3. The Best SAT Prep
"Read to your children in bed when they're little. Eventually, if that's a wonderful experience for them, they'll start to read for themselves. Don't quit when the child's own ability to get through a book is taking flight. Some of the best readers and writers - even in middle school and high school - have parents who are still reading to them."

The best flute students have heard good music since they were little. Music is a part of their family's life. Music is emphasized and valued. A musical event - whether a concert or performance - is something to be excited about and looked forward to, something to discuss afterwards and remember. Parents who listen to music, or practice an instrument of their own, are good role models.

4. Grades Aren't Everything
"Top students tend to be competitive, but getting the grades is not what drives them. The goal is internal: to do their personal best. Kids who are praised for their performance and inherent intelligence are less willling to take risks and have trouble weathering any sort of failure. Kids who receive praise for their hard work and persistence tend to blame failure not on a lack of ability but on not trying hard enough. This encourages them to sustain their motivation, performance, and self-esteem."

Top flute students overcome disappointments like losing a competition or not getting first chair in band class, and use them as a springboard to improve next time. Top students don't need coaxing to try a musical passage again. If they don't play it well, they initiate repetition. When they don't understand a rhythm or embellishment, they either figure it out for themselves or ask a question. When they've accomplished a musical goal, they show pleasure and pride.