Raising Musical Kids

Does music make kids smarter? At what age should a child begin music lessons? Where should you purchase an instrument? What should parents expect from a child's teachers and lessons? How can you get kids to practice? Raising Musical Kids answers these and many other questions as it guides parents through everything from assembling a listening library for kids, to matching a child's personality with an instrument's personality, to finding musical resources in your community. Knowing that children can--and often do--get most of their music education from their school, parent and educator Robert Cutietta explores the features and benefits of elementary and secondary school programs, and shows how parents can work with the schools to provide the best possible music program. Throughout the book, Cutietta emphasizes the joy of participating in music for its own sake. The first edition of Raising Musical Kids delighted and informed parents to equal degrees, and this fully-revised second edition is a book that parents everywhere will treasure as a complete road map for developing their child's musical abilities.

Robert Cutietta is Dean of the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California. Comfortable as a musician, teacher, researcher, and parent, he brings a wealth of experience, knowledge, expertise, and common sense to writing about music and children.

Introduction What On Earth Prompted Me to Write This Book? Chapter 1 The Ground Rules Chapter 2 What Does Music Study Do for Your Child? Chapter 3 What Age to Begin Music Lessons Chapter 4 How do you know if your child has talent? Chapter 5 Creating a Musical Home Environment Chapter 6 Finding a Good Private Teacher Chapter 7 Choosing the Right Instrument for Your Child to Play Chapter 8 Getting Kids to Practice Chapter 9 What Is Good Practicing? Chapter 10 Music in Schools Chapter 11 Music in the Public Elementary School Chapter 12 Music in Secondary Schools Chapter 13 Music in Non-public Schools Chapter 14 Music Education outside of Schools Chapter 15 Musical Competitions Chapter 16 Music, Teenagers, and the Home Chapter 17 Technology and Music Learning Chapter 18 Finding (and Using) Community Musical Resources Chapter 19 Careers in Music Chapter 20 Da Capo al Fine Chapter 21 Deceptive Cadence Appendix A Listening activities to engage your child in music Appendix B Podcasts of Interest Appendix C Resources for Parents Appendix D Songs That "Americans, of All Ages, Should Know and Can Sing" Appendix E The National Standards for Music Education Appendix F Suggestions for Listening
Notes References Index