Why Do So Many Children Quit Music Lessons?

The answer may have less to do with talent... and more to do with how they're being taught.

Every year, thousands of children begin music lessons with excitement. They dream of playing songs they love, performing for family and friends, and becoming "musical."

Yet, just a year or two later, many of those same children have quit.

Why?

Parents often assume it was because their child wasn't motivated enough or simply "wasn't musical."

After teaching music for more than 30 years, I don't believe that's the real reason.

I think many children quit because success isn't celebrated, and it doesn't happen fast enough.  

Music Should Build Confidence... Not Frustration

Imagine asking a child to read an entire chapter book before they've learned the alphabet.

We would never expect that to work.

Yet that's often what happens in music education.

Many students are asked to play songs on an instrument before they truly understand the language of music itself. They memorize finger patterns, practice the same songs over and over, and rely heavily on a teacher to tell them what comes next.  In choir classes, that is super common because teachers are under pressure to do concerts, and they don't always make time to teach their students to read music.  

Eventually the children begin asking themselves...

"Why is this so hard?"

"Why can't I do this on my own?"

Little by little, confidence disappears.

And when confidence disappears...

...so does motivation.

Reading Music Is a Language

Music isn't just something we play.

It's something we read.

Just like learning to read words, learning to read music begins with understanding the symbols, recognizing patterns, and gradually building fluency over time.  Learning to read music mimics the exact way our children learned to speak their native language.  They should WANT to learn what the words mean, and with S-Cubed, they will.  

When children can look at a piece of music and understand what they're seeing—even before touching an instrument—they begin developing true musical independence.  A capella?  Absolutely.  It's the best way.  

The confidence they gain when following the S-Cubed system changes everything.

Instead of feeling lost...

...they begin feeling capable and excited to see what is next.  

The Philosophy Behind S-Cubed

When I created the S-Cubed Sight Singing Program for Beginners, I wasn't trying to create another system that imitated all of the others out there.  They start in the key of C (already confusing to a beginner...those LEDGER lines), move to the key of G or F (It's so HIGH...I can't sing that high), and on and on.  Systems like those are a dime a dozen and they don't work for the true beginner.

I wanted to teach children how to read music confidently.  

That's why every lesson is built around a philosophy that guided my classroom for decades:

3/4 Learning + 1/4 Cup Fun = SUCCESS!

Children absolutely need to enjoy learning.

But they also deserve lessons that build real skills.

The "learning" comes from carefully sequenced instruction that develops music literacy one step at a time.

The "fun" comes from celebrating progress, singing, games, and activities that keep students engaged and looking forward to the next lesson with Mr. C, with whom I collaborated when we created this version of the program.  He is a long-time user of S-Cubed, and he captures the Home version of this program perfectly.  

When we balance "fun" with celebration of success, something wonderful happens.

Children are excited to continue to learn.

And success makes them want to keep going.

You Don't Need a Piano to Build a Musician

One of the biggest misconceptions parents have is believing they need a piano before their child can learn to read music.

The truth is, your child's first instrument is already with them...

their voice.

The S-Cubed Homeschool Edition is designed to help children become confident music readers using their voice first. Because the program is self-paced and taught through video instruction, families can learn at home without owning a piano or paying for weekly private lessons.  Try the first lesson for free by clicking this link.  Check out all of my reviews from teachers over the last 13 years right here, and there are more in my TpT store!  

Whether your child eventually chooses choir, band, orchestra, piano, guitar, or another instrument, they'll already have one of the most valuable musical skills they can develop:

The ability to read music independently.

Every Child Deserves the Chance to Succeed

If your child has struggled with traditional music lessons—or if you're looking for an affordable way to introduce music at home—I hope you'll consider giving them a different kind of musical beginning.

One built on understanding.

One built on confidence.

One built on success.

Because I don't believe children quit music because they aren't capable.

I believe many simply haven't been given the right foundation and the right philosophy.

And that's exactly why I created S-Cubed.  The original version of the program has been used in classrooms all over the world since 2013.  Now it's time to bring it into their homes!  

---

Have a question? I'd love to hear from you in the comments below. Has your child ever taken music lessons? What was their experience?

---