Brand new to Music Lessons?

"THE END"

 This article, designed to help you find the best studio and instructor for your child starts at the only logical place it can, the end. Where do you want to be with your child's music education at the end? How does it look when you picture it in your mind? Do you see a child who doesn't seem to really be learning anything, studying with an instructor who doesn't really seem qualified to teach but may have been the most convenient or inexpensive? A child who hates practicing and starts arguing with you if you even mention it? Does it end with a lot of wasted time and money? Here's the end I see: a family sitting at a church, or a beautiful park overlooking a river as the sun goes down, or at the stage area of the local shopping mall, beaming with pride as their child goes up to the stage to perform her music at a recital. I see a child who may be a bit nervous inside, but knows she's going to be just fine because the recital is presented in a low pressure, supportive environment. She also knows she's going to be fine because she is prepared, and she's being taught by a friendly, qualified professional in a professional teaching environment who used patience, positive encouragement and proven methods as her teaching tools. That's the end I want for my children as they start their music education, and it's an end I've seen with many others for twenty years. I think it's the one you want for your children too. 

    
HOW YOUNG IS TOO YOUNG? STARTING AT THE RIGHT AGE
Starting at the right age is a key element to the success of our children's lessons. 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 to music just because they had one unpleasant experience which could have been easily 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 PRE-SCHOOL YEARS

If a pre-schooler age three to four 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. Find a nationally recognized program such as MusikGarten to get your infant, toddler or preschooler off on the right foot. 

PRIVATE LESSONS

Five years old is the youngest age that I recommend children start in private piano and violin lessons. At this age they have begun to develop longer attention spans and can retain material with ease. Some teachers will start children as young as three, but experience has shown us the most productive learning occurs when the beginner is five or older. 
Eight years old is the earliest recommend age for guitar lessons. Guitar playing requires a fair amount of pressure on the fingertips from pressing on the strings. Children under eight generally have small hands and may find playing uncomfortable. Bass guitar students generally are ten years old and older. The average age of our youngest drum student is also eight. This varies greatly depending on the size of the child. They have to be able to reach both the pedals and the cymbals. Due to lung capacity, and in the case of the saxophone the size of the instrument, I recommend that most woodwinds which include flute, clarinet, and saxophone beginners are nine and older. The brass family which includes the trumpet and trombone also require a fair amount of physical exertion and lung power, so nine years and older is a good time to start those particular instruments.  As long as the instruction is age appropriate students can begin voice lessons, in either a childrens choir or private lessons at age 5 or 6.

PROPER ENVIRONMENTS - YOUR HOME OR A STUDIO?

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 the television, video games, pets, ringing phones, neighbors, the FedEx delivery, siblings or anything else. With only one half 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 addition, the programs a professional studio can offer such as a pre-school music program, a choir, a "Singing is Fun" class or a rockschool band program and regularly scheduled recitals can't be matched by the "lone ranger" music teachers who simply come and go once a week and collect a payment with nowhere or nothing for your child to advance or grow into. In a music school, the lessons are not just a hobby or sideline for the teacher but a responsibility which is taken very seriously. So when you're looking for a gas station, a dry cleaner, if you’re hungry and need a quick meal, please, by all means, look for the closest, easiest, most inexpensive way to get the service that you need. I do, every single time. But when it comes to your child's education cost and convenience shouldn't be your top priority.

WHAT TYPE OF STUDIO?

THE EXTREMELY SERIOUS STUDIO 
This studio believes strongly in a classical music only program. While the teachers at these studios are generally accomplished, the rapport they develop between student and teacher is often not one based on friendly support and encouragement, but based on fear. The recitals at these studios are often tense, nerve racking and competitive. 

THE CASUAL STUDIO
This studio doesn't really know what it believes in, and most of the teachers aren't qualified or experienced educators. They may play in a local rock band on occasion. These studios are usually just happy to have students, and are afraid if they actually teach any core music fundamentals that the students will find it too difficult and won't want to continue lessons. The "casual" studio also retails music equipment, so there is an underlying conflict of interest in that they are usually trying to sell you more "stuff". This is also the category for the "rock franchise" type school.

THE PROFESSIONAL TEACHING STUDIO
This studio features accomplished, university trained professionals who teach all styles of music with proven educational materials in a friendly, supportive environment. They enjoy teaching, have experience and achieve results. The professional studio offers private lessons as well as classes for pre-schoolers, and ensemble and band programs for older students who would are ready to learn how to play in a group setting. They have regularly scheduled low pressure recitals where students feel comfortable and know if they make a mistake or don't have a great recital that they are appreciated and supported for trying their best, and that there is always next time, and another recital.

"THE BEGINNING"

Here we are, at the beginning of your search to find the best studio for your child to get his or her music education at. I hope this article helped you decide what's best. Best of luck on your musical journey. 

The Academy of Music and Drama is currently accepting new music and drama students. The schools university trained teachers and friendly front desk staff are waiting to help you now. If you have any questions or need further information please call 732-219-1850 today or visit the school online at musicanddrama.org.