Reply to Any other middle schooler doesn't do any music instrument at all?

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[quote=Anonymous]Okay— maybe I’m a slacker mom here. My kids are a rising freshman and rising junior. And they are not going to make a career out of music. So, I don’t sweat the practicing. When the were in ES, there was 20 minutes of practice X days a week, and I made them go through the routine. Starting in MS, practice is between them, their band/strings teacher and their private teacher.  I will not sign practice logs that lie about practice time. Besides that, if they are getting As, fine.

They both have teachers who understand and are on board with the idea that it is more important to us that that our kids enjoy their instrument and stick with it than that they make all-state or join a community orchestra, or are in the band/strings group at their school or become professional musicians. They are performing at a very high level academically, and devoting a lot of time to extracurricular. Band/strings are their down period, and I don’t expect them to excel or be the best.

My older DC is very musical, took AP Music Theory, marches in the band, and has at various times in high school played 4 different but related woodwinds in the highest band.  Plays in the drama pit orchestra and the jazz band. He is not going to be a recruited college musician, but ironically is looking hard at the music programs at various colleges in making a decision.  Because he wants to stay on with some sort of ensemble, and loved music theory, and wants some type of music studies minor.

DD is arising freshman, and has a lot of art talent. We had big time drama this spring about strings vs. art in HS. I stayed neutral, and she chose art. Which is fine, because art also gives my kids an outlet during school, and a way to extras themselves, and use a different part of her brain.  But after the last Ms concert, when it was time to say goodbye to her teacher and turn in her instrument, she decided she could not imagine high school without orchestra. So, she contacted the high school and asked to switch to orchestra.

So, what is your goal OP? If it is just to have your kid keep playing, thedon’t need to practice everyday. They will get so much better in MS because they will play everyday.  If the goal is to have him play a very high level, he’s telling you that’s not how he wants to spend his time. He’s not going to get their without wanting to practice. So compromise, and let him be the mediocre kid who never gets solos and isn’t in the highest orchestra, but loves having music in his life in some manner. [/quote]

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