Would you rather......

[DadOfStubborn]

This is a hypothetical question my siblings have been discussing. Would you rather have an academic child or a musical one? We are discussing because my dd is pretty academic but not too musical and my niece is the opposite and there are a lot of pros and cons.

I'd rather have a happy child x

Right but that's not the question being asked?

OP, I'm a practical person so I'd choose academic because it's more likely to earn them money in the future.

Having said that, my middle DS is lucky to have the best of both worlds and he uses playing his instruments as a massive stress relief, whereas my other 2 sons use sport.

I thought this was going to be the more fun would you rather fight one hundred duck sized horses or a duck the size or a horse (mini horses for me).

In regards to children we don't get a choice, they are who they are. Does it really matter? A love of music is possible even if you're not particularly gifted, just like there a strategies to help with academic work if this isn't their forte but knowing they are loved and accepted for who they are goes further than either of those things.

Pros and cons for each, obviously; music can make people so happy, yet we need academics to educate (and teach music!)..
Ultimately, whichever creates the happiest person

In my case though dd isn't interested in music while my niece is.

I would like to think that musicians teach music haha

What is the point- for one child to come out better? For one set of parents to be able to say they give up more for their child?

I think comparison is the thief of joy.

Love the musical child and nurture their gifts. Love the academic child and nurture their gifts.

I was an academic child but have always wished I was musical. My sibling was musical and I’ve had a more financially successful and stable, but less interesting and adventurous life than him.

I'm both academic and musical. I really wouldn't care which my child favoured, as long as they are happy.

Do posters have to be SO po faced about everything??

Academic

Definitely academic. However, studying music is known to help a child’s brain develop and achieve more academically.

This. It's the only thing that's important.

But if I had to choose between academic and musical, it'd be academic.

I am a bit skeptical of this theory based on personal experience

Musical. Academic can come later.

Studies have shown that children who study music get higher grades at GCSE.

16 years ago I'd have said academic. Now I have a creative, crafty, artistic, musical child who can't add to save her life and wants to string Pythagoras up by his bollocks and I think she's the fecking bee's knees.

I'd choose musical only if exceptionally talented. Even 'really good' musicians end up with orchestra or teaching jobs.

Whereas academics don't have to be exceptional to do really very well, - and get paid a lot more than the average musician, with loads of perks, like paid visits to overseas conferences, good pensions, etc.

I think I'd find it a bit depressing to parent a talented but unexceptionally talented musical child, knowing they'd never make it to the top.

Academic. They've got more chance of doing well financially, and life without money can be miserable and hard. Most people don't make a living out of music, even if they're very talented.

Saying that I do know someone who plays guitar for a famous singer so it works out very well for some people.

I've known a lot of classical musicians, and they mostly aspired to orchestras. Nothing wrong with that.

It's getting harder to get into academia too. Most of the time just a PhD might not be enough these days.

It's been shown that high EQ is generally most important in getting ahead in any area. More so than abilities.

What really matters is that my children are happy with whatever they do. They don't have to make it to the top, whatever that means, as there are many side lines and options within a given field. A musician doesn't have to be a performer. There are other paths within music and the industry they can take. An academic person might be more interested in trades or something social. They may enjoy a role that isn't 'at the top'. Good for them.

In observing my children and the world, I think I would choose social competence and kind personality over genius of any kind.

I'm asking for my niece, do musicians actually earn less than "normal" people?

Me too, I'm very disappointed. I'll fight the mini horses with you.

Academic.

That's going to be individual. You can make good money teaching private lessons, but that relies on getting the business. Most musicians also want to do teaching as a part of what they do, together with their own musical interests. I can't speak for individuals. Some will make a lot, others will struggle.

If there's a love of music you can also look into jobs like sound engineering, producing, all sorts of side lines.

That's true

Music definitely. I always wanted to be good at music, I play some instruments but none that proficiently. I can't think of anything more wonderful than listening to your child play a beautiful piece of music they've learnt. Even better if they can compose themselves!

A happy, healthy one.