When my own kids are practicing their instruments or singing around the house, I work hard to make my only feedback this sentence: “I love hearing you play.”
I learned this mindset, and specific expression, from the outstanding music education professor Mitchell Robinson.
Here’s the deal. I am a professional musician. Of course I have feedback for a developing musician – even when it’s on an instrument in which I am not an expert.
But my responsibility, and my goal, is not to build their skills. They have teachers for that. My goal is to keep them playing. So my feedback has to be, “I love hearing you play.”
No matter what the playing or singing sounds like, don’t offer feedback. Definitely don’t make fun of the squeaks, squawks, cracks, or flubs. Simply remind your young musicians that you love hearing them play.
It has the added bonus of being absolutely true.