Parents' mockery can put children off music for life

Children may be put off music for life if parents and teachers mock their attempts to sing or play an instrument, research suggests. A study by London University's Institute of Education found that an adult's dislike of music might be linked to negative childhood experiences.

Graham Welch, co-author of the report, How is Music Learning Celebrated and Developed? said all children were inherently musical but experiences at home or school could either nurture or hinder development. "Musical ability is part of our genetic inheritance, but different musical skills mature at different times," Professor Welch said. "Adults who expect children to sing in tune before they are ready can make them hate music and destroy their will to ever sing."

The combination of text and music in singing was difficult for young children to master, leading many to concentrate on getting the words right at the expense of the tune, the report found. This resulted in them singing "out of tune", which could be mocked by unthinking adults.

The study, which drew on British research into music education in the past 25 years, found that children who sang with their parents, particularly with mothers who had the same voice pitch, were more likely to start school with basic singing skills such as being "in-tune". Once children started school, the focus shifted to teachers, who often expected either too much or too little from pupils because of assumptions about which skills children should develop by particular ages. "Individual differences arise because of the range of opportunities that pupils will have had to engage with music," the report suggested. It said that from the perspective of the teacher, it was important to remember that all pupils had musical potential, despite their varied backgrounds.

Pauline Adams, a lecturer in music education and co-author of the report, said: "Childhood is a critical period for musical development, and perceptions of musical disability can be lifelong. Parents should encourage and share musical experiences with their children from the earliest age, and teachers should make time for musical activities that are creative and fun." Music was a vital part of the curriculum, the report found.