Violin- do we give up or keep going?

[jellymaker]

DD9 has been playing violin for 2 years now - she goes in and out of loving it and hating it. Her teacher says that he never knows what he is going to get when she goes to the lesson - a brilliant attitude or a really reluctant one. I have had that many arguments with her about it, I think I am ready to throw in the towel and then I see her playing in the little group that she is in and she is in her element. I am swinging between knowing that 9 year olds can't see beyond the end of their own noses and we should just ride it out for now, and having enough of her dragging her heels almost every, but not all the times that I ask her to practise. WWYD?

[drummersmum]

The problem is, playing the same pieces over and over till they sound right (as in preparing for exams) is part of music making. Nor everything is "discovery and fun". There's a lot of hard work, repetition, frustration, etc. I think some personalities can do this, others will find it more difficult. The fact that most children don't want to give up but hate practice shows that practice is the least fun aspect of it, and it's not true that it "should be all fun". Starting new pieces to avoid boredom and never taking them to perfection is not fully learning. Sorry if I sound harsh, but that's my experience... !

[user789653241]

drummersmum, that's a great advice. I keep that in my mind. Thank you.