Michael Hemsworth • August 4, 2025
How to Grow Your Child’s Musical Brain at Home
The Musical Home: Building Your Child’s Brain Through Sound and Play
You don’t need to be a musician to raise one. In fact, the most powerful musical moments at home often happen when no one is trying too hard—when a song is playing, someone is humming, or a child is dancing freely to music they don’t fully “understand.”
Here’s how to build your child’s musical brain between ages 3 and 8:
Play High-Quality Music Often
Children unconsciously absorb the music they hear—just like language. Classical, jazz, folk, world music, and instrumental tracks with changing tone and rhythm help build musical understanding. Avoid only using music made “for kids.” Rich adult music works just as well (sometimes better!).
Sing and Move Together
Encourage singing—even silly sounds or nonsense syllables. The voice is a child’s first instrument. Combine singing with movement like clapping, swaying, or jumping to the beat. This helps them “speak music,” not just listen to it.
Let Music Be a Routine, not a Lesson
Music doesn’t need to be taught like math. It should be part of everyday life: during car rides, bath time, or while getting ready for bed. The more music is woven into your child’s daily world, the more they’ll develop the mental framework to understand it later.
The way your child listens, sings, and moves with music today lays the foundation for everything they’ll be able to do with music tomorrow. In our final post, we’ll look at how to measure that foundation—and why it matters.
Just like your child was born with the potential to speak a language, they were also born with the potential to understand and create music. This inborn potential is called music aptitude—and the early years are critical for nurturing it. Music aptitude is a child’s natural potential to learn music. It’s not about how well they perform yet, but about how ready their brain is to make sense of musical sounds. Between birth and age 9, this potential is still forming. After age 9, a child’s music aptitude stabilizes—it’s no longer growing, only used. This means the early years are a once-in-a-lifetime window to help your child grow their musical mind. Why is this important? Because a child with high music aptitude who isn’t nurtured may never reach their potential. And a child with average aptitude can grow immensely in the right environment. Every child is musical—it’s just a matter of how and when we support that growth. If you’ve ever wondered whether your child is “musical,” know this: the most important thing isn’t what they can do today, but how we surround them with music while their minds are still forming. In the next post, we’ll explore what that environment looks like at home.
Hi Music Maker Families! I’m Mr. Michael from NewSongs Music School, and if you’ve ever heard your child groan at the mention of practice time—you’re not alone. Whining, stalling, bargaining, outright refusal… Sound familiar? These moments can leave even the most patient parent wondering, “Is this even worth it?” Here’s the truth: Yes, it is. And it can get better. First—You’re Not Failing Let me start by saying this clearly: If practice has been a struggle in your home, that doesn’t mean your child isn’t musical. And it definitely doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong. Learning to play an instrument is hard. It’s full of highs and lows, breakthroughs and breakdowns. And just like learning to read, ride a bike, or tie shoes—it takes time, support, and a whole lot of grace. Sometimes your child is frustrated because it’s challenging. Sometimes they’re bored because it’s repetitive. And sometimes… they just forget! This is all normal. What You Can Do: Simple, Supportive Strategies Here are a few things I’ve seen work wonders over the years—for my students, my own kids, and yes, even myself: 🎵 1. Create a Consistent Routine Choose one regular time each day for practice. Maybe it’s right after school, before dinner, or five minutes before bed. Predictability lowers resistance and builds habit. Even 5–10 minutes a day makes a difference. You don’t need marathon sessions—just moments of focused attention. 🎵 2. Celebrate the Little Things Did they finally play that tricky part without stopping? Nail the rhythm in measure three? Play a whole song from memory? Celebrate it. Clap, smile, high-five. These small wins might seem ordinary, but they fuel the motivation to keep going. 🎵 3. Be Present, Even Briefly You don’t need to be musical yourself. Just be curious. Ask: “Can I hear your favorite part?” Or: “What’s the hardest part today?” Being there shows your child their effort is seen and valued. 🎵 4. Use a Timer—And Keep It Short Set a timer for 5–10 minutes and say, “Let’s just focus during this time.” Once it becomes routine, kids often surprise us by wanting to keep going. It’s About Progress, Not Perfection At NewSongs, we remind students—and their parents—that perfection isn’t the goal. Growth is. Mistakes? They’re not only okay— they’re essential. Each wrong note is a step toward the right one. Each moment of struggle builds grit, patience, and resilience. When a student works through a challenge, they’re not just becoming better musicians—they’re becoming more confident and capable human beings. From One Parent to Another As a parent myself, I get it. Some days you’re the coach, the cheerleader, the timekeeper, and the motivational speaker all rolled into one. Take a deep breath. You’re doing great. And remember—you're not alone. Our teachers at NewSongs are here not just to teach your child, but to support you, too. We love helping families find creative ways to make practice time feel rewarding, even fun. Because at NewSongs, we’re not just teaching music. We’re supporting growth through music. If you’d like tips specific to your child or want to talk through what practice could look like at home, I’d love to chat. We’re in this together—one note at a time. With encouragement, Mr. Michael Founder of NewSongs Music School Author of Mr. Michael’s Music Maker Manual
When Is the Right Time to Start Music Lessons? by Mr. Michael – Music Teacher, Parent, and Advocate for Creativity Hi there! I’m Mr. Michael—a music teacher, parent, and someone who’s deeply passionate about helping kids grow through creativity. One of the most common questions I get asked is: “What’s the best age to start music lessons?” And here’s the part that might surprise you: All of my own kids play music—but none of them started formal lessons at a very young age. In fact, most of their instruction began during their tween and teen years. That brings me to a really important distinction: Music-Making vs. Music Lessons There’s a big difference between the best age to start making music and the best age to begin studying an instrument formally. From birth to around age seven, children are soaking up musical aptitudes—things like pitch, rhythm, tone, and coordination. This is a prime window for musical growth, and that’s why group classes like our Music Explorers or Animal Adventures in Music are so powerful. They help young kids experience music in joyful, age-appropriate ways. So, When Should My Child Start an Instrument? Here’s the short version: 🎵 It’s never too early to make music. 🎵 It’s never too late to start an instrument. 🎵 But it can be too early for formal lessons, depending on your child’s readiness. For example, piano and violin are often great starter instruments for ages 5–7 because they match well with developing motor skills. At this age, lessons should still include plenty of movement, listening, and playful exploration—not just reading music. Other instruments, like guitar or wind/brass, may require more strength or breath control. But there are accessible alternatives like the ukulele, recorder, or even a small hand drum that can open doors for little learners. Questions to Ask About Readiness If you're thinking about starting lessons, ask yourself: Is my child curious about instruments and willing to engage a few times a week? Can they focus and follow instructions for at least 10 minutes? Are they ready to learn from someone other than a parent? Most importantly—am I ready to support them at home with regular practice? If you’re not quite there yet, that’s totally okay. There are still so many ways to enjoy music together—through singing, movement, listening games, or group classes. My Story (and My Kids’) For the record—I didn’t start piano lessons until I was nearly in middle school. And my kids? They started in their double digits too. What matters most isn’t when you start, but how you support a child’s musical curiosity and confidence along the way. So if your child is showing interest, let that be your sign. Reach out to a music school like ours, or talk to a trusted local teacher. We’ll help you figure out what’s right for your child’s age, stage, and personality. Music is a lifelong journey. And wherever you’re starting from, we’re here to walk with you—one joyful note at a time. With encouragement, Mr. Michael Teacher at NewSongs Music School Author of Mr. Michael’s Music Maker Manual