Parent's Guide to Music Lessons: Are We Ready, and What are the Options?

With increased cuts to arts funding in schools, now more than ever, parents need to actively make sure their children gain valuable experiences in the arts. More families are seeing how music gives students increased focus, drive, creativity and self-confidence in all facets of life.

I believe the most successful music student is the one who is matched to the right teacher at the right time. Here are some questions to get you started in researching music lessons:

Is my child ready?
A child may be ready to start private (one-on-one) music lessons when he or she is a good beginning reader, can sit or stand in place for 15-30 minutes, shows clear interest in the instrument and a good aptitude for memory, can state her commitment to practice, and the instrument is not too big for her to learn proper technique from the first lesson. In my experience, based on size requirements and mental and physical demands, the typical minimum ages are: violin, age 3; piano, 5; drums 6; guitar and woodwinds 7; voice, 8. For children under 5, I recommend music classes (see list below), a children's choir, or other group music experiences. Starting private lessons too early can waste time and money, as the learning curve will be steeper than if you wait until the optimum age range.

Is my family ready?
Before signing a student up for music lessons, ask your family: Do we have a quiet space and daily time for the student to practice? Do I as a parent have the energy to consistently encourage practice time and progress? Do we need to purchase or rent the instrument? (See other articles in my blog for guides to finding instruments.) It is absolutely necessary for students to have adequate instruments from the start, so they can practice throughout the week. Ask, can we commit financially? Will we commit to attending recitals, competitions, and other events as necessary? As with other disciplines like sports and dance, successful music students are not "islands" unto themselves. Their satisfaction and progress depends on some regular family support.

Should we go with a music class, studio teacher, or independent teacher? Having directed and worked as all three over the past 19 years, I suggest considering:

Music class vs. private lessons
Music classes are a great way to introduce music in general, note reading, or a specific instrument to children from birth up to about age 8. They learn along with their peers using group instrument experiences, or simple lesson books, and often do games and fun exercises to help learn theory. Excellent classes are offered locally by: Peggy's Music, Tonewood Family Music Together ®, Musikgarten, Studio Percussion, Kindermusik at Great Southern Music, and O2BKids. When your child shows increased interest and aptitude in an instrument, try private lessons with an appropriate teacher.

Private Lessons at a Studio/School: Ask, what professional and security standards do you have to which teachers must conform? How do you match teachers to students, by scheduling or personality? If my teacher is absent or a scheduling conflict occurs, can another be assigned to avoid a lapse in lessons? Do you give recitals, and what is the fee to participate? How can I keep up with my child's progress? Are there set sessions throughout the year, and is there a signup fee each time? Is there a contract we must sign?

Independent Teachers: Ask, what genres do you specialize in (Classical, jazz, composing, etc.)? Are you affiliated with state and national music education groups, through which you stay updated with teaching trends and repertoire? Do you teach year-round or take summers off? Are you established here, or do you plan to move? Do you specialize in beginners/intermediates or very advanced students? (It's not often that someone can teach both well.) Do you offer recitals and competitions, and is there a fee?

Travel to lessons or in-home lessons?
What works best for your family? To have someone come by every week while you help other siblings with homework or get dinner prepared? Or to take your child to a quieter location so that lessons are free of home distractions? Is it helpful for you to be able to listen in on the lessons and touch base weekly with the teacher, or is your child more independent and able to bear the responsibility of music assignments with less supervision? In-home lessons may save you considerable time but could cost more due to driving fees. Whichever you choose, be sure to confer with the teacher at least every few lessons, to be sure expectations are being met on each side regarding practicing, performances, and lesson quality.

More questions to ask each private music teacher or studio:
Do students get to help choose their repertoire? What do you expect in terms of practicing? May I supervise lessons? Are recitals or competitions mandatory? How long do your students typically stay with you? Where are your former students now? Do you, yourself, still perform in the community? What forms of payment do you take, and when is payment due? What's your cancellation policy? What's your termination policy? Are you authorized/code-compliant to do business in this location?

My philosophy is, "What's best for each student is best for everyone." Each student enrolled in my school is there because he or she sincerely wants to take lessons and enjoys working with their teacher. My teachers have a long history of loyalty because they get quality students with whom they enjoy teaching. Parents know they can count on me and my teachers to deliver positive results. When a student is paired with the right teacher, everyone benefits!