7 Things Every Parent Should Know About Music Lessons

You want to instill in your child a lifelong love of music so you’ve gone and signed them up for music lessons. Great - your child will take it from here, right? Not quite. As a parent, you’ve got a major role in your budding musician’s success story. Here are 7 things you can do to support your child as they learn to play an instrument:

#1 Arrive on time for lessons

The old adage applies to music lessons; if you’re not 5 minutes early, you’re 5 minutes late. Make sure that your child is all settled with their instrument and sheet music or books before their lesson begins. When they’re ready to go right on time, you haven’t wasted a minute (or a cent)!

#2 Attend the occasional lessons

You certainly don’t need to attend every single lesson. But by sitting in every once in awhile you’ll hear how songs should sound. You’ll have a better understanding of what challenges your child is experiencing and where they need to improve. Also - you’ll be hearing the teacher’s tips so you can offer better support at home. Be sure to ask questions!

#3 Make sure your child practices

Regular practice is important to making progress. Effective practice is essential and when the mind is engaged, time flies. Be sure your child understands not only how long to practice, but how to practice. If 20 minutes of daily practice is the goal, set a practice time and stick to it. Effective practice includes repetition, focused listening, identifying weaknesses as well as progress/success and setting daily goals. Lean on the teacher--a good teacher teaches how to practice. Ask: How should she work on this piece?  How much time should be spent on each song?  How many repetitions?  How fast?  Ask the teacher to write notes.   

#4 Keep that instrument in good condition

Make sure to keep tabs on the condition of your child’s instrument. If they’re learning piano, make sure its tuned. If they’re learning a woodwind instrument, make sure they’ve got enough reeds. They may or may not tell you if a key is sticking or if they need new strings. Its tough to learn on a broken instrument and its really no fun to sound bad either. Once again, use your teacher as a resource.  

#5 Do your research

There’s plenty to know about learning to play music. Pick up tips and tricks by reading blogs and networking with other parents of music students! Here is a list of 14 online communities you don’t want to miss. Check out AMP and Music Matters Blog - both blogs regularly publish valuable information for music parents. Also - be sure to bookmark The ZOEN Blog for more musical tips and advice!

#6 Encourage your child

Learning to play music isn’t always easy. Your child needs to know that you are hearing improvements! Consider taking your child to the symphony or a live concert. It is inspiring for kids to hear and see their instrument in a new context and played by a professional. Enjoy that experience with them!

#7 Try not to miss lessons

Consistency is the key to musical progress. Do your best to make sure that regular music lessons are a part of your child’s routine regardless of school breaks! With online lessons, you don't have to miss weeks of lessons when you go on vacation, have bad weather, or your kid has pink eye.  Pack up that flute or guitar and take it to the beach, connect with your teacher in The ZOEN, and carve out some practice time in the down hours.

The self discipline your child learns through music lessons is a skill that will continue to benefit them in the future.  Enjoy the process with them, and who knows, maybe you’ll be dusting off that clarinet before long!  

See Also:

From a Mom: Why Online Music Lessons Made My Life a Whole Lot Easier

[How To] Find the Right Music Teacher

7 Tips To Make Music Lessons More Fun

Q: How Much Will Music Lessons for My Child Cost?

5 Ways to Practice Singing Outside of the Studio

I remember when a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed young me walked out of his first voice lesson at the age of eighteen. All my musical training up until this point had been in piano and everything I knew about singing I learned from the choirs I had sung in. I thought I had at least an idea of what I was doing, but then I started learning about the various bad habits I had already formed and 45 minutes wasn’t even enough to cover them all.

I recall feeling utterly defeated by the experience. I would go on to develop a thicker skin and eventually correct these habits, but interestingly enough I found that a lot of the biggest strides I made weren’t from my efforts in the practice room. Here are five of best ways to practice singing without practicing.

Speaking Practice

One of my teaching mentors told me the best way to control a room is with a clear, commanding voice. Fortunately, you don’t need a room full of half-crazed 8th graders to practice this. You can apply the principles of good vocal tone in just about any conversation. I recommend trying this out on someone like a waiter, store clerk, or more formal acquaintance such as a teacher or boss; your friends—or at least my friends-- are a lot more likely to mock you. Focus on producing a crisp, clear tone and enunciating each word precisely. When executed well, you’ll find this impresses most people.

Posture Practice

Similarly, you can practice good singing posture wherever you go. This requires a lot more vigilance on your part because while you’re not always speaking, you are constantly sitting, standing, or walking. Try to catch yourself slouching at your desk, make an effort to stick out your chest when you walk, and generally give off an air of alertness and confidence. Physical exercise like running, weight-lifting, and yoga can also contribute to better day-to-day posture.

Sing in a Mirror   

“Open up your jaw wider.” “Release the tension in your forehead.”  “Don’t hunch your shoulders.” When you hear this kind of constructive criticism in your voice lesson, it can trigger a defensive response. After all, your jaw feels as open as it possibly could. Your forehead has never been this relaxed. And your mom says that you have the posture of a Greek statue. So what’s the fuss?

In our own minds, we’ve followed these directions to the letter, but reality is often far from perception, especially when it comes to something as personal as our own voices. Sometimes these things need to be seen in order to be believed, which is why I advocate singing into the mirror.

Whoa! A tad crazy. Just a tad.

Technically, this tip works best when applied in the studio, but if, like me, you shave in the shower as well as sing, the mirror becomes twice as useful. Ditto for the rear-view mirror in my car (though only at red lights, of course). In any case, get used to what good singing looks like as well as what it feels like. If you’ve never done this, be prepared for a shock: it turns out good singing makes you look a tad crazy.

Record and listen to your own voice

Just like singing into a mirror opens your eyes to how you really look when singing, recording yourself opens your ears to what you truly sound like. This can be painful, but what can I say? The truth hurts, and a big step to improving is getting a brutally honest idea of your strengths and weaknesses. You’ll likely grimace when listening to yourself, but at least you’ll know what you’re putting the rest of us through when you sing. What’s better motivation to keep practicing than that?

You are what you listen to

A lot of people who take voice lessons start out with a vocal role-model, someone who’s voice they admire and strive to sound like. Whether or not this is a good or bad thing depends, naturally, on who that happens to be. You’d be surprised how few popular singers have had any sort of vocal training.

I can already hear people thinking “But so-and-so never took any kind of music lessons and he/she sold a bazillion records!” First of all, it is possible to be a successful singer without being a good singer. Sure, a few singers have powered their way to fame with raw talent alone, but they are the exception that proves the rule. Besides, how much better would they be if they had taken lessons?

And second, in the age when computers can make Paris Hilton sound decent enough for a single, singers who you thought were really good may not actually have any significant talent to back up their fame. Listen to live recordings of your favorite artists or, better still, see them perform in person. Just make sure they aren’t lip-syncing.


Jason Campbell is a voice coach and piano teacher who blogs about all things music at IvoryMan. Book a lesson with him on The ZOEN or follow him on Facebook.

SOUND ADVICE: How To Become a Better Musician

Wisdom is the bridge to more thoughtful musicianship. We asked our teachers to weigh in with their best advice for musicians at any stage in the game. Here's what they had to say:

Always be a student. The older I get, the clearer it becomes to me that there is still SO much to be learned! 

- Anna Fagan teaches piano for The ZOEN and blogs at FaganPiano.com.

To be a musician, you must listen to the music that's in your heart and share your own expression of it through the way you perform the notes.  The music must transcend mere notes on paper if it is to be performed and heard in its full magnificence.

 - Wayne Land is a virtuoso saxophonist with 45+ years experience teaching all genres of saxophone from R&B to Jazz

Practicing with an audience is the best practice there is! Playing for your own personal enjoyment is a fine and worthy reason to pursue music, but to truly get the most out of your musical study you must perform at some point, whether it's in front of a crowd or just a few friends.  It gives you something to work toward and increases the pressure just enough to make you push yourself. And it get's easier every time you try. 

- Jason Campbell teaches piano and voice for The ZOEN and blogs at Ivory Man.

Listen! Ours is the business of sound, so whether you are in it just as a hobby or if you are planning on auditioning for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, be listening to other successful musicians and emulate the sounds you hear. 

- Fran Beaudry is a clarinet teacher with 30+ years of experience in music education.

Rhythm may be the single most important element at any stage of playing. Without the element of time to guide us, music loses definition and  structure.  

- Eddie Sundra teaches both clarinet and saxophone and is pursuing a degree in Clarinet Performance at Penn State.

Whenever you are bummed out about having to practice, imagine yourself in a vast sandbox full of notes, rests, licks, and phrases. In the grand scheme of things, music is about making something out nothing, about pulling music out of thin air. You are lucky enough to set time aside to participate in that activity. Who wouldn't be excited about that?! 

- Daniel Joseph Dorff Jr. teaches piano and drums in addition to working as a touring musician.

Never lose sight of what makes music important to you. Regardless of how much a passage is frustrating you or how much you want to throw your instrument at the wall, remember that music is a medium allowing intangible structures to pass through our souls. 

- Eddie Sundra teaches both clarinet and saxophone to students of all ages.

Don’t listen with your eyes.  We live in a world of overstimulated multimedia. Instead of just looking at a Guitar Tab, playing what it says, and thinking that it’s correct, take the time to close your eyes, and listen to what you’re playing.  Make sure the notes are correct,  make sure you’re bends are to pitch, make sure all the little nuances are there.  There is a big difference between playing the instrument  and practicing it.  Playing will always sound better....after you've practiced.  

- Matt Brechbiel teaches guitar, bass and songwriting to student of all skill levels.

At any level, in any style, for any purpose, playing the music you love is what it's all about. 

- Phillip Amalong is a composer, performer and recording artist who teaches intermediate and advanced piano.

Do you have any advice to add? Has a piece of advice shaped your development as a musician? Please share your thoughts in the comments below!

From a Mom: Why Online Music Lessons Made My Life a Whole Lot Easier

I love music. I want all three of my children to love it too. But our music lessons were beginning to feel like they were more trouble than they were worth. Until recently. We tried out a new music lesson experience that has been great for the children and a relief for me and my husband. Allow me to set the scene:

[BEFORE] TRADITIONAL MUSIC LESSONS
3:30PM 
Pack up two youngest children (1 toddler) for 10 minute drive to pick up my 9 year-old daughter from school to take her to piano lesson. We like our teacher ok, but we haven’t had much choice. I check my bag for:

• Diapers
• Snacks
• Books to read
• Lesson materials
• Hand sanitizer

3:45PM
Pick up Lizzie at school, and drive 20 minutes in semi-stressful early rush hour traffic.

4:05PM
Arrive at teacher’s studio. If we can park nearby, I sometimes send Lizzie in by herself. The other kids and I stay in car, running heat or AC as the season dictates. I haven’t even begun to figure out the cost of gas for these lesson trips - no doubt we’re burning through extra cash.

More often, we go into the waiting room that our teacher and other teachers share.  It’s crowded, chaotic, full of other kids who are sick or misbehaving. The other parents can be great to talk with, but generally this waiting room is not a pleasant experience.  

4:15PM
Time for Lizzie’s lesson.  She forgot to hang up her coat.  She runs back, throws it in my lap and...now she has to pee.  I point her to the restroom and she scurries into her lesson in one of the many small rooms down the hall a few minutes late.  

4:45PM
Lesson over. No time to talk with teacher as the next student is waiting.  Pack up all our stuff.  Put kids coats on and schlep everyone and everything out to car. Our commute home is now a stressful 40 minutes as rush hour has intensified.  

5:30PM
Home.  Corral everyone from the car to the house. Return a phone call from our kitchen contractor, read notes from Lizzie’s teacher, work with kids to pick up the mess they made as we hurried out of house earlier.  

6:15PM
Consider preparing dinner, but I’m too exhausted and the children need my attention.  I call my husband Jeff and we make arrangements to meet at a pizza place that’s on the way home from his office.  

6:30PM
Everyone back into car.  

7:00PM
Pizza dinner. It’s quick, but not the healthiest.  We get the family out of there for $35.  

8:00PM
Home.  Everyone back into house.

8:15PM
We start getting younger children ready for bed. I’m ready for bed myself! Instead, its time for me to get cracking on the work emails that have accumulated over the course of the evening.

Sound familiar??


[AFTER] ONLINE MUSIC LESSONS
3:30PM
My neighbor Claire and I take turns picking up our girls from school.  On Lizzie’s lesson day, it’s Claire’s turn. I'm home enjoying working on art projects with some of the other kids.

4:00PM
Lizzie’s home.  We have a snack, wash up and position the laptop by the piano so that webcam has a good view of her and the keyboard.  

4:15PM 
We login to The ZOEN and I greet Lizzie’s wonderful teacher whom we’ve chosen from a selection of over 50 from across the country.  

For the next 30 minutes while Lizzie is having her lesson, I read a chapter of that book I’ve been trying to catch up on or I catch up with some business calls and emails that I’d otherwise have to push to late night.  The other children are happily playing in the family room and I drop in on them occasionally.    

4:45PM
I check in with Lizzie’s teacher, get some pointers on the week’s practicing assignment and we sign off.

The evening is free, I’m not stressed or tired, and my daughter has just had a fun and productive music lesson experience. Have online music lessons made my life just a little bit easier? Yes, yes they have.

--------------

Kaitlyn W. of San Ramon, CA is a mother of 3 and busy web entrepreneur who loves music and used to play the clarinet in high school.  She tells us that with the convenience of online lessons, she may start playing again herself.  Welcome Kaitlyn!

Find out if online music lessons with The ZOEN are right for your family. Schedule a free trial lesson for your child now.

Acoustic vs Electric: The Great Guitar Debate

Ah, the age old question. Should I start with an acoustic or electric guitar? Opinions on this vary greatly and there’s really no clear winner in the debate. Each type has its own unique advantages and every guitar player will likely play both eventually. 

Start by asking yourself: what style of music do I want to learn to play? If you’re 15 years old and you want to learn to play some Linkin Park, well then, your best bet would be to start with an electric guitar. If you’re into Mumford and Sons, go the acoustic route. Acoustic guitars are best for folk, country and bluegrass while electric guitars lend themselves to rock and metal. Adults seem to migrate to the acoustic in the beginning, but before long they’re hooked and go out and buy an electric as well. If you pick a guitar that’s in line with the type of music you’re interested in, you’ll likely practice more often and thus progress quickly.

There are a few more points to consider. If you buy an electric, you're going to need an amplifier. So, you're adding expenses onto your initial investment. If you buy an acoustic, all you have to do is start playing. You can easily bring your acoustic guitar along on a road trip or camping weekend - there’s no need to worry about electricity or an amplifier. An electric is a bit easier on the fingers in the beginning. An acoustic guitar will be a bit harder on your fingers in the beginning, but your hand strength will develop more quickly.

Whether its an acoustic or electric guitar you’re buying, it is important to find a quality instrument.  That does not mean you have to go and spend hundreds of dollars on a guitar.  You can find plenty of new guitars and all in one guitar sets for under $200. They have everything you need in one box.  Craigslist is full of used instruments too. (Hint:  always check Craigslist towards the end of the month, that’s when you’ll find more guitars go on sale.) Check out a used guitar before you buy it--take an experienced guitarist with you if you're a beginner or unsure about the instrument.

There is no right or wrong answer to the acoustic vs. electric debate; it really just depends on what you want to play and personal preference. Go to a music store and try both to see which one you like. The chords and notes that you start off with will be exactly the same. Remember, guitar is the easiest instrument  to learn. So, go get yourself a guitar, find a teacher, and start playing.

Matt Brechbiel has been teaching students of all ages and levels to play the guitar for over 20 years. Book an online guitar lesson with him or visit him at mattbmusic.com. 

Q: How Much Will Music Lessons for My Child Cost?

If you are looking to encourage your child’s musical ability or maybe even rediscover your own musical talent, music lessons are a great place to start. Finding the perfect music teacher can be a complex equation when interests, schedules and cost are factored in. If the perfect teacher for your child doesn’t happen to live 3 doors down from your house, online music lessons could be just the answer and here’s why:

The price for music lessons can range from $15 to $40 for a 30 minute session. The price a teacher charges is based on their own education and years of experience. While longer lessons (45-60 minutes) are available its safe to assume that a 30 minute lesson will suffice for most beginners and children. In order to best learn an instrument, consistent lessons at least weekly are most effective. So, at $25 per music lesson for, say, 50 weeks you’re looking at $1250 per year.  

However, there are a few additional factors that influence the cost associated with learning to play an instrument like the guitar, piano or saxophone. If you happen to live in a large metropolitan area, the rates teachers charge will be higher. If the teacher makes house visits, their price will reflect their travel expenses. If you are the one doing the traveling you will certainly feel the added gas expense. You’ll also find yourself spending more time in the car driving to and from and waiting during the lessons each week. It all starts to add up.

Enter online music lessons from The ZOEN. By taking music lessons online via webcam your child will be able to connect with their perfect music teacher without all the hassle of traditional music lessons. ZOEN teachers are experienced, vetted professionals dedicated to teaching students the music they love. You can still expect to pay the average market rate but without all the driving you’ll save time and save money. Therein lies the savings.

At over $1000 a year, you want to make sure you have the right teacher. Being able to choose from teachers nationwide and access them from the comfort of your home is how you can maximize the return on your investment. Watch the video below and see what online lessons are like. Then give it a try--it just might be the perfect fit for your family!



Questions? Ask away in the comments field below!

See also: How to Find the Right Music Teacher

[How To] Memorize Music with Ease

Do you sometimes struggle with memorizing a piece of music? Consider that memorization can actually be a natural process, and you may be memorizing your music without even knowing it!

There are several commonly used methods for music memorization. Most successful memorizers are probably using a combination of methods including “rote memorization,” “repetition,” and “silent study.” I would like to introduce the concept that memorization can come quite naturally. Consider the following true story:

In 1970 I was a member of my university’s symphonic band. On one occasion we had traveled several hours to perform an hour long concert. Upon arrival it was discovered that our music folders had been left behind. What were we to do? Our director made a decision; we were to perform the concert from memory! We had never before played any of the music from memory - we never imagined it would be necessary. But yes, the 90+ members of the symphonic band assembled on stage and played a full hour long concert totally from memory.

So how were we able to pull it off? That’s simple. We had rehearsed and performed the music so many times that we didn’t really have to rely on sheet music. We had memorized it without even intending to. It was a “natural” result of having played it so many times.

If memorization is a struggle for you, try this experiment:

Play One Phrase
Take the piece you’re working on and select one phrase. Play that section of music repeatedly while reading the music. Don’t think about memorizing it. Just play it and listen intently to what you’re playing. It’s important to use your ears.

Look Away
Begin to look away from the sheet music for a measure, then two measures, then three or four. Just let it happen. We have a natural ability to remember things we do repeatedly.

Test Yourself
Use your aural memory to help remember what the music sounds like and then reproduce it naturally. Test yourself and try again and keep trying until you succeed.

Work Backwards
When learning long pieces, some people do better by working from the end of the music back to the beginning. In other words, play an entire section repeatedly and each time through, look away from the sheet music a measure earlier while continuing to the end from memory.

Sooner than you think, you’ll be playing the entire piece from memory. Yes, it takes repetition.
But using your natural ability to perform music “by ear” can help speed the process. Whether you’re learning saxophone, piano, clarinet or any other instrument, be sure to ask your teacher for their tips and tricks. That’s exactly the sort of thing they can help you with!

Is there a memorization system that works for you? Share your tips in the comments!


Wayne Land is a virtuoso saxophonist with over 45 years of teaching and playing experience and two degrees in music education. Book an online saxophone lesson with Wayne in The ZOEN.