I often get asked "What can I do to help my child in music?" The answer? Lots! For our younger students, we often have to work hard at finding our proper singing voice range. This frequently takes time, but one thing you can do to help is to have your child make silly sounds, like trying to imitate a siren, which forces the voice up into the higher range. Sing with your young student - sing together. Make it fun. There are many times throughout the day to add in singing - in the car, at wake-up time, etc. Change the words to familiar songs (like "If you're happy and You Know It") to fit your situation, for example "if you've put away your toys, clap your hands" etc. Don't be afraid to sing for them!
For our older students, expose them to other kinds of music. You know what they listen to already. Play them some Beatles, Mozart, Wynton Marsalis, Yo-Yo Ma - anything that is different from what they already hear.
All students can benefit from exposure to live music and live theater. Many local parks in our area offer free concerts over the summer. Pack a picnic and grab some beach towels and make it a fun evening. The West Point Military Band is amazing, and they do outdoor concerts that are just beautiful overlooking the river. Maybe head down to Manhattan and check out some musicals. The TKTS booth offers discounted tickets, and there are many "kid friendly" shows now playing. There are also many local theaters where you can see great quality performances for very reasonable prices.
The best suggestion I can give to everyone is to make music a part of your family's daily life, in any way you possibly can!
