My kid is interested in playing piano. We’ve found a teacher but when she practiced today, she immediately wanted me to sing what was on the sheet while she was playing the notes. That was somewhat successful but she wasn’t very happy with the result and was also surprised how difficult it was. Being an amateur musician myself I can’t help but think that this part is probably way more fun and excitement than just playing notes, which she is obviously willing to do.

However, even though I play the piano myself and while I’m both self-taught and I take lessons, I have no model for how musical families do these things because we just weren’t musical besides a radio in the kitchen and early forms of MTV.

How did you end up playing and instrument? What helped you stick with it? Was it just making music with family, being able to play in a band? Was it that your parents allowed you to sign up for piano lessons but only if you stuck with it for a given time?