Music lessons are one of the best activities you can offer a child. They are academic, social, fun, and help to improve math and reading skills. But how do you ensure that your child achieves success? In addition to practicing and working hard on the lesson content, there are many other things you can do to help your child achieve success with music lessons. The music lesson is just the beginning. Here are five great tips to bring music into your child’s life, inspire him to take his playing to the next level, and reap all the benefits that come with it!
1. The Music Lesson
Make sure your child is enrolled at a music school that offers lessons every week. Weekly lessons are very important for success because they make preparation a habit. When there’s a regular lesson each week, kids know that they have to complete their assignments and meet their goals. If a conflict comes up and your child needs a make-up lesson, try to arrange it within the same week so they don’t lose momentum.
2. The Practice Sessions
To make practicing more fun, practice pieces should be enjoyable for the student. There are countless pieces available at every level from beginner to advanced. Students can make a list of their favorites and suggest them to the music teacher. The program Digital Retailer enables teachers to access and print just about any piece of music.
3. The Inspiration
It’s important for students to be able to visualize where practicing can take them. If children just want to play an instrument for their own enjoyment, that’s great, but it’s empowering to show them that music can take them far beyond that. There are so many opportunities right here in Westchester, from concerts at Tarrytown Music Hall to performances on the river fronts. Kids need to learn to make music by themselves, but they also need to see other people collaborating and making music as a team. This helps inspire them in their practicing.
4. The Group Effort
Students learning an instrument also need to grasp that music is more than a solitary exercise. In addition to music lessons, offer your child opportunities to play in rock bands, jazz bands and orchestral camps. Putting students in a group music environment is not only great fun for them; it also enables them to take their lessons to a new level.
5. The Feeling of Accomplishment
Small successes are vital on a child’s road to musical mastery. Big once-a-year recitals are great, of course, but you need to ask yourself what your student is doing the other 11 months of the year. Look for music schools that stage regular events such as open mics and mini-recitals.
Yes, mastering an instrument requires patience and hard work. But once your children learn to master the piano, the guitar, or any other instrument, you’ll have given them the priceless gift of an unfailing source of pleasure for the rest of their lives. Take the time to practice and encourage music every way you can. Your kids will thank you, and you will be thrilled with their successes.
Mike and Miriam Risko are the owners and directors of Mike Risko Music School, 144 Croton Ave, Ossining, N.Y. 762-8757.
