Making Room for Music in the Summer Holidays

The summer holidays are probably the most anticipated holiday of the school year.  Parents and children alike long for that season when they no longer need to set their alarms quite so early in the mornings in a bid to get to school on time.  Parents certainly don’t miss the rush hour traffic and children do not miss the school bells.

Paradoxically, despite all this “free” time, the summer is also a season when children’s musical skills can take a nose dive, due to the lack of a predictable structure and routine. In fact, most teachers, not just music teachers, anticipate a dip in their student’s knowledge after the long summer holidays.

 At KMC, we have a saying “music never goes on holiday” because whether or not one actively engages with music while on holiday, we cannot escape music in it’s entirety.  Multiple times a day, we are bound to experience music in some shape or form.  

Children have very little control over their holiday plans, and can only go with the flow.  The responsibility therefore lies on the adults to create a supportive environment during the holidays that encourages the pursuit of music, no matter how minimal, in some form or the other.

Here are some ways to keep your children connected to music during the summer holidays:

• Create an account for them on free music training apps such as Musicca or Note Rush where they can learn a bit of music theory and play some music games. This can help ensure children do not forget foundational skills such as how to read certain notes on the staff for example.

• Attend live concerts.  If your child is taking traditional classical music lessons, try to get them to a live concert.  Many concert halls offer child-friendly concerts and events such as the London Symphony Orchestra in the UK and Carnegie Hall in the US. 

• Set them a holiday challenge – for instance to memorise one or two pieces they learnt during the term.  This is a great way to incentivise children to practice, especially if linked to a reward such as a playdate or a special treat.  It doesn’t have to be an expensive or monetary reward even.  Every August, we set our students a “30 Days of Music” challenge and they are rewarded with points for every challenge that they complete before the deadline.  We find that children who engage with the challenge do not slip back as far as children who don’t. Your children can take part too if you wish. Simply follow this link to request access. 

• Get them to teach a friend or member of the family to play a simple piece on their instrument.  The process of having to teach someone else will help consolidate their understanding of music as well as improve their communication skills.

• Share your inheritance tracks with your children.  Intentionally create time to share a moment where you and your children listen together to music that you loved growing up.  Have them research the lives of the musicians or composers of the music and share their findings with you.

• Enrol them on music summer camps where they can meet with other children and make music together.  Find a summer camp that is suited to your child’s needs.  If your child is an intermediate or advanced player, you may consider a residential camp type experience that is targeted at more accomplished musicians.  There are also less intense camps that offer a more casual experience that is suited to children of all abilities and experiences such as our Summer Holiday Music Bootcamps which we run both in-person and online.

• Go see a musical at the theatre.  There is something magical about watching a story told through music.  It is an experience that I never tire of. 

 I hope you will enjoy exploring some of these ideas with your children this summer.  And if you do, feel free to write me at kunbi@kunbismusiccompany.com to let me know how you found the experience.