These guidelines
will help you to have a successful and 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 40s and 50s and beyond.
For children,
starting at the right age is a key element to their musical success. 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 because of one unpleasant experience that 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. We have found the following guidelines to be successful in determining
how young a child can start taking music lessons. 4-5 years old
Prior
to age 4, parents can do a lot with their own children at home just by using song-books,
clapping games, and listening to music. If a 4 or 5 year old shows a keen desire
to start music, a small group music program, such as the Music for Little Mozarts
program, is a fun and gentle way to get them to experience music hands-on. From
having a simple foundation at the piano, children can then generally move to another
instrument and progress much more quickly than if they were simply starting music
later and without a piano background. Piano/Keyboard
At our school,
the youngest age that we start children in piano is 4. At this age, they have
developed longer attention spans and can retain material with ease. Students from
4 years old also have a slightly more developed hand-size and strength required
for the keyboard. 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, especially on acoustic guitars.
Bass guitar students generally are 10 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. Or 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. Woodwinds (Flute,
Clarinet, Oboe, etc)
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 and Viola
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. Insist
on the right class environment when learning a specific instrument Private
lessons are necessary for students when learning voice and strings and woodwinds
as these instruments have specific requirements in generating tone in early technique
development. By contrast, piano is an excellent instrument to learn in small groups
(4 students per class maximum) because the piano is a more forgiving instrument
in the early learning stages; for example playing "in tune" on the piano
is a very different experience than playing a violin or singing in tune (called
intonation). When piano classes are correctly assembled (by age, level and even
gender), and a concept-based learning environment and method is firmly in place,
young students build the correct foundation that easily leads to more advanced
piano study or the study of another instrument later.
Private lessons in
piano are required for more advanced students when technique and musical nuances
need more specific and scrutinizing attention 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 30 to 60 minutes 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 side-line 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 everyday.
Here are some ways to make practicing easier. Time
Set the same time
everyday 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 with stars and stickers
on their music. 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 to adults who 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.
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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