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Most definitely. I was forced to, and even though I hated it at times, it helped so much, especially when learning other instruments that I actually chose for myself. When I was learning flute I couldn't believe how easy it was to play one note at a time rather than six or seven.

I plan on starting with piano and letting my kids choose other instruments if they wish starting in late elementary school. I also plan on trying out many, many teachers and letting my kids choose which one they like best. I think having a teacher you really like and respect really helps. My teacher when I was young was awful-- she was old, smelled funny, and hit my hands a lot. If you were Korean and lived in the Boston area, you took lessons from her-- her name was Mrs. Park. Eventually my mom switched me over to a wife of a friend and she was SOOOOO beautiful, young, nice, and pretty. I enjoyed piano so much more while learning with her.

I wouldn't force them. I'd encourage them to pick an instrument they were already attracted to, but once I start paying for lessons they are required to stick with it for a couple of years at least.
No switching instruments just because they get bored.

I did violin, hubby did guitar. My sister still plays trombone.

I also think it's good to encourage the more unusual instruments like viola or trombone or whatever, because it's easier to get scholarships because they need those instruments for their orchestras. My little sister picked up trombone for that reason, and it worked!

The previous owners of our house left a Piano. I hope our future LO have interest. I would take lessons with them.

We don't want to make LO play any sport or instrument in particular, but we are going to encourage him to try out a few things to see what he likes and what makes him happy.

I hated piano lessons as a kid. My mom would sit with me to practice and have to pull my fingers out of my clenched fists one by one!

I would want our kids to do at least one activity that is creative but also requires discipline. That wouldn't just be playing an instrument... it could be art, dance, singing, drama, etc.

As long as they show a general interest in music, I think I'd like them to try an instrument. My parents made us kids choose an instrument and forced us to stick with it forever practically. I played the violin all through grade school, junior high and high school but I didn't have a natural talent for it and didn't like practicing so I was never that great. I don't think I'd make my kids stick with it for years and years, but I'd like to see them try something. I think learning to read & appreciate music is a great skill.

My parents never forced me to play an instrument but I wished they did. I would love to be able to play the piano. I don't know if I'll force them to play an instrument if they're truly not interested but will definitely expose them to a few and see. He loves "strumming" my husbands guitar.

I was the typical band geek -- without the actual instrument. All of my friends were either in the band or orchestra, and I was so jealous of them. I won't force any activity on my LO, but I do plan on introducing music to him at an early age. My friend is a piano teacher, and I can't wait for him to learn from the best.

I play piano, guitar and flute, so I'll probably teach them to read music when they're pretty young, like my Mom did, but I hope when they're older they'll WANT to learn more. I don't want to force them into it, because then, I believe, it would be hard for them to enjoy it

I would like my child to play atleast two instruments. both my husband and I are musical so I think it will rub off on them

LO will take piano lessons for sure. She'll definitely take the lessons for at least a year. If she stinks and isn't any good (with practice) we'll move on to the next thing.

Sooooo, I'm a piano teacher and can I ask please please please please don't "force" your kid to take piano lessons! It's just sheer torture for the kid, the parents and the teacher! I would recommend that you encourage your kid to take music, and force your kid to practise. All too often, I have a student taking lessons because mom or dad quit too early. Or because quitters never prosper. Those kids hate piano, they hate practising and it's only once in a blue moon that they will come around to liking piano again.

Here's what I recommend. If you want your kid to play the piano, for example, get one of those cheap keyboards and let them play with it. Encourage them in their play, and ask them if they'd like to learn one day. Get them excited about lessons. Enroll them in kindermusic or programs where there is group lessons. They are really well suited to really young kids. Hold off on piano lessons until they are in grade one. In grade one, kids can sit still (a half hour lesson is torture for most 4-5 year olds), plus they start to read, which helps a lot in piano. Once they start lessons force them to practise every single day. 10 min in grade 1, 20 min in grade 2, 30 min in grade 3 etc. Make it a habit and praise them for practising! If they hate it after a year or two of lessons, consider letting them quit, or consider coming up with a time limit (give it one more year, or something). And when I say "hate", I mean there is a battle most nights over practising, they don't want to come to the lesson and most importantly, they aren't learning anymore. It really seems to go in one ear and out the other. The student really has to want to learn to retain that information.

But the kids who love it, they are the ones waiting at the door for the teacher, they are the ones making up little songs, they are the ones that are super excited to get that sticker when they've mastered a song. Try to get your kids to love music, because forcing them won't work.

....and with that I'll get off my soapbox.

DD took individual piano lessons at preschool last year. She was 3 yo and came home with weekly homework. She's lately expressed an interest in ballet more though, so that's her extra-curricular activity this semester.

I would love for our kids to play the piano! Ive always wanted to learn but my parents couldnt afford it. DH wants our little girl to play the violin.

What an interesting read this thread has been! I honestly don't know where I fall...I am biased against music lessons from a horrible personal experience while in high school. Long story short, I am not naturally talented at music, I really have to practice, which is not a problem when I want to do it. I had a band teacher that used fear to force you to "earn" your chair in class. I am a terrible sight reader, and he'd just randomly assign new music to the group, point to someone and you'd have to play. Then the person that sat in the seat below you played, if they could sight read better, you lost your seat, possibly down to the last seat. So, after 2 years of humiliation, I decided to take up photography instead. It was too bad, because I liked my instrument (clarinet) and had played it for 5 years by then.

Considering I'm not musically talented, I won't force my child to play an instrument. If they want to, sure, I'll let try it.

I won't force them but I will definitely encourage them to take up an instrument. I want them to enjoy themselves. It would be nice if they learned to play the piano or violin.