Most teachers have periodic recitals. Go to a few of the recitals and see what type
of music is being played after one year, two years and beyond. If things look promising, have a
trial lesson or two and observe the relationship between your child and the teacher. If your
child respects the teacher, appears comfortable, and most importantly, considers the teacher a
friend who he/she doesn’t want to disappoint, you have all of the essential elements of a
sustainable interest in learning.
Once you’ve found the right teacher and lessons begin, it is important your son or daughter
feels they are a part of the process. Talk to them often about what they’re enjoying or not
enjoying about lessons. Attend the lessons occasionally to be sure the environment is
supportive and enjoyable. Attend all of the recitals with family and friends. Check to see
there’s always an appropriate balance between the more academic process of learning the
technical aspects of music and the enjoyment of applying that knowledge to learn songs they
enjoy playing. Ideally, the teacher will assign a variety of music from classical to contemporary,
but after no more than six months, assignments should include songs the kids are excited about
learning. As I mentioned earlier, never miss an opportunity to have the young music student
perform for you or other family or friends. A private recital makes a wonderful Father’s Day or
Mother’s Day gift. If this happens, make a big deal of it; make up a program; have them dress
up in suit or dress; and record the performance if possible.
Music lessons also provide an opportunity to teach early lessons in time management. Suggest
a certain amount of time be allocated each day to practice and work with your child to
coordinate this with other activities. Empowerment and involvement in the process are
important aspects of creating a desire to practice. Listen in on practice sessions whenever you
can, but resist any temptation to be critical. Recognize and be supportive of any and all
progress. If you have concerns about the rate of progress or practice habits, discuss them with
the teacher in private. When it’s really going well, you’ll find the kids putting in extra practice
time instead of watching TV, playing video games or other activities kids engage in for lack of
anything better to do. This is how you’ll know they no longer consider practice to be an
obligation; it’s the best indication they’re likely to stay with it, which they will do as long as it
continues to be fun and they are getting the right type of reinforcement along the way (both of
which will require your attention and vigilance).
This seems like a good place to interject something for mom and dad to consider doing for
themselves. As I mentioned earlier, I meet so many people who wish they could play the piano,
but think it’s too late for them to learn. I would first suggest when learning to play an instrument
as an adult, the primary objective should be enjoyment, not virtuoso status. However, if you
have the time and desire to learn to play classical music and you still have the dexterity
required to do it, it is never too late to start. On the other hand, if you don’t have the time,
patience or dexterity to play at that level, anyone can achieve a level that will add enjoyment
and another great dimension to life. People learn to play piano in many different ways, and if
you find the right teacher, you can customize your experience based on what style of playing
most interests you. The guitar is also well suited to that purpose--and learning a few chords on
the guitar is even easier and faster than learning the same thing on piano. Instructional books
are readily available online and there are endless numbers of instructional YouTube videos
available. Consider making guitar or piano lessons a family activity to provide added inspiration
and motivation to your kids or grandkids.
Recap of Suggestions for Creating an Interest in Playing an Instrument:
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Exposure to instruments: Consider a used piano
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Keep other instruments around the house in plain sight
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Take music store field trips
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Lessons—piano first; find the right teacher
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Reinforcement—performing, recording, songs as gifts
Closing Comments
I can’t imagine my own life without music and feel so fortunate I was able to pass it on to my
kids. My passion for helping others do the same comes not only from what it has meant to our
family, but also a belief that this can be accomplished by any parent able to devote the time,
regardless of their own musical abilities or financial resources. While there is no guarantee
these ideas will take hold in your family, this is one of the greatest opportunities you will ever
have to give a truly life-changing gift to your kids. If you were fortunate enough to be brought
up in a home environment that included music, you know how much it can enhance quality of
life for the kids and everyone around them.
If you haven’t had music in your own family, I hope
these suggestions will inspire you to make the effort to begin a new tradition in your family that
will be passed down from generation to generation.
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