Fostering A Growth Mindset In Music: “I Can’t” To “I Can”

One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned as a musician is that with consistency and time, improvements can be made and growth can happen. There were many times in my musical journey when I wanted to play what I was hearing— to play like my heroes—and it felt like progress was slow. There were moments I thought I wouldn’t be able to do it. That mindset didn’t help me push forward.

I’ve seen this same struggle in students over the years. They’re often very critical of their playing, adopting an “I can’t” attitude instead of an “I can” one.

Music has the power to change that attitude and show us that “we can,” with hard work and consistency.

So, how do we help our children move from an “I can’t” attitude to an “I can” attitude?

How do we help kids develop a growth mindset when it comes to their musical progress?

In this blog post, I’ll share some ideas to help your child develop a growth mindset in their music-making.

What Is A Growth Mindset?

The concept of a growth mindset comes from psychologist Carol Dweck and her research on intelligence and success. According to Dweck, there are two main mindsets we can have: a fixed mindset and a growth mindset.

In a fixed mindset, we believe our abilities are set in stone. We think we have certain talents and not much can be done to change them. People with this mindset often avoid challenges because they fear mistakes or failure. They may also believe that they can’t accomplish things because of their perceived lack of abilities.

On the other hand, with a growth mindset, we believe our abilities can be developed with effort and work. We don’t shy away from challenges, but see them as opportunities to grow. Setbacks become chances to improve, and we embrace challenges because we know that intelligence and ability can increase over time with effort and practice.

The practice of music can teach our children a lot about mindset and help them develop a growth mindset.

As teachers and parents, we also play a huge role in helping children develop a growth mindset.

Acknowledge Effort, Reflect on Progress, and Celebrate

To help children develop a growth mindset, it’s important to focus on effort, not just talent, as the key to producing results.

A growth mindset develops when we help children reflect on their progress and see the positive outcomes of their hard work.

Small, consistent efforts—like daily practice—lead to big results, whether it’s learning a new piece, performing a successful concert, or simply improving their skills over time.

Finally, point out the challenges your child faced, how they persevered, and how they achieved their goals through practice and effort. Then celebrate their success!

Use Practice Strategies

It’s through struggle that we develop a growth mindset. We want children to face challenges head-on instead of avoiding them or taking an easier path.

To encourage this, give children the space to work through difficulties and find ways to solve those difficulties independently. Remind them of the practice strategies they’ve learned and guide them toward using those skills to face whatever musical challenges come their way.

Mindset Shifts

If your child is stuck in a fixed mindset, you might hear sayings like "I can't," "this is too hard," or "I'll never be able to do this." 

What we need to do is help our children shift their thinking. Try these sayings instead:

• "I can with practice"
• "This is hard, but I can get it with practice"
• "Setbacks are an opportunity for growth"

Conclusion

Students can develop a growth mindset by working through challenges, seeing that effort can lead to success, reflecting on their progress, and developing the skills to solve musical problems on their own.