Building a Home Environment That Nurtures Musical Growth

Your child has a new instrument and is eager to learn.  You are not a musician and perhaps have only a limited understanding of the journey s/he is about to begin.  How do you create a home environment that really encourages music, playing, and experimentation? Adapting the homelife to fully encourage music is so important and we wanted to provide a few tips based on our experiences, and experiences shared with us over the past decades.

We’ve seen so many kids get into the violin. The best experiences always come from families that embrace the music and make it a part of the family life. How do you do that?  Here are some tips….

First, make music a part of everyday’s experience. Whether it’s turning on the radio in the car, or playing music on Spotify. But be sure that a wholesome amount of that music is of the instrument your child is learning…so if your child is playing the violin, have Lindsey Sterling, Hilary Hahn or Celtic Woman on the playlist. This accomplishes two things.  First, it makes music ever-present so they know that music is important to you.  Second, ear training comes from listening to music!

Just like athletes love watching pros demonstrating outstanding physical prowess on a playing field, young musicians also benefit from hearing the professionals. But oftentimes, more motivation comes from seeing older kids demonstrating what they do. So going to professional orchestral concerts is great, but mix it up with student orchestras as well where they get to see music played by their peers. They’ll see what they have to look forward to … what they are working towards!   Often having a young mentor is as encouraging as a great teacher to spur on the early learning so encourage these relationships/friendships as well.

And if the music is playing, make conversation about it; bring up a new performer you heard or a tune you particularly liked and find opportunities to discuss the music and the musicians at the dinner table.

Second: Bring your child to concerts and make concert-going part of the family social outings calendar.   If you frequently go to movies, substitute a concert one week. Again, hear music that mirrors the child’s playing experience.  At the concerts, if the child enjoys the player, purchase their music (or, if CD’s are no longer a thing for you) tag the musician in your music app so it becomes part of the daily listening experience.

Third: ALWAYS be positive about the child’s music-making. No dying cat jokes allowed.  It’s fine to be instructive, but your positive reinforcement should always outweigh the constructive feedback. Make sure the child knows how proud you are that s/he is playing an instrument…it’s a big deal. Video games teach instant gratification and learning a musical instrument provides a rich gratification that builds over time. Be sure the child sees his or her advancement…sometimes growth is too subtle to be seen on a day-to-day basis. 

Home concerts are always a good idea. If grandma or grandpa are coming to visit, be sure to include a short concert for them. If the child is younger, a stuffed-animal concert can be great too!

Find ways to make music a thing, regardless of the activity.  We have found families love baking violin-shaped cookies for the holidays!  Violin-shaped birthday cakes are also great ways to celebrate this aspect of their life.

If a child is giving a public concert, be sure to attend! You be the one clapping, cheering the loudest! 

Practicing can be a difficult program for kids. Some families include the practicing in the morning before school; sessions will be short, but there won’t be competition from other activities and homework to intrude.  Set up practice games with rewards for ten, twenty, or thirty consecutive days of practicing. Likewise, rewards are great when a child learns a new piece or achieves a goal set by the instructor.

In short, make music part of the fabric of your homelife. They say without music, the world is ‘meh’ Make the world a happier, brighter place by getting your child off to the absolute best start with a supporting, musically-engaged, home!

Crafted for Excellence

Your violin or viola is your voice in the world of music. But finding the instrument that resonates with your unique playing style and desired sound can be overwhelming. That's why we created V. Richelieu™ violins and violas – instruments designed to unleash your musical potential.

Every V. Richelieu instrument is meticulously built with high-quality materials and expert craftsmanship. This translates to effortless playability, rich projection even in the smallest sizes (down to 11" violas!), and a beautiful, responsive sound that inspires you to play your best.

Made in America, Built by Musicians

Our team isn't just instrument makers – we're players too. That passion and understanding are infused into every V. Richelieu violin and viola, ensuring they meet the demands of both students and seasoned musicians