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Getting the most out of music lessons These guidelines will help you to he a successful, rewarding
experience learning an instrument. These are practical tips
that have been discovered through years of teaching.
1. 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 beginner students of all ages. For children, starting at the right age is a key element to the
success of their lessons. If a child is pressured into music
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. The following are guidelines we
have found to be successful in determining how young a child can
start taking lessons.
3-7 years old
At this age we recommend that children participate in an entry
level Piano Foundations Class. Small group
instruction teaches piano technique, ear training, and beginning
theory in a light hearted way through games, simple piano melodies,
alphabet, and note counting exercises. We use materials in the
class that are designed for young beginners.
Private Piano/Keyboard Lessons
At our school, 7 years old is the youngest age we start children
in private piano lessons, unless they have already graduated from
the Piano Foundations Class. 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 are usually 10 years old and older.
Voice Lessons
8 years old is the earliest we recommend for private voice
lessons. For girls ages 8 to 13 we also offer a fall term
choir that teaches them how to use their voices properly, in a fun,
relaxed environment.
2. Take Lessons in a Positive and 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, siblings, or anything
else. 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. A positive, noncompetitive
atmosphere is equally important. At Greenleaf, all our
teachers strive to not only teach the instrument well, but to
motivate students to excellence by keeping the lessons
encouraging.
3. 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:
a.) 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.
b.) Repetition - This is a good method
when setting practice schedules for beginners. For a young
child, 20 or 30 minutes seems like forever. Instead of setting
a time frame, we use repetition. For example practice this
piece 4 times a day, and this scale 5 times a day. The child
then does not pay attention to the amount of time they are
practicing the instrument, but knows if they are on repetition
number 3, they are almost finished.
c.) Parental Involvement - At Greenleaf we
borrow from the Suzuki philosophy of parental involvement. We
believe that the triangle of teacher, child, and parent are equally
important to a child's success, especially in the young beginning
stages. When a parent is excited about an instrument and keeps
a positive atmosphere of encouragement, children progress faster and
have a better attitude about practice. When parents can come
to lessons and take specific notes, they are strongly advised to do
so. This way, they know what the child is to practice each
week and can be involved in practice sessions. It is very
important for parents not to be "pushy" about music lessons, but to
set an example to children of excitement and commitment to the
learning experience. Parents are required to attend with
Piano Foundations students.
d.) Praise - While stickers and other
rewards can be a great way to motivate practice, praise is the
reward that lasts the longest and inspires the most. Adult
students may find ways to motivate themselves by setting up their
reward systems for practice (i.e. a Starbucks cappuccino, reading a
novel when you meet a practice goal, etc.)
4. Use Recognized Teaching Materials
There are some excellent materials developed by professional
music educators that are made for students in a variety of
situations and levels. For example in piano, there are books
for very young beginners, and books for adult students that have
never played before. These materials have been researched and
are continually upgraded and improved to make learning easier.
Using a curricula ensures 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 where the previous teacher left off. In addition,
teachers often supplement the basic book with pieces they suggest
(especially in voice lessons). We carry most of the required
materials at our studio.
5. Have fun!
Music should be something that you enjoy for a lifetime.
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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