You’ve heard music helps round out a student’s education or improve their math and reading skills, but when is the best time to start private lessons? The earlier the better? Is learning the recorder in 3rd grade at school enough?
Ultimately, every child is different, but consider these five important questions before you get started.
1. Can your student focus on one activity for 30 minutes?
Private music lessons start at 30 minutes of one-on-one instructional time. As the student grows in skill, the class time can increase to 45- or 60-minute sessions. Many students younger than 4 or 5 years old will find it difficult to focus for the full 30 minutes of learning. At home, your student will need to practice a little every day, which requires more focus (and involvement from the parent!) because the teacher won’t be able to guide the time.
At Architekt Music Academy, students can begin taking lessons at 4 years old, but it’s up to you to know if they’re ready for the focused session.
2. Is your student excited about music?
If you think your young student is showing interest and ability (stomping a beat or singing along to favorite songs), consider a Pre-K group class to see if the interest grows. While starting young may seem like the best way to develop your student’s skills, music lessons requires active and direct support from the parent and patience as they learn new techniques.
3. How does your child learn best?
Each child is unique and learns in their own way. At Architekt, our teachers will adjust their curriculum to best suit the student, and they can even switch teachers after a few weeks if they’re just not clicking. Unlike a group class or team, private lessons can be completely customized to your student’s needs or learning styles, and we do not require all teachers to follow a specific curriculum.
We want each student to be excited to learn their favorite songs, and our experienced instructors will ensure students learn the fundamentals along the way.
4. Does your child participate in several other activities?
We find more and more students stretched in multiple directions from a young age. If you’re exploring the various interests of your child, a group class with a beginner pace may show you if your student is ready for more time with music. Music is one skill they can maintain and enjoy as they grow up, but practice time at home is necessary for success.
All students should be trying new activities through sports, school, and music. Our instructors do their part to make lessons fun and educational, but unlike sports or school, they only work with the students for 30 minutes per week. Make sure your student has the time at home to practice, so they can grow in musicianship each week!
5. Is the instrument the right size for your student?
Because instruments come in different sizes, your young student may not be able to begin guitar or bass lessons right away. Instructors consider hand size and strength before suggesting an instrument, and students may need to start smaller before moving on to their instrument of choice.
For example, even a mini-sized guitar or bass will often present size challenges to a student under 10 years old. The instrument is large and tiny fingers need dexterity and strength to hold down the strings. The best route for students under age 7 is to develop their musical foundation with piano, drum or ukulele lessons first.
If you’re ready to start music lessons, take a fun trip to your local music shop for your child to try out different instruments and sizes to see what they connect with.
Our instructors look forward to meeting you and your child at our Butler or Glen Rock locations! With private lessons in voice, piano, ukulele, drums, guitar, bass and more, we’ll find the best fit for your new musician!
