STARTING MUSIC EDUCATIONIf your child loves singing or dancing and you think they might be interested in pursuing a new talent, expanding their musical tastes, participating in recitals and competitions, getting the MERIT certificate, or just having something to do after school, the Almaden School of Music and Art may be right for you! We have 35+ teachers that each have different teaching styles and techniques. We are happy to help you find the right teacher for you or your child. WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO START LESSONS? We recommend starting private music lessons, especially piano, at four. In some cases, children start as early as three. For violin, flute, saxophone, guitar, drums and other instruments, we recommend children be at least five to get started, unless they are gifted or have some prior experience with a different instrument. See if you can hold their attention for some time while reading a book or playing a game before starting private music lessons, or look into scheduling a trail class before signing up for classes. For children younger than five, we recommend a group music class such as our Little Mozarts program. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF LEARNING MUSIC? Learning an instrument can help you or your child in a wide variety of ways. Researchers have found that learning to play a musical instrument can help improve memory, spatial reasoning and literacy skills. Playing an instrument requires the use of both sides of your brain, which strengthens memory and cognitive skills in both children and adults. SHOULD MY CHILD PRACTICE AT HOME? Absolutely! You and your child should be committed to practicing. Without practice, progress will be extremely slow and your child may quickly lose interest in the instrument they have chosen. Just twenty minutes a day can make a huge difference in how your child progresses. Your child will likely develop a lot more confidence and dedication in pursuing their music education. Students usually start with just playing the songs they are taught during their lesson a few times every day after school or during another time that is convenient for them and their families. WHERE CAN I FIND INSTRUMENTS FOR RENTAL OR PURCHASE? If you are planning to start guitar, drums, or a string or wind instrument, we recommend you rent or purchase at the Music Village in San Jose. They have a wonderful rent-to-own program, and have a wide variety of instruments. You also may be able to buy some of your instruments on Amazon or through second hand shops in the area. SHOULD I BUY A PIANO? OR IS A KEYBOARD ENOUGH? Yes, you should buy a piano or find one you can use to practice. We can't emphasize this enough! The relationship between the strings, hammers, and the ear is the key to the deep understanding of music. Keyboards are not as fine tuned and responsive to touch as a genuine piano and children may develop a rough sound. If they play at a recital or concert where there is an acoustic piano or a grand piano, the difference in sound and feel can be very intimidating. We strongly recommend buying an acoustic piano. CAN I SIT IN CLASS WITH MY CHILD? Absolutely! We strongly encourage it! It is your choice to sit in on your child's lessons, but not required. That said, some students find it distracting, but others work better with Mom or Dad in the room. Teachers are happy to give you some advice on this after they get to know you and your child. |