Non-musician with musical child

[PoppyPlum]

My DD is going into Y2 and has expressed an interest in learning a musical instrument. Her music teacher at school is very supportive. I'd like her to be able to give it a go as she might really enjoy it, but I know NOTHING about music. Can't read music for a start.

How do I make sure DD gets the most out of lessons while knowing so little myself. I know practice at home is really important. Should I learn to read music? I don't have masses of time as I have other DCs and work part time. I could try and schedule her lesson at a time that I can attend perhaps?

Can this ever be a success?

Yes!!
It's a perfect opportunity to learn to read music alongside her, and initially won't take any more than, maybe, 15-20 minutes of your day. Your daughter could learn perfectly well without your input, but will get so much more out of lessons if you're able to help and support her between lessons, and you'll enjoy the time you spend together doing it.

I completely agree with floot

Sitting in on a child's lesson makes such a difference. As a piano teacher I find it's hard to explain in the practice notebook how to practise aspects of technique, eg hand position or bouncy wrists. A parent observing and reminding/supporting through the week is fab.

Reading music is very straightforward. Musical notation is a very simple system. The only reason most people aren't fluent is that they don't use it regularly.

These days there are lots of fun apps for practising rhythm, note- reading etc and lovely music theory workbooks for little ones.

Thank you both. I was on wikihow (!!) last night learning about reading music and I am hoping it will make more sense in the context of an actual instrument.

I am quite looking forward to this, nice to learn a new skill myself. She's choosing an instrument together with her music teacher next week so I hope it'll be something fairly straightforward and portable!

Poppy - I love your enthusiasm about learning a new skill yourself alongside your DD. Traditionally with the Suzuki violin method, the parent learns the instrument alongside the child. This may be a step too far though , and not common in this country.

Please do feel free to join us on the music thread if you like. There are lots of amazing parents there who, despite being non-musicians, have supported their DCs at all levels.

Great if you can learn alongside her but if not the absolutely fine. I am non-musical and have three children who started around the same age, now teenagers and all done very well. Main thing especially when young is to help with discipline of practicing and be supportive.

Great to hear these positive experiences.

She tried out the cello lesson today and loved it so seems like we've chosen an instrument. I will see if I can get involved in her lessons on a regular basis. Fun!

I'm a professional musician and my Mum knew nothing about music. She sat in on my lessons so that she could help me practice (I was 5).
So definitely sit in if you can. There must be loads of You Tube videos on how to read music.
Both my children learn and instrument and I sit in on their lessons as I like to know what they should be doing!They also play completely different instruments to me so I feel like I need to understand them a bit.