One of our first foster care placements was a sibling group who later became our daughters. The oldest was a teenager who arrived at our home enrolled in the school band. Only she didn’t have an instrument and couldn’t play very well. She had, and still has, a natural gift of music that she ended up discovering. We ended up buying her a clarinet and finding private lessons for her. I think that is what started all of our children on their musical journeys.

Our oldest son was jealous that she had music lessons and he didn’t, although he had never asked for them. We ended up buying him and another of our sons each a guitar and they began lessons as well. Our other daughter, the younger sister of the clarinet player, decided she wanted piano lessons so we bought her a piano.

Since then, every child who has lived in our home has begun their musical journey with piano lessons, although later, some moved on to guitar or drums. Even children who only stayed with us for a few weeks began reading simple notes and learned to play some beginner songs.

I have read that children who play an instrument score higher on test. Music does provide a way for shy or insecure children to increase their self-esteem. They take pride in performing newly learned songs for their families or friends. When the school had talent shows, our children always offered to play music.

Music can be an emotional outlet for frustrated children. Sometimes when our children are feeling sad, angry, or frustrated they play the piano and it seems to calm them down. Our 14-year-old daughter who is learning disabled and has an IQ that is borderline for mental retardation has had piano lessons for 10 years. In 2007, she was able to play the wedding march for her older sister’s wedding. She doesn’t really have a natural gift for music, like her older sister, but she is a very competent piano player.

Best of all, no one can ever take their music ability away from them. It is theirs for life.

Photo Credit 2007 Cheryl Claussen of our piano teacher.