CREATE A MUSICAL LIFE

It is incredibly valuable for students to talk with their parents about what they learned in their lesson. The goal is to gently encourage them to "teach" the concept back to you. How they explain it matters less than the conversation it sparks. Ask questions and be curious. Even if they don’t quite nail the explanation, the process of walking through the material out loud is a powerful learning tool. Try casually asking about their lesson—what they worked on, if they learned something new, practiced in a different way, or played a new game.

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I want students to have a musical life, not just a weekly lesson. That means experiencing live music regularly. Consuming music only through the internet doesn’t offer the same depth. In my experience, students who go to live performances—of any kind—tend to show a deeper connection to music. There’s no pressure to analyze or think critically; they just get to enjoy and absorb the experience.

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It’s also important that students feel comfortable singing during lessons. I encourage you to sing with them—even in the car! Play music, sing along, and don’t worry about how you sound. Just enjoy it together. If you’ve got a teen, showing genuine interest in their music taste goes a long way. It tells them their musical world matters, and that’s a big part of keeping them engaged and inspired.