5 Ways To Get The Most Out Of
Music Lessons
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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. 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. 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
12 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 12, we have a children’s choirs (ages 7-9 and
10-11) and a preschool singing program (ages 3-6) that
teaches them how to use their voices properly, in a fun,
relaxed environment.
Drums/Percussion
The average age of beginning drum students is 8. This varies
greatly depending on the size of the child. They have to be
able to reach both the pedals and the cymbals.
Flute, Clarinet and
Saxophone
Due to lung capacity (and in the case of the saxophone the
size of the instrument), we recommend that most woodwind
beginners are 9 or older.
Violin
Students can begin studying the violin from the age of 5.
Some will start children as young as 3, but the most
productive learning occurs when the beginner is 5 or older.
Trumpet
The trumpet requires physical exertion and lung power. 9
years and older is a good time to begin the trumpet.
2. INSIST ON PRIVATE
LESSONS WHEN LEARNING A SPECIFIC INSTRUMENT
Group classes work well for preschool music programs, and
theory lessons. However, when actually learning how to play
an instrument, private lessons are far superior since in
private lessons it is hard to miss anything, and each
student can learn at their own pace. This means the teacher
does not have to teach a class at a “middle of the road”
level, but has the time and focus to work on the individual
student’s strengths and weaknesses. For that lesson period,
the student is the primary focus of the teacher. This is
more enjoyable for the teacher, for they do not have to
divide their attention between 5 - 10 students at a time and
can help the student be the best they can be.
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, 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.
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
suggest using 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. 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.
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