5 WAYS TO GET THE MOST OUT OF MUSIC LESSONS
These guidelines will help you to have a successful,
rewarding experience learning an instrument. These are practical tips that we
have discovered from years of teaching and our experiences with teaching
hundreds of students each year.
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 teach many
beginner students in their 60’s and 70’s.
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 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.
3 - 4 Years Old
If a pre-schooler has a keen desire and wants to start music, a group preschool
music class will give them a good foundation in music basics which will be
helpful in later private lessons. At this age, private lessons generally do not
work as the child has not yet experienced the formal learning environment of
kindergarten or school and learns more effectively through the game oriented
preschool environment.
Piano/Keyboard
At our school 5 years old is the youngest age that we start children in private
piano lessons. At this age they have begun to develop longer attention spans and
can retain material with ease.
Guitar - Acoustic, Electric and Bass
8 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 8 generally have small hands and may find playing
uncomfortable. Bass guitar students generally are 10 years old and older.
Voice Lessons
10 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 10, we have a children’s choir (ages 6-9) and a preschool singing program
(ages 3-5) that teaches them how to use their voices properly, in a fun, relaxed
environment.
Flute, Clarinet & Saxophone,
Trombone
Due to lung capacity (and in the case of the saxophone the size of the
instrument), we recommend that most woodwind beginners are 9 and older.
Violin Viola Cello
We accept violin students from the age of 5. Some teachers will start children
as young as 3, but experience has shown us the most productive learning occurs
when the beginner is 5 or older.
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 t.v., pets,
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. Recitals provide a tool for success.
Students work very hard and enjoy showing off their accomplishments.
As students advance we offer an in house competition which is a motivator for
students to experience competition but with a positive approach. All
students are winners! We give all a medal and then top awards.
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.
5. USE RECOGNIZED TEACHING MATERIALS
There are some excellent materials developed by professional
music educators that are made for students in a variety of situations. For
example in piano, there are books for very young beginners, and books for adult
students that have never played before. There are books that can start you at a
level you are comfortable with. These materials have been researched and are
continually upgraded and improved to make learning easier. These materials
ensure that no important part of learning the instrument can inadvertently be
left out. If you ever have to move to a different part of the country, qualified
teachers and institutions will recognize the materials and be able to smoothly
continue from where the previous teacher left off.
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.
