FOUR WAYS TO GET THE MOST OUT OF MUSIC LESSONS:
We hope these guidelines will help you to have a successful, rewarding experience learning an instrument.
1. HOW YOUNG IS TOO YOUNG – STARTING AT THE RIGHT AGE
Adults can start any instrument at any time. Their success is based on how willing an adult is to commit to practicing. We are happy to teach beginner students in their 60’s and 70’s – it is never to late to begin your journey in music.
For children, starting at the right age is a key element to the success of their lessons. Some people will tell you “the sooner the better” but this attitude can actually backfire and be a negative. If a child is put into lessons too soon they may feel overwhelmed and frustrated and want to stop lessons. The last thing you want to do is turn a child off music just because they had one unpleasant experience which could have been prevented. Sometimes if the child waits a year or two to start lessons their progress can be much faster.
Children who are older than the suggested earliest starting age usually do very well. The following are guidelines we have found to be successful in determining how young a child can start taking music lessons.
5months – 4yrs – Musical Magic For Young Children – Music Pups
Fun filled classes of singing, dancing, movement and instrument play. Parents learn how to enrich their child’s music environment, increase music potential and understand music development.
Each class is 45 minutes long. Families receive a CD and songbook with a broad variety of sounds and activities designed to stimulate musical learning. Our library of 11 CDs allows your family to enjoy class for almost three years with all new music each session. Mixed age classes are developmentally appropriate and allow siblings to enjoy class together.
6 - 7 Years Olds
A child who enjoys going to the piano and indicates a strong interest in playing the piano (or any other instrument) may still not be ready for private lessons. In addition to interest, a child must be ready to accept the rules, guidelines and suggestions of the teacher in order for you to get the most of your private lessons. Will the child still be interested and not frustrated when the teacher asks the child to play a certain way, or hold his hand in a certain position? Additional considerations include fine motor control as well as the maturity and attention span necessary for daily, individual practice. Will the child happily focus for 30 minutes on a series of directed tasks? A child with a strong foundation in movement, vocal development, and listening is more likely to be successful and remain motivated than a child without. Consideration needs to be given to the importance of skill building and motivation over a long period of time rather than how early ones starts. Most importantly that the child enjoys their musical experience.
Piano
At our school 6 years old is the youngest age that we start children in private piano lessons. Every so often a child may be ready to begin lessons as early as 5yrs of age. At this age they have begun to develop longer attention spans and can retain material with ease.
Guitar – Acoustic, Electric
6 years old is the earliest we recommend for guitar lessons. Guitar playing requires a fair amount of pressure on the fingertips from pressing on the strings. Children under 6 generally have small hands and may find playing uncomfortable.
Voice Lessons
8 years old is recommended as the youngest age for private vocal lessons. Due to the physical nature of voice lessons (proper breathing techniques, development of the vocal chords and lung capacity), the younger body is generally not yet ready for the rigors of vocal technique. For children younger than 8, we offer a small group lesson environment that is designed to introduce children to musicality and explore their natural talents as a vocalist. Small group lessons will also teach a student how to use their voices properly, in a fun and relaxed environment and are offered to students age groups of 4-6yrs of age and 6-8yrs of age.
2. CHOOSE A SCHOOL WHICH OFFERS A CHOICE OF GROUP OR INDIVIDUAL
LESSONS FOR BEGINNERS
Different students require different teaching approaches. Some students progress best with the peer interaction and class motivation of a group session. Other students prefer the focused concentration of an individual one on one lesson. Once a student is more advanced it will be necessary to take private lessons to master the advanced techniques of an instrument or voice with individual attention. Make sure that your student has the option to select the learning style that is best suited for them.
3. TAKE LESSONS IN A PROFESSIONAL TEACHING ENVIRONMENT
Learning music is not just a matter of having a qualified teacher, but also having an environment that is focused on music education. In a professional school environment a student cannot be distracted by TV, ringing phones, siblings or anything else. With only 1/2 to one hour of lesson time per week, a professional school environment can produce better results since the only focus at that time is learning music. Students in a school environment are also motivated by hearing peers who are at different levels and by being exposed to a variety of musical instruments. In a music school, the lessons are not just a hobby or sideline for the teacher but a responsibility which is taken very seriously.
4. MAKE PRACTICING EASIER
As with anything, improving in music takes practice. One of the main problems with music lessons is the drudgery of practicing and the fight between parents and students to practice every day. Here are some ways to make practicing easier:
Time
Set the same time every day to practice so it becomes part of a routine or habit. This works particularly well for children. Generally the earlier in the day the practicing can occur, the less reminding is required by parents to get the child to practice.
Repetition
We use this method quite often when setting practice schedules for beginners. For a young child 20 or 30 minutes seems like an eternity. Instead of setting a time frame, we use repetition. For example, practice this piece 4 times every day, and this scale 5 times a day. The child then does not pay attention to the amount of time they are practicing their instrument, but knows if they are on repetition number 3 they are almost finished.
Rewards
This works very well for both children and adult students. Some adults reward themselves with a cappuccino after a successful week of practicing. Parents can encourage children to practice by granting them occasional rewards for successful practicing. In our school we reward young children for a successful week of practicing with stars and stickers on their work. Praise tends to be the most coveted award – there just is no substitute for a pat on the back for a job well done. Sometimes we all have a week with little practicing, in that case there is always next week.
Most Importantly . . .HAVE FUN!!
Music should be something that you enjoy for a lifetime. So, try not to put unrealistic expectations on yourself or your children to learn too quickly. Everyone learns at a different pace and the key is to be able to enjoy the journey. Our goal as a studio is to have every student feel accomplished and proud to be learning their instrument of choice.
“Where EVERYONE’S A STAR!”
