Raising a child who shows music promise can be tricky at times. One reason for this is that he or she may have to deal with issues and circumstances that they may not necessarily be emotionally ready for, such as people critiquing their performances and getting more attention than their friends or siblings. The more a parent knows what to expect, the more prepared they are to handle each issue or situation as it comes up or prevent it altogether.

Here are 7 ways that you can support, encourage and protect your child:

1. Give them the freedom to decide how far they want to go with their music. If it’s their choice, chances are they will enjoy the journey. If it’s your choice, and you’re pushing them beyond their comfort level, they may resent you and/or the fact that they are being pressured.
2. Be sure that your child’s learning style matches up with his or her instructor’s teaching style.  The pace they work at, the amount and nature of the homework that is given, and even the tone of voice the teacher uses can all affect your child’s learning and willingness to continue.
3. Understand the amount of time, money and effort that you may need to invest in your child. Discuss this with anyone else involved in the child’s daily life (spouse, other children etc.) and get everyone on the same page. Set reasonable limits so that you don’t go overboard.
4. Be sure that they still have balanced home and social lives. Some musicians become hermits, locking themselves away from everyone to practice for hours and hours on end. While there is nothing wrong with this kind of passion, it shouldn’t take over their entire lives.
5. Learn enough about the business side of the music industry so that you and your child can both make healthy, wise decisions. This includes knowing the right instruments and gear to purchase, how to get a website at a reasonable cost and the fair price to pay for a recording session. It’s also important to know who should be working on commission and who normally gets paid for their services.
6. Find a mentor with experience in the music industry; someone you can call on to ask question or get advice. Don’t make critical decisions without consulting an expert. You can join the hundreds of Linkedin groups geared towards musicians. There you can get advice on just about any challenge you might face. One valuable group is called ‘Parents of Young Musicians,’ and it is designed specifically to help you encourage, support, educate and protect your talented child.
7. Do your due diligence on anyone who wants to manage or ‘develop’ your child. The industry is rampant with sharks who love to prey on parents who will do ‘whatever it takes’ to help their kids. Be sure they have a track record of accomplishing what you want them to do. Ask for and check references from other parents.

By knowing what your child is thinking and feeling at each stage of their musical development, you will be able to support him or her every step of the way. By knowing how the music industry really works, you can navigate it without being taken by people who feast on parents who will do anything to help their children.