Helping Kids Find Music Lesson Success

By Madeleine Bridgeman


If your kid is about to start learning how to play a musical instrument, he or she is probably very excited about this new adventure. While initial enthusiasm is always high, sometimes this does wane after a few months or even weeks. Once the reality sets in that learning a musical instrument requires some work, children sometimes become a little discouraged and need some extra encouragement. If you hope to make your child's musical experience a great one, consider the following suggestions.

Sometimes the instrument that you choose can make all of the difference. While it should be an instrument that your child wants to play, not all instruments are ideal for beginners or for younger children. Some instruments can be too large and cumbersome for smaller children and some are quite complex. Consider stringed instruments such as the violin or cello for beginners. The piano also can be an excellent instrument to choose but only if you have constant access to one for practice. The clarinet and flute are good choices for children from about age 10 and up, as well as the saxophone. You can also opt for an instrument such as the drums, the guitar or the ukulele. Whatever you choose, it should be something that gets your child excited about music.

Often children take their first lessons during elementary school, and this is an excellent beginning to music education. However, the classroom setting can be a bit dull, particularly when it comes to the music selections, which are chosen to provide a little something for everyone rather than focusing on a certain instrument. To complement your child's music education, private lessons can be an excellent option. Not only will this make learning how to use an instrument easier, your child will progress much more quickly with individual instruction. The better they play an instrument, the more they enjoy playing that instrument and private music classes can help.

Finding a private music instructor at a San Clemente music school, a Laguna Niguel music school or a music school in Dana Point, can be a great idea. In this way, your child will be able to have a bit more control when it comes to music selection, and that definitely can increase enthusiasm. In addition, private lessons are essential if your child wants to learn an instrument that simply is not offered at their school, such as the guitar or piano or something wild like the accordion or autoharp.

Before you choose a teacher or music school, take your child to the facility for a visit and let him or her meet the potential teacher. If it seems like a good match up of personalities, you are more likely to have a successful experience. Another fun option would be to check out a music school such as Los Rios Rock School. Not only will your child have a one-on-one lesson with a qualified instructor each week, the tuition also includes a live rock band experience. The kids play all of the instruments in the band and after several Saturday band rehearsals, they are ready to play at venues such as Stillwater and the House of Blues. Students at this San Juan Capistrano music school also can take voice lessons and even songwriting lessons.

Of course, in order to become a good musician, children must practice and this certainly can feel more like a chore than something fun. Providing plenty of praise and encouragement can help. Make practice time a mini concert and be sure to give lots of praise for a job well done. Try to focus on elements of success before giving constructive criticism. Rather than opting for long practices two or three days per week, set aside 10 minutes each day for a quick practice concert. Remember, while you want your child to learn discipline, you also want them to have fun so make practice time as pleasant as possible.




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