Encourage our Kids to appreciate good music

Music as a positive influence
   How can we get our young ones more interested in music? Of course they are interested in music! Just take a glance at the pop charts. The bill-board ratings are jumping off the walls, literally. A large portion of the credit goes to our children's keen interest in music.. So what I really mean, is how do we steer these young ones in a more positive direction? How can they maintain their affinity to their peers and their generation, yet reach out for more loftier aspirations? Such as appreciating good music. Not that the music of choice, their choosing of course, is in any form harmful, or it just might be harmful. But the point is, that there is more in the world than our own little back yards. There is a great big world out there, if you already  have'nt noticed.
     What is the solution? For starters , it is the home and it's environment. It is that simple. It starts in the home. Oftentimes, the influential home-figure may not be the parent or a relative, but that mentor, that teacher, that big brother who can bridge the gap so the child will be able to cross over. Let me give you an example. The kind policeman, officer Brown, who befriended Ali, taught him how to box and literally helped make him into the GREATEST! Micheal could have been a mediocre baseball player, or perhaps even a good one. After all he did play in the minor leagues, did'nt he? But there is only one Micheal Jordan and his destiny was in basketball. A GREAT destiny and dynasty.
And now what is the conclusion? It is, that our children have enormous talents. Those talents are not always readily evident. To the disavantaged inner-city kids, our advice is, it does not necessarily need to be sports related to escape poverty or a hopeless future. Basketball or football, may not be the way out. Or perhaps it could be, If the drive, the skills, natural talent and love for the sport is there, then go for it. But remember, Tiger's father did not point him in the direction of the obvious choices for a black kid, but instead to golf. Col. Parker picked up a fledgling Elvis and mentored him. Micheal Jackson's father encouraged and managed them. Beyonce' father mentors and manages her. Micheal Jorden's dad was his biggest fan. And nor can we leave out two of the greatest tennis players living today, Venus and Vanessa Williams. Their greatest fan? Of course, their dad the mentor. Be a good mentor. Some of those mentioned were not.
 Who will become the next Yo Yo Ma, The next Marion Anderson,The next Isaac Stern,or the next Izaac Perlman? Who knows, it just might be your little one in the bedroom practicing his violin lessons. We never want to discourage or put down our children if they want to go out for acting, music or sports. Nor do we want to push or try to re-live our failed ambitions through them. Gently and deftly steer them. Anything else could scar them. Expose your kids to classical music. And if you see even a hint of interest, aim them in that direction and set their sites and goals high. As mentioned above, It is a very big world out there. And from a high vantage point, they can see clearly how to make wise choices.
Arthur Ned Maxwell composer of Serenading Miss Texas
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