Frequently Asked Questions
How Old Should a Student Be Before They Begin to take Lessons on an Instrument?
This question cannot be answered simply by giving a number. I have found the following guidelines helpful over many years of teaching.
This question cannot be answered simply by giving a number. I have found the following guidelines helpful over many years of teaching.
- Playing a musical instrument is a very complex set of mental and physical coordination. I have not found it advisable for students to begin to play before they have matured physically and intellectually to a sufficient degree. How do we measure this development? I have found that generally students can begin to play the piano at a younger age than wind instruments. Child prodigies often begin as young as three, but few of us fit that classification. Therefore it is better to wait until they are a little older. I believe that one valuable guideline is to begin after a student has gained some proficiency in reading. Reading music is another form of understanding the meaning of symbols on a page. I have found that there is a correlation between these two skills. I have started six year olds, but many times the progress is very slow until they gain grater physical and mental maturity at about the age of eight or nine. Starting too young with a student who is not sufficiently ready will most likely result in a degree of frustration and possibly a dislike for playing a musical instrument. I have seen students "blossom" when they suddenly reached a new level of maturity. But I have also wondered if it would have been better for some of these students to have waited a couple of years.
- Wind instruments demand far greater physical strength in the muscle structure of the mouth and respiratory system than most young students have until they reach the age of nine or ten. Children with smaller hands may not be able to reach some of the keys on clarinets and other larger woodwind instruments. Properly handling snare drum sticks requires a degree of physical maturity as well.
How Long Should Students Practice?
A normal weekly lesson is 30 minutes long. Young students should practice 20 minutes per day. As they progress this should be lengthened to 30 minutes. For advanced and high-school students, they should be practicing a minimum of one hour per day. We work to teach good practice strategies, as the length of time may be meaningless if the student does not have a good plan to master the challenges of the lesson.
A normal weekly lesson is 30 minutes long. Young students should practice 20 minutes per day. As they progress this should be lengthened to 30 minutes. For advanced and high-school students, they should be practicing a minimum of one hour per day. We work to teach good practice strategies, as the length of time may be meaningless if the student does not have a good plan to master the challenges of the lesson.
How Important is Parental Involvement in the Student’s Progress?
It is extremely important for parents to encourage their children if they are to be successful in learning to play an instrument. Beginning students especially need the guidance of parents to make sure that practice time is observed. I have had students who progressed rapidly because a parent could play the piano themselves and were able to guide their child's practice. It is very encouraging to students when their parents attend recitals and concerts with them.
It is extremely important for parents to encourage their children if they are to be successful in learning to play an instrument. Beginning students especially need the guidance of parents to make sure that practice time is observed. I have had students who progressed rapidly because a parent could play the piano themselves and were able to guide their child's practice. It is very encouraging to students when their parents attend recitals and concerts with them.
How Can I Teach My Children to Appreciate Music?
Listening to recorded music and classical music stations as children grow up will serve to instill an appreciation of good music and provide a model for the sound and style of their instrument. Watching TV concerts, attending recitals, and listening to live performances with your children will give them the opportunity to hear accomplished musicians and encourage your students as they perform publicly.
Listening to recorded music and classical music stations as children grow up will serve to instill an appreciation of good music and provide a model for the sound and style of their instrument. Watching TV concerts, attending recitals, and listening to live performances with your children will give them the opportunity to hear accomplished musicians and encourage your students as they perform publicly.
What Materials Do You Use In Teaching?
There are a number of good beginning piano programs on the market. I generally use the Bastien Series for beginning pianists. After the third book in the series I begin to draw literature from other sources which I tailor to the student's ability, progress rate and interest. Some of my students play a great deal of sacred piano literature and hymn arrangements. For wind instruments I use the Belwin Instrumental Student Series. As they progress I use material drawn from a number of sources which is appropriate to their development. Many of these students will participate in solo and ensemble festivals with their schools. We pick solo and ensemble music which is appropriate to their playing level and in keeping with the guidelines of the festival.
There are a number of good beginning piano programs on the market. I generally use the Bastien Series for beginning pianists. After the third book in the series I begin to draw literature from other sources which I tailor to the student's ability, progress rate and interest. Some of my students play a great deal of sacred piano literature and hymn arrangements. For wind instruments I use the Belwin Instrumental Student Series. As they progress I use material drawn from a number of sources which is appropriate to their development. Many of these students will participate in solo and ensemble festivals with their schools. We pick solo and ensemble music which is appropriate to their playing level and in keeping with the guidelines of the festival.