6 Steps For Succeeding with Music Lessons In The Home
When you are starting lessons for you or a child you want to make sure the lessons will work and be beneficial. Here is the good news; every student can succeed in private in home music lessons. The following are a list of 6 concepts to help ensure success. It all starts with you, the person reading this blog. For the purpose of reaching our biggest audience, this blog will assume you are the parent of a current or potential future music student. If you are an adult student wanting to take lessons there is still tons of value in reading the following steps.
1. Give The Student A Choice In Picking An Instrument
It’s very easy for me to say that the piano is the best instrument for a student to start lessons with. I believe it and understand why. If your child doesn’t want to take piano lessons though, I suggest she doesn’t. If she is saying in home Guitar Lessons, you might want to go that way.
The easiest way to get kids excited about music lessons is to ask them what musical instrument they would like to play. Don’t forget your voice, it’s an instrument too. Voice lessons are particularly encouraging because learning how to use your voice is not as intimidating as a brand new instrument. If you ask the question you will see a very big smile on a young person’s face.
Two things to think about though is one, how you ask the question, and two, maybe you should ask to choose from a specific list rather then any instrument. If you ask the question in a fun positive way, you’ll get the smile and answer you’re looking for. In giving a choice, think about what you have at your disposal and are o.k, with your child learning. If having a drum set in your house isn’t your idea of fun, your question may sound like this for example: “Robby, would you like to take piano, guitar, voice or Saxophone lessons?”
2. Be Consistent
Every music teacher in the world who teaches piano, guitar, drums, violin or any instrument, will give you the same answer as the easiest way for a lesson to be successful. Be Consistent. So many times though mainly because parents may not know much about how to play an instrument or know much about music they let the student dictate consistency.
You don’t have to know anything about music to know what consistency is. Tell your daughter or son when it’s time to practice. Make it part of your routine. The great part is, in many applications you don’t have to check the work. You get to just be the keeper of consistency.
3. Believe In Your Teacher
Remember when we were young? Our parents put their faith and trust our teachers. All to often we question teacher’s methods in front of our children. Private music teachers are more then receptive to taking a phone call about what you want to see in the lessons. Your kids don’t need to be privy to that information because they need to trust their music teachers too.
Choose your teacher wisely. Yes, you know it’s true you get what you pay for. Smart well-educated music teachers aren’t the cheapest quote on lessons you’ll get. Listen to the person who is telling you about how they teach far more important then the price you hear. You’ll end up saving money by going with the best teacher.
4. Attend A Lesson
At Lessons In Your Home you are always allowed to sit in on a lesson. Make it a goal to attend your child’s lesson once every couple of months. Let the teacher know you’ll be sitting in. Take a seat as many feet away from the lesson as you can and just listen and watch. You’ll be amazed at what you’ll learn. Attending a lesson will let you understand what you’re hearing or not hearing throughout the week of your child’s practice.
5. Participate In Recitals
Please don’t back out on the recital your teacher has told you about. Recitals are not concerts, they are opportunities to share your lessons with other students and in turn they share their music lessons with you. Music Lessons In The Home are what you are taking but you have to make every effort to be at the recital.
The most disappointing thing teachers here from parents is that their music student won’t be attending a recital. Most students only have 1 or 2 chances to play a recital each year. Compare that to soccer or baseball games where they play every week. Throw away your nerves and get to the recital.
6. Understand When Not To Quit.
Not every student takes private in home music lessons until they graduate high school. As a parent, you need to understand when to quit. Everything research tells us is that the longer you take lessons the more of the benefits you will receive from them. Companies in the current market place are saying they have a greater chance of hiring a college graduate who has music experience for their ability to be creative more easily. Here is my list of reasons when NOT to quit lessons:
- Because lessons are hard. If you here this, check tips 1-6. If they don’t apply, talk to your teacher about what your child is telling you.
- Because you don’t want to play a recital. If you don’t want to play, how about just going and watching others? Never a reason to quit lessons though.
- Because lessons are boring. This is a tough one. If your child says lessons are boring there is a cure. Talk to your teacher or call us, we have great remedies to fix boring lessons. Warning, most of time we find that a little effort cures boredom.
- Because your day and time won’t work. That’s what Lessons In Your Home is all about. We can fix that!
You are now armed with amazing information about how to succeed and proceed with Music Lessons In The Home. It’s time to make your lessons great!
Our teachers will come right to your home for every lesson, plus we offer virtual music lessons, too. However, our online music lessons are being taught by local music teachers with live lessons tailored to your child! Contact us today to learn more.