Here are some guidelines for getting the most out of music lessons:
For immediate success make sure you start your child off at an appropriate age for their instrument. If an instrument is too big or their attention span is not there, children can get discouraged and not want to continue. View our Music Classes & Private Music Lesson page to see what appropriate ages are for each instrument.
To make learning easier for your child, set up a set practice time for them everyday as part of their routine. Instead of using a set duration for practicing like 30 minutes, set a number of repititions for each piece of music that they have. Three to five times playing each piece everyday is more manageable for the child. In our school, children are encouraged to participate in our “Student of The Month Program”. Students receive points and stickers for good practicing and exceptional playing. The student who gets the most points at the end of each month gets their name up on our board and they receive a special prize from their teacher. Using all of these tools makes it more fun and encouraging for every student to practice.
Taking music lessons in a professional, private school environment will get faster and higher quality results from every student. Taking lessons at home or someone else’s home can be distracting and limiting. In a school environment, students are more motivated by hearing their peers at different levels of playing and also have exposure to music on other instruments, not just the one they play. In our school, teaching is not just a hobby, it is their focused profession.
Using popular mainstream teaching materials that are specific to a child’s age and learning style are very important. We spend a lot of time researching and use the best and most current materials to ensure that nothing is left out of a child’s education. In addition, if you ever move from the area to another part of the country other qualified teachers will be able to pick up and ensure a smooth transition with you childs education using our materials.
Have fun! Most importantly if a child is not having fun with the music they are doing they are not going to want to practice and will not learn very efficiently. We always encourage having our students give their teachers feedback as to the styles of music they prefer. Also, as parents it is important not to place too high or unrealistic expectations on yourself or your children. Learning music is a lifelong endeavor, everyone learns at a different pace. It is important to have fun with it no matter where you are at.
