5 Ways To Get the Most Out of Music Lessons

1. Different ages / Different stages
Parents are often concerned that they start and pursue their child’s music education in the most suitable way.  Many have questions along this line, such as:  Would my two-year old enjoy and learn from a pre-school music class?  Is my five-year-old ready for small-group or private piano lessons?  My 12-year old wants to quit piano lessons;  what can I do to keep him interested?  Am I too old to learn to play the guitar?  An age-appropriate program is the key to these questions. 

Pre-School Music
Most children love music and given the opportunity to participate in music-making activities will do so whole-heartedly. Children, ages two to five, can: learn music using familiar and international folk songs;  make and play simple percussion instruments; use movement, clapping, dance, and drama to learn rhythm;  and hear, see, and try a variety instruments being played to accompany songs.  They can learn important, fundamental music skills and experience the social and personal, expressive possibilities of music through songs and musical games. This lays a firm foundation for future music making. 

Children, ages five to seven, may continue to grow musically in a general music class or small group music lesson on piano.  Piano is a ready introduction to music theory and provides a good foundation for future study in any area of music.  Students of drums and percussion could begin around five or six years of age.  Drum set lessons will depend on the child’s size i.e. ability to reach pedals, etc.  Five to six years of age is usually the earliest we recommend to commence private piano lessons.  When choosing between group or private lessons, consider your child’s attention span for a 30-minute, one-on-one interaction.

Age eight is the average age for beginning guitar, drums, and wind instruments. By seven to eight years of age, the student has usually developed enough hand strength to learn to fret the strings with adequate pressure.  Bass guitar students may need to be somewhat older, depending on the child’s size and strength.  Small group music lessons are a great choice at this age.  The lively, social interaction of a group lesson is encouraging and offers all the advantages of making music together in balance with individualized attention from the instructor.  Private lessons may also be considered as a child of this age has the attention span for a 30-minute lesson and is more familiar with a formal learning environment. 

At nine or ten years of age, brass and woodwind instruments which require considerable lung capacity and sometimes have size considerations, would be a great option for the interested student.  These considerations do vary from instrument to instrument, so it is necessary to consider your student’s size and strength.

Children, ages eight to 18, commonly diverge from the traditional, basic music training they have received. Often, parents express an interest in keeping their child in music training, when the student has decided they want to quit or that they are bored with the instrument or style of music that they are learning.  Specialized, relevant group learning experiences, such as rock band class, percussion, songwriting and improvisation workshops, and the Iowa School of Rock give students many great opportunities to expand their musical horizons, in musical style, instrumentation, playing and performance experience.  Private lessons are also a great way for the student to receive customized education in all contemporary and classical styles from beginner to advanced levels.

Adult students may start music lessons at any time;  in fact, we are seeing a renaissance of music learning and playing among our adult students, into their 60s, 70s, and even 80s.  An adult student’s success is often tied to having a regular practice time.  Adult beginning students who commit to regular practice sessions of even modest length (20-30 minutes/day) can make significant progress on any instrument.  Intermediate and advanced adult students will see more improvement with quality private instruction and practice time. 

2.  Make Practicing Easier
“To stop training as soon as one can do something does not mean that it is truly absorbed.  One must practice more until it is natural and easy.  The more one practices, the better one becomes.  Talent is born this way.”  Shinchi Suzuki

Practicing correctly can be hard work.  Repetition is required and an understanding of the purpose and the goal of the practice is needed to keep it interesting.  It is essential to developing musicianship, however, and the discipline gained in practicing music can be applied to any area--academics, sports, etc.  The following guidelines will make practicing easier and may reduce some of the tension that can develop between the student and the parent who is “making” them practice.

a.  We recommend that the student practices from an outline, not on a timeline.  If a student is told to practice for 20 to 30 minutes at a time, this can become a time-filling exercise, especially for younger students.  At our studio, instructors give students a weekly practice that will keep the student focused on what they are playing, not just watching the clock.

b.  Students may practice to complete a certain number of repetitions, e.g. play this scale four times per day.  The student focuses on accomplishing the task, not the time it takes to do so.

c.  Schedule practice time at a certain time each day (such as just before or after dinner, right after school, etc.), and practicing will become a part of the student’s routine.  Students should be encouraged to write out questions or inspirations that arise during practice time to address to the instructor at the next lesson time. 

d.  Encourage your student by praising their progress.  Practice really can be hard work.  If the student does well in practice, they should be commended, and maybe even rewarded.  For the younger student, placing stickers and stars on their work is a great reward.  If there is an occasional week where there has been less practice than hoped for, encourage your student to focus on what they can accomplish in the next week.

3.  Insist on the Right Learning Experience for your student
Learning with a qualified instructor in professional teaching environment is central to your student’s progress.  In a relatively short period of time each week (30-60 minutes), your student can progress on his/her musical studies without distractions in class. 

The environment of a music teaching school gives you and your student many good options for learning.  Classes for all ages, private lessons, and performance opportunities, such as regular recitals, give each student choices that are best suited for them.  Our students and their families enjoy our diverse, low-pressure recitals and look forward to sharing their progress and abilities with friends and family. We observe a unique synergy created between students when they are motivated to practice and play for each other.

There are several high quality, widely-accepted method series designed by music professionals used for teaching that are advisable to use, especially in beginning and intermediate levels.  These books are specialized for the student and their individual qualities, such as materials for an adult or five-year old beginner on piano.  Another benefit of these materials is that if you ever move to another part of the country, your instruction method may be continued easily with another instructor.  

4.  Focus on Progress, Not Time
Whether in group or private lessons, regular instruction with an experienced, qualified instructor over a period of time will allow the student to develop a good set of musical skills.  One of the most frequently asked questions we hear is, “how long does it take to learn to play?”  There really is no accurate answer to this question, as it depends on many factors, such as prior experience in music training or on other instruments, how much productive practice time is applied to the lessons, etc.  The focus one should have with regard to learning music and how to play is on progress, not the time it takes.

5.  Make Music Relevant to Your Student’s Interests and Fun
While music fundamentals are very important and foundational to all musicianship, there comes a point in life when children often want and need to branch out from their basic training.  They often want to explore music of various contemporary styles and expand their instrumentation choices.  It is very common for a student to move from piano or acoustic guitar to an amplified instrument, such as electric guitar, bass, or keyboards.  Allow your student to expand in ways that allow him or her to continue to learn, and be creative. Engaging activities sustain your student’s interest.  Group playing and performing bring extra rewards to the efforts of young musicians. 

Music lessons can help develop discipline, new learning styles, memory skills, creativity, confidence, appreciation, self-expression, and appreciation of excellence and the arts.  All of these qualities will flourish quite naturally in a stimulating, fun environment.  Regardless of how technically accomplished one becomes, it is still about “playing” music.  Don’t put unrealistic expectations on yourself or your child.  The journey of learning is part of the gift of music.

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