Tuesday 31 December 2013

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.

Obviously, you want to select someone with excellent qualifications. So look for someone with both professional experience as a musician and a music teacher. Ask your potential teacher about the ages of their previous students as well as what instruments they have taught children to play. After all, if your instructor has mainly taught higher level students, they might not be a great match for a young child taking their very first lessons. A teacher that focuses mainly on piano and voice might not be the best person to teach your child how to play the violin or clarinet.

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 the end, take into consideration how you and your child truly feel about each teacher you interview. Sometimes the personalities just seem like a great match, even if it means that you are selecting a younger or less experienced teacher. Sometimes children are more likely to stick with an instrument if they get to choose the instrument and some of the songs they practice. Keep in mind, that even if they are playing rock music, they are learning just as they would by practicing one of Beethoven's sonatas.

If you need a music teacher in Orange County or music lessons in Dana Point, San Clemente or Laguna Niguel, try to find a place that not only offers highly skilled music teachers, but also a music school that focuses on making the whole experience fun and enriching. Options such as Los Rios Rock School are definitely worth considering. Students at this music school not only learn the fundamentals during a weekly private lesson, they also become part of an actual rock band. These student bands perform throughout the year at many popular venues, such as the House of Blues.




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