Motivating Talented Kids
Chris has always been a gifted singer. At an early age, I noticed he had a gift for singing and enrolled him in Kindermusik. His pitch and tone amazed me, especially since I can’t sing and always wanted to.
At the age of 6 he would mimic the Lion King’s “I just can’t wait to be King” song and sang it beautifully. He would often get complimented and offered solo parts at school.
I signed him up every year for musical theatre classes until he started to grow tired of the long and boring practices. Singing was no longer fun, so I didn’t push him to take classes
Chris has always been a reluctant singer. He sings when he wants to and he doesn’t ever want to be put on the spot. Whenever I ask him to sing for someone, he never does.
He’s been in several play and musicals, and enjoyed the performances, but not the rehearsals.
The most recent recital he did was High School Musical. His teacher (a former Broadway performer) said Chris had the talent to go all the way to Broadway if he wanted to. He just needed the desire.
A there in lies my problem. I have a talented son, who’s been gifted by God with a voice that brings tears to my eyes, but he doesn’t want to use his gift.
There’s a local community production of High School Musical coming up and I want him to audition. He’s doesn’t. “I’m not really interested in plays that much any more,” he said. To be honest, the only thing he’s interested in these days is video games.
So what do I do? Do I push him to audition, and become one of those annoying stage moms? Or do I let him hide his gift under a bushel until it’s snuffed out?
There are not many opportunities in our town for musicals for boys his age. This production of High School Musical is one of them where he could possibly get the lead.
A part of me knows to let it go, but another part of me knows my son and if it resembles anything like work, he wants no part of it. I try and tell him that sometimes you have to take the parts you don’t love, to one day get the parts you do.
I’m just saddened by his lack of interest in using his incredible talent. It won’t be long before his voice starts to change, and I’m afraid if he doesn’t sing through the change he might lose his gift.
Does anyone else have a child reluctant to use his/her gift? If so, how do you handle it?
My StumbleUpon Page
My kids are not at this stage yet, but my cousin, who is a college sophomore this year, had musical ability at an early age but didn’t pursue much in that field until he got to college. In high school he did a couple plays and took saxaphone lessons, but the summer before he went to college he suddenly had this desire to play the piano. He taught himself to play beautifully. It was amazing! Then when he got to school he entered a talent show, bought a harmonica, taught himself to play that in just a few weeks, and won 2nd place! And he goes to a huge university!
My aunt and uncle have never been pushy-type parents. If it’s a God given talent, one day the drive will arrive and then there will be no stopping him.
September 5th, 2007 at 3:04 pmI hope so, but knowing my son now, I’m not so sure. I’m praying he’ll grow out of it!
September 5th, 2007 at 3:47 pm