What a great idea, that someone should actually put thought into designing living space that encourages practice! I think children- and adults- are more likely to practise if the instrument is out and available, though it may not always be safe!! One of my guitars got crushed between the high chair and a stray nail where the skirting board was being replaced by builders. It got patched up and is still my favourite though not used for outside bookings! My son hardly ever took his violin out of its case when he had to keep sheet music tidied away. Now he has a decent orchestra stand and both music and violin stay out, and are used. There is a place for backing tracks, but just listening, and learning how to listen constructively to all sorts of relevant music is vital. Having space designated for all this is something many must wish for but don't have. My husband's flute lives on a stand in the kitchen as he likes the acoustics there, and he can play while waiting for the kettle to boil!

My Desert Island Discs

1.Lacrimosa from Mozart’s Requiem, Music to die to….

2.Don’t think twice, it’s all right. Bob Dylan from the Freewheeling Album

3.Moonlight Serenade, Glenn Miller

4.The Nightingale, by Jacob van Eyck, solo descant recorder, played by Michala Petri

5.Angie, by Davy Graham played by the amazing Bert Jansch or Mick Holditch

6.Bach, Double violin Concerto

7.A Song Story: Anthems in Eden, Shirley and Dolly Collins, David Munrow et al. (cheating a bit, a 27 minute track of English Folk songs and early music.)

8.Copshawholme Fair: Bellowhead, featuring Jon Boden’s voice and Paul Sartin’s oboe.

Take a look at 'Nice Warm Socks', a song book project for precisely this kind of inclusion. It is available in format for electronic sign boards for children who cannot vocalise. Lots more going for it, well worth a try.