subject: A Debate Ended Should You Send Your Child To Music School? [print this page] A long running debate has finally been resolved. People have been arguing for years over whether they should send their young musical prodigies to a professional music school or not. The answer is that its the specific situation that has to be looked at. Absolutes dont exist. Parents should be flexible when it comes to this subject by looking at the needs of the child and what they want out of music.
How Did They Learn?
How did the childs musical talent become apparent in the first place? If it came about through hard training and years of practice then theres very little point in sending them to a school. A better idea would either to be just to leave them to learn by themselves or to get them a private tutor. If, however, this talent is still in the early stages then its a parents duty to make sure that this talent is nurtured. A music school can really help with this as they are trained to help talent grow from a young age.
Type of Music
If the individual in question is fantastic at playing the guitar and has created a band with their friends then theres probably not a whole lot of point sending them away to a school. If, however, they have learned the violin, the flute, or another classical instrument then the only place they can go together is within an orchestra. There may be an orchestra at school for them, but the best thing is to send them off to a school as the teachers are going to be infinitely better and they will be able to learn and perform with those who have the same goals and the same love of music.
Furthermore, orchestral performances every year, or every few months, are common within a music school. They are often open to the general public and it helps them to gain those public performances that are going to give them the confidence to take their education further in the future.
Ambitions?
The worst thing that can happen is that a child is sent off to music school against their wishes. A lot of people just learn an instrument for themselves. Theyre not interested in becoming a performer or taking their education to the highest levels. Sending them away to a school against their wishes could just crush their love for music and potentially make their talent go to waste. Always listen to the individual in question.
