In today’s academic world, pressure has been exponentially mounting for children, no matter what level they are studying at. Finding the right balance between academics and extracurriculars, particularly music, can be difficult for busy families. We at Rythmico believe that fostering a healthy relationship between school, music learning, and other extracurriculars is vital to excelling in all areas of life.
First and foremost, prioritising your child’s health and well-being is essential. Children should be sleeping at least eight hours per night according to a published study by the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine to reduce exhaustion and sleep-related anxieties (The Children’s Report of Sleep Patterns, Metzler et al.). In addition to a good night’s rest, maintaining a healthy and balanced diet, as well as engaging in regular physical activity, can keep your child’s mind and body in good physical condition, resulting in satisfactory performance in school and music.
Organising your child’s study time through an agenda can be beneficial for prioritising tasks and maximizing time for lessons, both academically and musically. A master agenda combining their academic timetable, music lessons, extracurricular activities, and practice sessions will allow both you and your child to keep track of their progress, assignments, and important dates. Never miss or double-book a recital, exam, or other extracurricular activities again! On this master agenda, make sure to identify their most crucial academic tasks and allocate specific time blocks for completing homework, exam prep, etcetera. Then set aside dedicated practice sessions and tutor lessons to balance music and extracurricular commitments effectively. Established planning allows for your child to excel in every area, musically or academically, without feeling overwhelmed.
Combining learning with music can be a fun task for your musically-inclined child, especially if they have trouble with implementing what they have learned in school. Using musical aids, such as rhymes, songs, or even mnemonic devices, can help children to remember concepts or equations. If your child finds joy in musical learning, this combination can stimulate and foster a love for academic learning, or just help them with memorisation skills.
When a child comes home from school, they tend to ‘check out’ of learning-mode. While it is beneficial for children to have time off, they should have a comfortable and ideal study environment at home when it comes to practicing for recitals, studying for exams, or just doing homework. Design a quiet corner in your home dedicated to your child’s extracurricular and academic studies so they are able to focus solely on schoolwork, music practice, and other projects without distractions. Decorate this area with inspiring or motivational posters, such as quotations from their favorite musicians, and study materials to surround them with what they should be concentrating on – this will help them make the most out of their practice and learning sessions!
Lastly, but arguably most important, celebrate your child’s achievements. Acknowledging academic and musical milestones, as well as small victories, will boost your child’s confidence, as well as the desire to excel in school and extracurriculars. Celebrating one’s accomplishments can be the best motivator to continue to study, practice, and play.
Learning music should be a priority for your child, but it should be balanced effectively between family life, academics, and social life. Learning to find the right equilibrium may take time and effort, but the rewards of such balance are beneficial for life skills. At Rythmico, we understand the struggle between academics, music lessons, and other extracurriculars. With the help of our talented and vetted music tutors, we can help foster your child’s musical journey with 1-on-1 sessions tailored to their schedule. To sign up for lessons or browse the tutoring sessions that we offer, visit rythmico.com and inquire for more details.
