This is a tough one. among the best arguments for the value of learning, practicing and playing music is the fact (and it has been proven as fact) that playing an instrument actually stimulates certain brain functions in a unique way that literally makes you smarter. Something about the synapses and the neural pathways blah blah yada yada (what do I know I’m just a dumb musician), but it has this effect on young brains (and old ones that are still a little spongy) that improves learning and comprehension for all subjects in all aspects of life.

Another good argument is that, in recent times, the arts have are being overlooked and we are culturally malnourished as compared to every other period in history. All forms of art and appreciation of art, are at an all time low and anything we do to promote music and art appreciation will be a good investment in our quality of life for the future. Imagine a world without art, music, beauty. I don’t think you really can because you’re so used to it just being there. But we seriously take it for granted and do not support art and the artist which means we will soon see a world with significantly less art and music. I can’t tell you what a tragedy that would be IMHO because if you think about it, what else is there? video games? Sports is okay but that’s not gonna be enough for the female half of the population. (not to mention the pansies… kidding!)

Which brings me to the REAL best reason to be a musician. CHICKS DIG MUSICIANS! I don’t know why but even a homely old fart like me can pull serious babage just by spitting a few notes through a trumpet. I’ve got the long list of exes who still call me to prove it. Same is true with plinkers of the 88’s, pluckers of the bull fiddle, hell even those guys that always hang around with musicians… what do they call them? Y’know, they always arrive with the band—Oh yeah! Drummers! Even they get women by the dressing room full. And I’m talkin about some seriously fine young things that ordinarily wouldn’t walk across the street to pour a coke on yer head if yer hair was on fire. so tell yer son “Go ahead, don’t practice but don’t come crying to me when your bald with third degree scalp burns.”

All kidding swatted at but not enough to keep it aside for long, I was exposed to music all my life. Everything from Gershwin to Bach to Jackie Wilson to Sam Cook to John Coltrane to Dave Brubeck and everything in between and around the outside. And I listened with a passion to all of it.

(Here’s the part you might want to edit out when you print it out to show it to your son)

In my preteens my sibs and I sang four part harmony with my bro’s accompaniment on piano. In my teens I listened to rock and it wasn’t till I was 18 that I suddenly found myself with a beat up old trumpet practicing 4 to 5 hours a day and playing gigs after a year of that. But It was my choice and I was playing the music that I loved which happened to be jazz.

I hate to tell you but alot of people who are urged to play when they don’t want to or before they’re ready, don’t continue it and end up not being musicians, doomed to a life of respectability and financial success. So I think you’re doing the right thing, ultimately Bill. Sorry, I hope you can glean something useful from this epic diatribe.

Have you tried not feeding him if he doesn’t practice? Then if he does, reward him with a bowl of Purina Musician Chow®! or toss him a Musician Biscuit: they come in 3 Flavors musicians love: Hearty Heroin, Jack Daniels and “Dumpster Divers Delight.”

You are probably going to like my answer about as much as you like the others, but here goes: Give him a break. By stopping piano lessons for a year or two, you are not going to harm your child in any way. Maybe Mozart was playing at 3 or 4, but he is one person in the whole history of the earth. Could your child be the next Mozart? Maybe, but what if he’s not? Maybe he’ll be the next Bill Gates instead. My point is, what’s the rush? You even seem to be rushing his age. He is four, and was clearly four when you enrolled him in the music conservatory. That is awfully young. You say there are other children that young in his class, but children mature at different rates. Boys especially have a hard time sitting in one place, and doing something they are bored by. Letting your son stop with the piano now is not the same as your parents letting you quit guitar at 13. Why not try some other music enrichment class for pre-schoolers. He will be able to play with lots of different instruments, dance, sing, etc. There is plenty of time for piano when he is a little older. I know you want the best for your child – we all do – but sometimes more isn’t better. My boys started around 8. They are able to fit it in with their homework, which by the way, is not heavy at the age of 6 or 7. It’s practically nonexistent. I tried to be polite with you and make useful suggestions, but I can see now that there is no getting through to you. Yes, music is a wonderful thing for a child’s brain, but so are so many other things. You are obviously an older (checked your other questions) first-time mother who is way too focused on your child’s achievements, to the detriment of his mental health. Anyone who admires a parent who forces an 18 month old to ice skate, so they can be future hockey players is disturbed. A child that age has only been walking for a few months, for heaven’s sake.

Get him a keyboard trigger for the computer, a Midi Cord assembly for the computer, some MIDI software and let him discover Orchestration and recording.

He might also want to consider start or joining a band and playing with others.