Music Questions I’ve answered on Quora. Part 3

Quora is an online question and answer (Q & A) platform. It allows people to seek answers from others in their community. Here are the questions and answers I’ve provided on Quora. Perhaps you will find an answer to your Q & A.

How do I get someone to quit taking music lessons when they’re wasting money on it?

How do you define waste?

For example, in college, many students have to take courses that are not relevant to their major or never used after college – Anthropology for one. If we only focused on taking lessons or learning about things that have direct relationships to our future, we would never take 60% of the courses in college. Although I didn’t directly use the information from that class, it allowed me to be a better rounded person. When I meet people who are interested in that topic, I am able to connect with them and have intelligent conversations.

Music lessons have been shown to have a relationship with many valued skills such as reduction of stress and increased academic performance.

Last, music lessons are a great outlet for creativity. It can help with creativity. It can provide an escape for the 9–5 or an escape from the pressures of childhood.

How do I convince my education oriented Arab parents to let me take piano and voice lessons?

Many parents want the best for their child and unfortunately, sometimes the arts is secondary to other academic fields such as science and math. I would talk to your parents about the new trend “STEAM” Science, technology, engineering, art, and math that incorporates art into these academic fields. For example, music lessons have been shown to increase academic performance.

Many skills found in the arts are desired by colleges and employers. Employers need people who work for them that have a variety of skills. As a piano/voice student, you will need to learn how to keep time and engage with your audience.

You know your parents better than anyone else, what are the things they value, then talk about how music lessons will result in you getting better at it. See if you can compromise. Perhaps if they allow you to take lessons, you will do something more in return: increase chores or spend less time on a non-academic activity.

How do I convince my mom to let me take voice lessons?

I remember being a young girl and wanting to take piano lessons. She told me years later that there were a few things I did that convinced her to let me take lessons, this can be used for you trying to convince your mom to take voice lessons.

First, I did my research. I found out where I could take lessons and how much were the lessons going to be.

Second, I stuck with it. Children’s request oftentimes goes away. It took months for me asking before she agreed.

Third, I described the benefits. I talked about how it would make me a better performer, it would improve my school grades, and that I really wanted to do it!

Fourth, ask in a mature manner. Keep it respectful if she says no.

How do I tell my mom I want to start voice lessons when I have bad anxiety in front of other people?

I think it is great that you want to start voice lessons even with your anxiety being in front of people. Many people have anxiety about being in front of people, especially when they are doing something – especially singing.

I have performed and taught in front of hundreds of people in multiple settings. I think that my voice lessons was the biggest change in how I felt standing in front of people and speaking or performing.

In fact, singing has been shown to show improvement in anxiety. The breathing and relaxation exercises can be used across multiple platforms.

Explain to your mom that voice lessons will provide significant personal development in a lot of areas. Look forward to hearing you some day.

What should I do if my parents don’t want me to be a singer despite my dream to be one?

Hello,

I understand your dilemma. I would try to find ways to be a singer. Are there choirs you can join? Is there a chorus in your school? Can you take singing lessons?

Connect being a singer to how it can help you with the things that are important to your parents. Parents are most interested in their child growing academically. There is research that states that music/singing lessons has an increase in academic performance.

In addition, have a plan. Look up where you would take voice lessons, find out how much it cost, and decide on how you are going to fit singing, lessons, or choirs, into your schedule.

How do I ask my mom to let me take singing lessons?

When I was younger, my mom had me in ballet. I hated it. I really wanted to learn how to play the piano. We had a piano already and no one in the house played it.

When you ask for it, do the research. State the reasons why you want to do. Find articles that describe the benefits of taking singing lessons, for example, it can improve personal development and improve academic performance.

Next, find a place you are interested in taking lessons at. Find out how much it costs and how you would fit it in your schedule.

Last, keep at it. People want something and then something else. If this is what you want, stick with it and continue to request singing lessons.

My 5 yr old shows some natural skill and interest in singing, she has asked for voice lessons; Is she too young?

It’s great that your child is showing natural skills and interest in singing ^[1]and I love that she is asking for voice lessons herself. Oftentimes, parents push their kids into an activity that maybe a child isn’t that interested.

I would say, continue to look for signs that she is ready to take voice lessons. For example, does she sound pretty good; does she like to perform in front of others; should she have her own YouTube channel?

As a parent, also think about the things that voice lessons can provide: personal development, increased academic success, and reduction of stress.