I kind of disagree with this.<p>A lot of the problem of 'should I have my kid learn an instrument' stems from the lack of quantitative data surrounding the practice. Sure, kids that play instruments tend to do better in math or whatever, but is that because they are playing an instrument, or because they are reaping other, more silent factors that are associated with being of a class of citizen that can afford to play an instrument.<p>Questions like that are hard to answer.<p>My personal philosophy is terribly flawed, and based on my own personal experience, but I think it's important to open that particular door for a child. Whether or not they stick with it is up to them, but then the question is, 'at what point can I let my kid make up their own mind.'<p>For me, this was 11 years. For the first 11 years I studied piano, I wanted to quit. I really liked it the first 3 or so years, then I hated it around year 6, then I warmed up to it again around year 9 and finally, in what could best be described as a revelation, I seemingly overnight saw the value in what I as doing and saw the value in those around me who were truly great, both in the past and the present. That was the moment that I had made a concrete, non-emotional decision.<p>I would have regretted it if I hadn't been forced to stick with it all through my childhood. I'm really thankful my parents made me stick it out, and for me, it was totally worth it.<p>For better or worse, every kid is different. What ended up being a blessing for me might be a decade of torture for someone who doesn't 'get' music. It might be 'a waste' as it does require some concentrated mental and physical application to ascend out of 'I can play Coldplay' into 'I can play Chopin'. It is a really demanding practice to become a classical musician.<p>Today, I don't really have an answer, or even a recommendation. I really think everyone should get the opportunity, but after that, it's a terribly difficult problem with no good answer.