What to do if your child is musically gifted?

In a world of Beethoven, Mozart, Michael Jackson, and the queen bee herself, Beyonce, who wouldn’t desire a child with the talent of music? When you see a child hit a clean falsetto in a room full of people, you’re filled with joy and admiration. Who wouldn’t be? But how do you know if your child has the talent? And what to do if they are musically gifted?
 
Read to the end and follow the tips I’m going to share on what to do if your child is musically gifted (and how to know if they are in the first place), and what to nurture their gifts. 
 
You may be too old to discover you’re the next Beyonce; but you still have a chance to find your child’s musical talent.
 

What does it mean to be musically gifted

Being musically gifted means one has a natural born affinity for music. They engage with it on a level imperceptible to the rest of us, seeming to hear and experience dynamics we don’t notice. Beyond that, they participate with the music, they join the creative process. Whether it be through their voice, and instrument, or even dance. Simply put, it just makes sense. 
 
The biographies of musical prodigies show that many of them participated and composed in music at a young age. As early as 3 to 4 years old most children start exhibiting musical abilities. As evidenced by their ability to carry a tune and sing with a steady rhythm.

How to tell if your child is musically gifted

An old wives tale says that children who react in the womb when sang to have a natural talent for music. This may or may not be true, but generally we can’t make too many conclusions about a child before they have interacted with the world 😉.
 
So what does make a child “musically gifted”? In a nutshell; they focus on music with intensity, they demonstrate memory of melody and/or rhythm, and they partake in the music around them. Read on for more details:
 
  • Appreciation for the art
    • Everyone enjoys music, right? You and I could jam to an average song that “sounds nice” but a talented child has an intense appreciation for quality. Emphasis on quality. If your child tells you to stop singing while you are in the shower, that might be all the proof you need 😉. Sustained focus on music is also a good indicator that your child is musically inclined.
  • Advanced music memory
    • Playing by ear is the ability to reproduce music they have only heard. Without having seen it notated in any form of sheet music. This is a child’s ability to replicate any piece of music, they may even tweak and build on it, playing it as they see fit. Turning it into their own composition
  • Singing in tune
    • Another good sign is how a child matches pitch and tune with their voice. Zoltan Kodaly, founder of the Kodaly method, believed the voice was the first and most effective tool in developing a child’s music skills. Many music method teach a child to match pitch with their voice. If your child can already do this without any training, then, that’s a young prodigy right there!

What to do if your child is musically gifted

Congratulations! Now you know your child has a gift. Take some time to sit back and relax with your favorite show, because you are about to go on a long but eventful journey with your little wonder.
 
Nurturing your child’s gift takes hard word and resources. Both in time and money. We can’t provide the perfect long-term roadmap for you, but we can get you started on how to make the most of it.

Get acquainted with their preferences

Learn what it is about music your child loves. Is it a certain genre? A specific instrument? Understanding their preference informs you how to best help them hone their talent. This is the key to making the experience as fun and stress-free as possible. A child who wants to be there will learn more and progress faster than one who does not.

Be patient

I’m sure you dream of your child becoming the next Beethoven or Mozart the moment they play their first note. But with such a lofty goal in mind, it’s no wonder many kids lose interest. Keep in mind that your ambition is not their interest; it pays to be patient and start small.

child laying with music toys
Life can’t be all work and fun, even for a musical prodigy. Sometimes you’ve just got to let them chill 😉

Make music a priority

There many ways to make music a prioirity. But no matter how you choose to approach the subject, you can’t go wrong with preserving your child’s interest in music so as not to waste such a talent.
 
The best age to start voice lessons for your kid is usually from 6 to 8 years. At this age, it is easy to pick up on new techniques and have fun while learning, which helps a lot in child education.
 
For help here we have a wonderful article on how to get your child involved in music.

Get professional help

As parents, you won’t always be able to give your child what they need. It’s important to recognize where your abilities stop and the need for higher quality instruction sets in.
 

Try to keep it simple

We’ve all been in a situation where we gave up on a concept we were interested in because it became too cumbersome. It would be in your best interest and that of the child in question to break it down as much as possible.

Don’t compare! Don’t compare! Don’t compare!

Even if your child is gifted, remember that not all fingers are equal, there will always be someone doing better. Comparing your child to others will reduce their self-esteem and can make them lose interest in music.

Conclusion

Finding out your child is musically gifted is only the start, there are no guarentees that it will lead to a career at the top of music. But, your child has what they need to get started! With help from you, time to practice, some passion, and maybe a little more luck; your child can turn into a life saturated with one of the great arts of all time.