6 Ways to Get the Most Out of Music Lessons

These guidelines will help you to have a successful, rewarding musical experience from early childhood exploration on through advanced instrument/voice lessons. We have discovered these practical tips through years of teaching and our experiences sharing music with hundreds of families each year.

Music is one of the first and most important modes of communication for infants. Research has shown that music enhances memory, language, reasoning, spatial-relations, logic, perception, social interaction and math skills. When children participate in music they are developing skills that will apply to math, to language, to literacy, and to life itself.

While music instruction should ideally begin at birth, that doesn’t mean you should sign your 3 year old up for piano lessons. Music instruction must be developmentally appropriate to have the best impact and most enjoyment for you and your child. Our goal is to develop a life-long love of music!

Birth – age 7, Kindermusik: As the world’s most respected name in early childhood musical learning, Kindermusik has been enriching lives with the most carefully researched, developmentally based music program available. From birth to age 7 children can experience the magic of music without the pressure to perform—just the encouragement and guidance to stretch their boundaries with creativity and fun! Each Kindermusik class is a world of discovery and adventure. In every class you’ll witness your child’s developmental evolution in language skills, literacy, listening, problem solving, social skills, self-esteem and musicality. And it all happens within a nurturing environment—full of energy, imagination, music, dancing, and playful delight.

Our Kindermusik graduates leave the program reading notes and rhythm, playing their melodies on the glockenspiel, dulcimer and recorder, knowing all the instruments of the orchestra and which instrument they would like to play. They jump into our instrument/voice studies full of enthusiasm and an ability to feel and express the music with their whole being.

1st Grade & up, Instrument/Voice Lessons: 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” for instrument instruction, but this attitude can actually backfire. If a child is put into private lessons too soon, they may feel overwhelmed or frustrated and want to stop. The last thing you want to do is turn a child off to music just because of one unpleasant experience that could have been avoided. If you feel your child is not yet ready to commit to daily practice, wait a year to start lessons. His/her progress will be much faster when he/she is a year older and ready to spend the time required to learn an instrument. Here are our basic age guidelines for instrument/voice lessons:

·Piano: 5-6 years of age is the youngest we recommend for starting piano lessons. At this age, children have begun to develop longer attention spans, and have better small muscle control. 5 year olds usually do better in our group piano class for Kindergarteners which includes plenty of movement!

·Guitar: Age 8 is the earliest we recommend for traditional guitar lessons. Guitar playing requires a fair amount of pressure on the fingertips from pressing on the strings, and students younger than 8 may find playing uncomfortable.

·Voice: Age 10-12 is recommended as the youngest age for private vocal lessons. For younger children, we recommend children's chorus that introduces singers to the principles of good musicianship, vocal production, and performance techniques.

Middle School & up: with the physical nature of these lessons (body size, understanding of proper breathing techniques, development of the vocal chords and lung capacity) we recommend students wait until middle school to begin:

·Classical Voice Lessons

·Brass (Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, French Horn)

·Winds (Flute, Clarinet, Oboe, Bassoon, Saxophone)

·Drums

Adults: can start any instrument at any time. Success is based on how committed you are to practicing. We teach beginner students in their 60’s and 70’s.

Private lessons work well for students who enjoy the individual attention of a teacher. The student can learn at his/her own pace and work on specific interest areas. Students can begin private lessons at any time of the year.

Advancing students need more time to refine individual technique. Private lessons are the best choice for intermediate students, who are motivated to work on specific goals in music or prepare for college entrance. Advanced students should still have the opportunity to collaborate with other musicians in duets, ensembles, chamber groups, or accompanying.

In life, we make music with other people. Friends in class provide positive motivation to keep working, practicing, and refining skills. Group lessons give the student a longer lesson with the teacher each week to practice and explore music in a fun setting. There is more time for hands-on theory games, exploration of music history and ensemble work. Technology tools let us explore new sounds. Students look forward to their lessons, and can’t believe it’s time to go at the end of the session. Group classes form only in late July / August each year.

Learning music is not just a matter of having a qualified teacher. You also need an environment that is focused on music education. In a professional studio environment, students will not be distracted by TV, pets, ringing phones, siblings or anything else. With only 30 – 60 minutes of lesson time each week, you want quality music instruction to be the sole focus. In a music school, lessons are not just a hobby for the teacher but a responsibility that is taken very seriously. Students in a school environment are also motivated by being exposed to a variety of musical instruments, styles & technologies, hearing peers at different skill levels and making music with their friends.

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4.Use an Adequate and Well-Maintained Instrument

No matter how good the teacher, if a student's instrument is constantly out of tune, has keys that don't work, or lacks the realistic touch and sound qualities of a good instrument, they often get discouraged and quit.

We can refer you to local stores that can help you find an adequate instrument that will fin in your budget.

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Consistent practicing is essential for a student to learn to play an instrument. But how do we help kids be successful with their practice goals? 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. Some people find it helpful to link practicing to something that they already remember to do, like eating. It’s important to practice daily, rather than cram it all in the night before lessons. We recommend 5 days of practice a week.

Repetition: For a young child, 20 or 30 minutes may seem like an eternity, so consider encouraging repetition instead. Think of it as practicing until you have accomplished the tasks outlined in the assignment notebook. For example, practice the rhythm of this piece 3 times perfect, and listen for the louds and softs on this song 3 times perfect. The student loses track of the time they are practicing and learns to listen and work effectively. 10 minutes of focused practice will accomplish so much more than an hour watching the clock hands tick by.

Rewards: We all like little incentives as we work through a long journey. Parents can encourage children to practice by granting them occasional rewards for successful practicing. Just being an enthusiastic audience for the music they’re working on is a great way to encourage practicing. 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.

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.