When looking for an after school activity for their kids, many parents consider music lessons. Music not only provides a child with skills that will last a lifetime, but musical training can actually help a child do better in school. A growing body of research shows that musical training has been linked to improvements in cognitive skills from problem solving to math to writing.
An August 14, 2010 article titled “Music of the Hemispheres” by Rachel Ehrenberg on Science News revealed that teaching children to play a musical instrument can benefit their bodies as well as their minds.
According to the article, “Playing an instrument may add finesse to how people move their bodies. Making music makes you hear better, fine-tuning the ability to extract a signal from noise. Musical training also may improve grammar skills, the ability to grasp meaning from words and to distinguish a question from a command.”
Rachel Kramer is a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music and was named the 2009 Ohio Independent Music Teacher of the Year. She is president of Music Learning Center, Inc. in Cincinnati, Ohio, and she provides professional support for the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA).
In an email interview with Suite101, Kramer outlined some important information about music lessons and your child.
At what age should a child begin music lessons?
Preschool music programs can begin as early as birth, so one could say it’s never too early. There are many preschool music programs offered around the country. It’s important to compare programs and know that “no music” is the worst decision. Any preschool music program will be the starting point to move into any other instrument.
What are the benefits of music education?
Besides the quantifiable research about music and the brain in the areas of math and science, we also know that music is the language of humankind – why shouldn’t we all be able to speak the same language? We know that through the study of music children develop confidence, coordination, and creativity. And that music instruction, if taught well, gives students the opportunity to understand the concept of perseverance
How does a parent go about choosing an instrument for her child?
Physical limitations of a child will help guide some of the decision making. Sousaphone is a little cumbersome for a 4-year old. Typically school instrumental programs begin in the 4th to 6th grades. This is the time when brass and woodwind instruments are usually started. Strings and piano can begin much earlier, and there are specially designed curriculums for children as young as 3 to begin study.
Which instruments are best to start with?
Typically, the piano requires that a student study a fair amount of music theory, and the student will learn to read in both clefs. These skills can transfer to any other instrument. However, it is important that you choose an instrument that is physically appropriate and that you find a qualified music teacher
How much time per day should a child spend practicing an instrument? Amy Chua, the author of the book Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, required her daughters to practice three or more hours per day. Is this too much?
Don’t we wish we all had tiger mother parents! Not the case. The typical music student is inundated with many activities and many demands on their time. Unfortunately, practicing a musical instrument is often relegated to “left over” time, and much of the practice is like a hamster on a wheel: over and over and not going anywhere.
What’s important is that the student has clear instructions from their teacher as to the “what” and “for how long” they are to practice. Mindless practice is as bad as no practice. Practice needs to be supervised for younger students.
What should a parent look for in a music teacher?
Just like a person would not go to a well-intentioned dentist, one should not go to a music teacher just because they are close, cheap and a nice person. Professional music teachers have degrees in music – many actually in pedagogy – where they have learned how to teach. Professional music teachers are members of their professional associations and continue their own professional development. Professional music teachers run their teaching studios as a professional business and have a client base that can and will speak to the experience of studying. Professional music teachers have websites, brochures, business cards, studio policies, and experiences for their students in recitals and competitions.
What questions should a parent ask a music teacher before hiring one?
- Tell me about your professional background (degrees, certifications, experience, etc.)
- Where is your studio?
- May I sit in on a lesson?
- May I read your policies?
- Tell me about the method you use to teach.
- Tell me about the experience my child will have.
- Tell me what your expectations are for students.
- Do you teach individual lessons or group?
- How often will my child perform?
- Will they be in competitions?
- Tell me about the repertoire you choose.
- What are your fees, and what do they include?
- Are you a member of your professional association (MTNA)?
Basing your decision about a music teacher based on fee is the worst possible decision you could make.
What is your advice to parents whose children only want to play rock guitar?
Why not? At least they are involved in their own music making. That’s the goal for us - every life needs music. Through their positive experience, I say hook them in first, any way we can get them!
Choosing to give your child music lessons can give them skills that will last a lifetime. For more information about music education and music teachers, visit the Music Teachers National Association website.
Kari Lomanno - Kari Lomanno is a high school English teacher and mother of two children ages 9 and 7. She lives in Chesapeake, Virginia with her husband ...
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