Sports Vs. Music: Which One Should Win?

We are all pretty busy people these days. And kids are no exceptions. There is no shortage of after school activities out there for them to choose from.

There is so much to take in and try when you are a kid. You want to try everything and see what you like. And you should do as much as you possibly can.

But eventually we all come to the inevitable fork in the road. The truth is no one can do literally everything and at some point you have to make a choice.

I know this is something that parents struggle with a lot. What should you encourage your kids to do? When is it ok to let them quit something even if you think it is important?

The big mistake that many of us make.

I think one of the biggest conflicts we see with music lessons is sports. I have seen many students come and go because their practice and game schedules become too overwhelming. And instead of looking at the big picture, most kids, as well as their parents, choose the sport over music.

I think this is a big mistake.

Don’t get me wrong. I love sports. There is so much that kids learn from being part of a team. They learn discipline, physical fitness, teamwork and so much more. In no way am I saying that your kids should not play sports.

What I am saying is before you make the decision to drop one or the other, it’s important to really think through where that choice will lead.

I think many tend to look at music lessons as a fun hobby. And sure, it is a lot of fun. But it is a lot more than that. It is a life changing experience.

Through music lessons kids learn a lot of things. They learn discipline. They learn the rewards of hard work. They learn to appreciate different cultures. They learn how to open up their minds to new things.

What makes music the best choice?

I think one of the biggest reasons to choose music is that with music kids are learning a highly specialized skill that many don’t possess. This has incredible value. Whether they choose to pursue a career in music or they just want to play music in a band on the weekends, music lessons will give them a unique skill that they can use for the rest of their lives.

I know it’s fun to play baseball. And your kid may be really good at it. But if he doesn’t go to the major leagues, what else can he do with that skill? It may get him a college scholarship, which would be amazing. But then what?

Everyone can play baseball. Not everyone can play the piano.

I know a lot of professional musicians but I don’t know any professional athletes. Maybe that is due to the company I choose to keep, but I think it says a lot more than that. A life in music is a very attainable goal. It’s a real possibility that is achievable through discipline and practice. But a career as an athlete is not nearly as likely to happen.

How do I know this?

I have met so many adults who tell me one of their biggest regrets is that they dropped out of piano lessons when they were young. Almost all of our adult students tell us that this is their story. These are the adults who as kids decided that baseball, basketball or soccer was more important than piano. And now, they don’t play any of those sports anymore. But they do come back for piano lessons because they realize how much they miss it.

Do you have to choose?

At some point, you are going to have to make a choice. But I think there is a third option.

Let your kids do both.

I think it is totally possible for kids to be involved in sports and music. I did it when I was a kid. I played basketball, golf, baseball and track. And at the same time, I was in symphony band, pep band, jazz band, and choir. It is absolutely doable but it will take a little discipline on your part as a parent.

Instead of letting your child do every sport under the sun, have them choose one so you can leave time for the piano lessons. That way they get the best of both worlds and get a fully enriched educational experience.

I promise, when they get older, your kids will thank you for not letting them quit on music before they realized how much of an impact it would have on their life. And that, even more than hearing them fill your home with music over the years, will be the sweetest sound of all.

I Am Done Playing The Piano

I have a confession to make.

I used to work at Applebee’s.

Man, it feels so good to say it out loud.

Anyhoo, it was actually a pretty fun job. I made a lot of friends there and learned a lot about people.

I learned a very valuable lesson while working there too. It is actually the answer to one of our most Frequently Asked Questions about the piano and piano lessons.

FAQ #2: When Am I Done Taking Piano Lessons?

This is a short story about one of my Applebuddy’s. I honestly don’t remember her name so let’s call her Sarah.

Sarah had just started working at Applebees and she had to spend a little time with me while she was being trained. At first, we totally hit it off because we both played the piano.

You know how it goes at a job where you don’t know anybody. You try to find anything in common so that you have something to chat about to make the time go faster. Sarah and I were chatting about playing the piano that day. And I asked her if she still played. This was her response,

“No, I don’t play anymore. It got to the point where I could play everything so I was done.”

That response floored me. For so many reasons. Done? A real musician would never be “done.” There is always so much more to learn. There is always another level to get to. Even the most incredible piano players in the world are still learning new things. They would never say they were “done.”

No real musician would say they could play everything. What does that even mean? Can you play every Rachmaninoff piece to perfection? Do you know how to play every jazz standard ever written? Do you know how to play all of the harmonic modes and use them in a solo improvisation?

Of course, she didn’t. She got done with her first-year method book and got bored. She gave up and quit. And then told herself she “knew everything” to make herself feel better about quitting.

Either that or she really doesn’t get it. I’m guessing it’s a little of both.

My point is that if you want to be a real musician, you need to buckle in for the ride. It is a lifelong journey that never ends. You never get “done.” You never know everything. Every time you sit down at the piano, it’s a chance to learn something new.

That is the magic of music. It is never-ending. Sure there are milestones along the way that you want to celebrate like learning a big piece or being able to play a song from memory. But if you truly have the heart of a musician, you will never want to stop learning and growing. You won’t be able to because once you start you are hooked.

Is that you? Do you dream about learning the next song or getting better at some run or lick? BTW, It’s ok if that’s not you. You can be a casual music lover and still really enjoy playing the piano.

But if you’re like me, and you have the fire within you, I’m here to tell you that you can be the player you dream of being. Matter of fact, you will be, if you never quit, and embrace the lifelong journey that is being a musician. It’s quite a ride.

Just remember what you signed up for when you get into a new song and it’s harder than you want it to be. Remember why you started this in the first place. You are capable of amazing things including playing this new song that has you stuck. Take a deep breath and dive in.

Most people quit right before they get to the good part. The good part is coming on the next page and you are going to get there because you don’t quit.

I would much rather be one of the few piano players who can’t “play everything” than one of the many who decided they were “done.” I hope you will join me.