I don’t know what parents do when they neglect to teach music. There is a treasure trove of American music and shows to present to kids which includes an education in American history, cultural icons and language plus music.
There are Yamaha and Suzuki programs that teach preschoolers to read music and to play the piano and violin at the developmental stage of learning language.
What are people so busy doing that they don’t get their kids to learn an instrument
I know a kid who did Yamaha piano then violin during elementary school who did not pursue music but who has a perfect ear, singing voice and who knows the difference between popular music crap versus good music.
Spoke three languages fluently by the age of 21
Learning music makes sense if you are interested in it and can hear the nuances of sound. I was not interested in it, and my hearing has always been less than nominal (passed every hearing test, but cannot pick up the nuances).
I was extremely good at math and history, but had a hard time in English and was useless in music (I was kid played the triangle.).
It wasn't until I was in my mid-twenties that it was discovered that I really don't hear the nuances. Inflection and accents aren't lost, just not very clear.