What to Know Before Your Child’s First Music Lesson
You know that you would like your child to learn an instrument. That is a fantastic idea and will give your child an incredible step forward in life. Learning a musical instrument has so many benefits. Being able to play or sing pieces you love brings great joy and a sense of satisfaction and achievement. However, it takes practice and is not one of those things that provides instant gratification.
To become a good musician takes time, regular practice and the stamina to never give up when the going gets tough. I always find that conquering something that is a challenge feels much better than something that has just landed in my lap with little effort. These skills that you learn playing an instrument are transferable skills to every area of life. The importance of hard work, learning to never give up until your goal is achieved and then to enjoy the result and the satisfaction it brings!
Where do you go from here? Deciding which instrument is the first step.
How do you decide which instrument is the best for your child? There are a number of contributing factors. Money, logistics, love of a sound etc. In a perfect world where money and logistics pose no problem, I would play music to your child and see to which instrument they are drawn. Good examples of pieces of classical music to check out are ‘Peter and the Wolf’ by Prokofiev and ‘Carnival of the Animals’ by Saint-Saens. There are pieces where you hear each instrument featured alone in these compositions where your child can hear the differences in their sounds.
Alternatively search YouTube for any instrument in the orchestra. There will be numerous videos introducing each instrument by practitioners of the instrument. This will show how it is played and what it sounds like – usually by someone who loves it! Be sure to show your child the instrument in its solo form, as a chamber music instrument and also in the orchestra and what its job is there.
If traditional music is your preference, use the YouTube resource again to research these. It may be helpful to search for the same tune on a number of different instruments to see how it varies in sound and what your child likes. Is it a rhythmic instrument or does it play the melody?
If you would rather your child play rock/popular music, think of the instruments particular to this genre. Guitar, piano, drums, bass guitar etc. Show them some live YouTube videos of your favourite bands playing to whet their appetite.
Whatever genre you might like for your child might change once they are playing themselves. At this stage, it is just important to start them on an instrument to develop their interest and skills in music.
When I say instrument, I am also including the voice. The easiest instrument to acquire and transport is your own voice. Before starting any instrument, I highly recommend singing in the house and playing lots of music. You might find certain songs in films that your child loves. Encouraging them to sing these will start to help tune their ear.
If logistics and money are a factor, be aware of where you live. If you live in an apartment with very thin walls, drums or trumpet may not be appreciated by your neighbours. If you cannot stand to hear high pitched instruments, probably best to steer clear of the violin or flute. If you have a piano in your house, this could be the perfect start to your child’s musical journey. Do not worry about choosing the right instrument. Like anything else in life, people can change and adapt. No musical training will be wasted.
Other unusual things to consider. There are orchestral instruments that are rarely played and therefore it is easier to get places in youth orchestras. Playing in a band is fun and there always seems to be a need for good bass guitarists!
Having chosen an instrument, next you need to find a teacher. Of course musicteachers.ie is a wonderful resource to help you with this! Choose a teacher with at least a teaching diploma from one of the reputable exam systems worldwide. A music degree from a recognised university is even better. Ask for references to make sure that this teacher is providing a quality service to their other students.
When a teacher accepts your child into their teaching studio, it is best to have a call before the first lesson to discuss sourcing an instrument, expectations and so that you can address any queries. A good teacher will be able to suggest the best place to source an instrument so wait until you hear their advice before purchasing one.
Before the first lesson, make sure you know where to go. Precious minutes of your musical education will be wasted if you are late. Bring your instrument, any books your teacher asked you to purchase, a pencil and a notebook for your teacher. They usually write down lesson notes here from week to week and it is useful to be able to look back at old exercises and comments.
At the first lesson, your child and their teacher will get to know one another. The teacher will try to create a lovely environment from the beginning. If they don’t, it is already time to switch teachers! They will generally teach set up and care of the instrument, posture and the names of all parts of the instrument. If it is a voice lesson, they will usually do some exercises – sing some notes, clap rhythms. It is all very basic at the first lesson and the teacher will guide the student onwards from at a pace that suits your child.
Best of luck!!