Children who play musical instruments often do better in math, reading, spelling, and composition. Children who play musical instruments tend to have higher levels of self confidence, so encouraging your child to play a musical instrument is always a good idea. However, insisting that your child play a musical instrument typically is met with resistance and all out refusal to practice. Playing music should be fun, and imposing punishments for not practicing or for playing poorly generally doesn't produce more enthusiastic musicians but rather resentful instrument players.

Allowing your child to decide on which musical instrument they are interested in playing is always better than assigning them one, and children are likely to change their minds. Participating in a rent to own musical program will allow your child the freedom to change their mind, while giving them basic guidelines for the length of time they have to decide whether they are going to continue playing the instrument they chose or try out something different.

Most children will choose which musical instrument they want to play based on what is popular. You may want to encourage them to try something a little more unique or something they are completely unfamiliar with. Young children are typically familiar with pianos and guitars and drums, but very few children under the age of ten are openly familiar with bassoons and harps and cellos, or what they can do.

When a child is openly convinced that they want to play music but don't have any idea what they want to play, taking them to a qualified music store can help, as there is usually someone there who can explain to them which instruments do what and why people play them, and can even give them a high energy demonstration.

When your child has finally settled on what musical instrument they wish to play and begin the process, frustration is normal. It looks so easy when other people play musical instruments. A good musical instrument instructor will take them slow enough through the process that they won't get overwhelmed, but they will also avoid boring them. A musical instrument instructor that mixes up the more popular music with the classics is likely to receive a better response than someone who only instructs in the classics.