Friday, January 31, 2014

Music Lessons For Your Child

By Madeleine Bridgeman


If you look back at your many years of education, from kindergarten through college, one thing holds true. A good teacher is one that we remember, and we also remember what these special teachers taught us. No matter what subject we are learning, a teacher can make or break the experience. This is certainly the case when a child begins taking music lessons. A great teacher can truly inspire your child, while a poor instructor can have the opposite effect. Here are some tips that will make selecting a music teacher a bit easier.

While you don't need someone at the level of Ithak Perlman teaching your child six-year-old how to play the violin, it's still a good idea to take a look at the qualifications of a teacher. You want to find someone with a solid music education and also ask about their experiences as a teacher. While they might have taught for 20 years, their students might be concentrated in an age group, experience level or instrument category that doesn't suit your child. So if your child really wants to learn how to play the drums, a teacher who mainly instructs students in brass or woodwind might not be the best match.

You need to also ask about expectations. These include what your child wants to get out of the experience, as well as your own expectations and those of the teacher. Perhaps you simply want your child to be exposed to music and just enjoy the experience, or perhaps you are hoping that they will play throughout high school and college at a very high level. Your teacher also will have certain expectations in mind and it's good if all three of you are on the same page.

Of course, it shouldn't all be about practice and perfection, learning an instrument also should be a positive experience. Certainly it teaches the benefits of discipline, which is extremely important, but music also provides a way for your child to be creative. If your teacher seems a bit too much like a taskmaster and isn't particularly personable, this might not be the best choice for a young, beginning musician. You need to find an instructor that has a good rapport with your child, someone your child will want to please.

In many cases, it is wise to follow your instincts, even if that means selecting a teacher with less experience. It's also fun if your child gets to make some choices along the way. This might mean finding a teacher that allows the child to select some music based on their own individual tastes. Modern music certainly can be used in place of classical, and a good mix of both provides the foundation for an excellent musical education.

When you look for a music school in Laguna Niguel, a music teacher in San Clemente or music lessons in Dana Point or another south Orange County city, it is best to locate a music school that truly emphasizes the joy of making music. Certainly practice makes perfect, but learning how to play an instrument should be exciting and fun. You might opt for a school such as Los Rios Rock School which not only offers private lessons for any instrument but also offers group rock band experiences for their students. Children of all ages actually get to perform on stage at places such as Stillwater or even the House of Blues.




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