A Note of Encouragement to Parents & Teachers

The following is a letter of encouragement, originally shared on the Time to Practice podcast (Episode 62) and shared here in written form. I hope you find it encouraging and share it with anyone else in your life that you think needs encouragement!

To the parents and caregivers, the grandparents who support the young musicians in their lives 

Who get them to lessons and rehearsals. Who help them get the materials they need, keep their instruments in working condition the best that they can. Who encourage, or insist, on practice at home – sometimes done willingly and sometimes received with grumbling and sighs. 

To the teachers and music educators

Who give their all to their students. Who lose sleep at night thinking about how they can better reach their students and help them.Who help instill a love of learning and music that will stick with their students for a lifetime, in ways they may never know 

To all of us: 

Sometimes our role can feel thankless. We may not know if years or decades from now what kind of impact of music, and this commitment we’ve made, has made on our children or students. We may wonder if it’s worth it or feel drained by the energy it takes sometimes.

So today: 

I want to send you this note of encouragement. I want you to know its never a waste of time to nurture children in our lives, in our case through music. As Eloise Hellyer said in a recent interview, time in music lessons is never wasted. I truly believe that. 

Whatever our children do in music: professionally or long-term: Having learned to work hard, to keep going, to appreciate beauty, to work with others as a team, to problem solve and to be a part of something bigger than ourselves . . . .

These are lessons that stick with us for a lifetime, and the children in our lives may never be able to articulate to us how they shaped them, but I know we can trust that it is in fact doing so. 

And, If we manage to create environments where young people in our lives feel safe and encouraged, like Drake shared with us last week, and help our student experience the awe and love of music, hopefully that love of music sticks with them a lifetime too. 

So today: that is the message I want to share with you. 

What you are doing matters 

Investing in music matters

Investing in the development of young people, of our children matters

Music changes people’s lives 

YOU are changing your childrens and students lives by supporting their musical growth and development. 

By showing up day in day out.

We may want to change our approach if we feel things could be more positive or we want to see more progress – that is always valid. BUT, we can rest assured music itself is a gift and is worth investing in. 

Here in the U.S., this week we celebrate Thanksgiving, and there is a lot of emphasis on gratitude – so I want to make sure, even if your child or students never tell you themselves, what you are doing is so valuable. 

We all need to hear it sometimes – so I want to remind you myself.

Thank you

Thank you for investing in the next generation. Thank you for sharing the gift of music. Thank you for all you do. 

If you know someone who needs to hear this message I hope you’ll pass this episode on – encouragement is important!

~ Christine