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Saturday, 4 January 2014

Music Lessons For Your Child

By Madeleine Bridgeman


When it comes to learning, the impact of a great teacher cannot be understated. Even if it we are taking a class with a subject we don't particularly like, a great teacher can make this subject interesting. Of course, the opposite also is true, and a bad teacher can make even our favorite subject seem dull. If your child will soon be taking music lessons, the instructor that you choose will have a huge impact on how quickly your child will learn and on how enjoyable the experience will be, so here are some ways to help you choose a great teacher.

You don't necessarily need a Juilliard graduate to teach your child, but it is wise to work with someone who has graduated from some type of music school. This ensures that they have a solid background. It is important not only to ask about their amount of experience but about the ages and stages of their students. After all, even though you might be impressed by a teacher that has taught for 25 years, if their students have all been older and more experienced than your child, it might not be a perfect match. Also, while teachers often instruct for a variety of instruments, they need to have solid experience in the instrument your child wants to play.

Whether you have dreams of your children performing front and center at Carnegie Hall or simply want them to learn about a musical instrument for fun, discuss these expectations with your future instructor. For some teachers, expectations are very high for each student and for others, they will have no problem if don't expect your child to make it to Juilliard before their 12th birthday. You need to have a conversation about your family's expectations and level of commitment to these lessons, as well as what the instructor expects from each student.

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.

Sometimes, it is your gut instinct that should be your guide. This might mean that you choose a younger, hip teacher over an older, more experienced instructor or it might mean you opt for the most experienced person of all that you interview. One thing that often gets kids excited about music is allowing them to choose some of the songs that they learn. This might include some favorite classic rock tunes and pop music along with the classical works of Bach and Mozart.

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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