THE DISCORDANT NOTES OF PARENTAL CONCERNS: UNDERSTANDING PARENTAL RELUCTANCE OVER THEIR CHILDREN'S MUSICAL CAREERS

Choosing a career part is a very important decision which people take on early in life and begin to work towards its actualization and the possible fulfilment that comes with it. It is very important because one's choice may provide career satisfaction or lack of career fulfilment in its later stage. So many factors like natural endowments, areas of interest, parental influence, parental endorsement, peer pressure, etc. play significant roles in the career choice people make. Parental endorsement and approval is one of the most common influences on career choices, especially for children who are perceived not to be old enough to make such important choices themselves. Many career parts have received wide endorsement from parents, while some others have received numerous disapproval from parents. An example of such career choice that continues to meet parental disapproval is Music. This study is therefore an attempt towards understanding why some parents are reluctant to support the musical careers of their children. Using document study and interview for data collection, it was found that so many factors are responsible for the parental disapproval of their children's choice of music as a career. Some of these factors however, are misconception, and they include perceived unhealthy lifestyle of musicians, the uncertainty associated with the career, ignorance of what a music career entails, etc. The researcher therefore recommends that there is need for proper sensitization of parents, to enable them make proper research into any career path chosen by their children.