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 Q:
Why should my child take music lessons? A: Music plays a vital role in a child's growth and development. Numerous studies have shown that music gives creative balance to an academic life well beyond the pre-college years. If you are interested in learning more about these facts, go to our Free Reports page and download "How Music Can Dramatically Affect Your Child's Development and Life-Time Success." Additionally, we offer links to research describing the significant value of music instruction for adults, as well as tips for parents and students beginning their musical journey. Wondering why learning music fundamentals is so important? Consider this: Music is an art form and should be treated as such. Music knowledge is like a painter's palette of colors: The more colors the painter has, the more options they have to express their vision. In addition to words and graphics, music provides an entirely new vocabulary through which one can express thoughts, ideas and emotions. Music can also broaden your child's world by giving him/her a tool to reach across different cultures. Music serves as a universal language without borders, since it doesn't depend on any regional language or dialect. Q: At what age should my child begin taking instrument lessons? A: Download the free report, "10 Ways To Get The Most Out Of Music Lessons," at the Free Reports page on our website. This is an industry standard report used by music studios nationally. We've also included additional key points to help you get started with your child's music education. Music is a form of language, and studies have definitively proven that childhood is the time when people most easily learn language skills, so we encourage you to give your child the opportunity to begin a lifetime of musical fulfillment as early as possible. Q: How do I choose an instrument for my child? A: If your child hasn't already begun gravitating toward a specific musical instrument, begin by taking him or her to a music store. Make it an adventure! Look at and listen to the many wonderful instruments available. Most music stores are staffed by professionals who play and can demonstrate at least basic sounds on each instrument they sell. Note which instruments interest your child the most. When you're finished exploring, ask your child which instrument he/she liked most, and why. Ask which one he/she would like to learn to play. Some children may feel overwhelmed by the possible choices, and retreat from making any decision at all, rather than commit to the "wrong" one. Reassure them that if they discover they don't really connect with their original choice, they can try something else. Many music stores offer affordable rental programs to allow this option. If you know your child is musically inclined but can't seem to find a specific instrument that interests her or him, consider the possibility that s/he may prefer the one they were born with. Voice lessons will help them develop the ability to express their musical selves through the instrument that's always with them. While each instrument offers its own unique qualities, piano and guitar are most familiar to kids and teens, so they tend to be most interested in these two options. Music Reach offers private instruction for both instruments. In addition, we offer instruction for electric and acoustic bass, violin, cello, flute, saxophone, and drums. If your child wishes to learn another instrument, let us know: We may be able to recommend a teacher for you. Our professional network includes connections with many wonderful music teachers in the area. Q: We would like our child to take piano lessons, but we don't have a piano. Can our child begin on a synthesizer or keyboard? A: Yes, a child can begin with a portable keyboard or synthesizer. Our keyboard teaching methods apply to the synthesizer as well as the piano. However, we highly recommend learning on a piano first. The action and feel of a real piano keyboard, the dynamics of the instrument and the sound quality are incomparable. The depth of sound a piano produces will encourage more interest and expression than that of a starter keyboard. Just play one note of our Steinway grand, and you'll see what we mean! If the expense of a real piano is out of reach, we suggest renting one. Call us for specific recommendations. Q: How long is each lesson? A: For younger students with shorter attention spans, we recommend a half-hour lesson. Children need time to digest the material, and if too much is presented, the information can become confusing and/or frustrating. Young children think visually, and our programs are based on visually stimulating, interactive exercises. Our teachers go through a lot of material in each lesson, but the information is presented in a way that makes the lessons fun, productive and memorable. Our teachers will suggest longer lessons when they notice increasing aptitude in your student. Young adults can begin with 45-minute lessons, and our experience indicates that adults prefer one-hour sessions. Your teacher will recommend the proper lesson time based on age, skill level, and musical interest. Q: How do I select the right teacher for my child? A: Music Reach takes care of this for you. We have numerous, highly qualified music teachers, each with a unique set of interests and skills. With our brief, over the phone questionnaire, we are able to determine which of our teachers is right for you. We feel that a successful music experience begins with the right teacher, and our questionnaire helps us determine just that. Q: I have a very busy work schedule. Will music lessons for my child add more pressure to my daily activities? A: On the contrary, Music Reach lessons make your life easier by conducting lessons in your home. Not only does this eliminate travel time for you, it can also provide a few moments of peace to catch up while we keep your child entertained with learning. The only requirement of you is to offer enthusiasm and to support your child as she or he progresses. Let them know they're doing a good job. Positive reinforcement will encourage your child to practice, and will make them want to show you what they've learned. The power of positive reinforcement by parents can never be underestimated. Q: How do I get my child to practice, and how long and often should they practice? A: At Music Reach, we teach our students to develop a love for their instrument and to have fun throughout the learning process. In addition, we offer creative music activities integrated into the lessons, which really motivate our students to practice. Music education-including practice sessions-should not be considered a chore. Practice is a time for creativity and self-expression. However, as with any activity that takes skill, sometimes a child simply doesn't feel like working at it. In this case, begin by telling them that they are the ones who will benefit from practicing, and the only way to learn how to play their musical instrument is through practice. Additionally, you can offer small, appropriate rewards of your choosing for good practice habits. Once the child gets into the habit of practicing, it will become a daily activity. And once they realize the progress they're making because of the practice, you won't need to reward them any longer. Recommended daily practice time for young beginners is a half-hour, while 45 minutes to an hour is suggested for intermediates. For advanced students, 1 ½ hours is a good starting point, dependent upon the student's interest and abilities. Many older students will often practice for hours out of sheer enjoyment, once fundamental techniques are mastered. Q: I would love for my daughter to play for friends and relatives, but she doesn't want to. How can I encourage her to perform for us? A: Musical performance can be enjoyed by everyone, but most importantly, it should be enjoyed by the performing artist. It's crucial that you not pressure children into performing for others before they're ready. Let them know you'd enjoy a performance, but only if they're comfortable doing so. Many musicians develop undue nervousness in front of people because they have been forced to perform: This is not what music is about, and can lead to an abandonment of music as a way to avoid unwanted performance requirements. As children develop their playing or singing skills and become more confident in their abilities, they will naturally want to show them off. If you allow your child time to develop this comfort level, s/he will enjoy performing for others, and won't require any prodding. This approach will provide a successful foundation for your child's later performances for larger audiences, because their early experiences will be successful and rewarding. Q: My teenager wants to play guitar in a band. Do your music lessons support this type of activity? A: Among other things, yes. The content and approach of our music lessons are dependent upon the interest of each student. Let us know of your child's specific interests and we will assign an appropriate teacher. While each program covers the music essentials, our teachers will tailor the lesson around individual interests. Many of our younger teachers perform professionally, and can focus the lesson on preparing the student for both the musical requirements and the atmospheric realities of live/band performance. Q: I'm 55 years of age, and have always wanted to play the piano. Do you have any courses that can teach a late learner like me? A: You bet! Music is a uniquely rewarding experience, and Music Reach believes this joy should be accessible to students of all ages. Therefore, we now offer a program created especially for adults and seniors. These music lessons concentrate heavily on applied techniques, enabling you to learn your instrument without being overwhelmed by music theory. While we integrate music essentials into each lesson, the focus is on quickly building the technical skills you need to play the songs that you want to play. Mature students have different expectations and goals, and our music programs allow students of all ages to focus on exactly what they hope to derive from their musical activities. Music can be enjoyed on many levels, from purely personal expression to public performance, and even as a way to promote mental and physical health. We have teachers whose skill sets are particularly fitted for this course. Just let us know what your goals are, and we will help you reach them. |
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