Ask Away

Many parents have questions before having a child embark on the path to learning an instrument. It is good to have questions! Better to ask than to always wonder. Here are some common questions people ask about music lessons.

Q- Do we need our own instrument?

A- Yes. You can rent or buy, but your child needs one in your house so they can practice daily.

Q- Why are private lessons so expensive? I want to find the cheapest teacher I can.

A- The reason is found in the title, private lessons. You have a teacher who is spending one-on-one time with only your child, crafting the entire lesson to their needs, helping them understand everything the best that they can. A highly qualified teacher is often more expensive because of their experience. You don’t necessarily want just the cheapest quote.

Q- I want my child learning classic rock/”favorite genre” type music right away. Can we skip the beginner-sounding music?

A- Well…. not really. If they are a brand-new beginner, some “beginner-sounding” music will be necessary. There are probably teachers out there that can start a student out on whatever they want, but they likely won’t be teaching the student to read music, which is an essential skill to becoming a musician, if you think about it.

Q- I have a piano app on my phone/tablet. Can my child use that to practice for piano lessons until we see if he likes it enough to buy a real piano?

A- Good question, but NO. A huge, important part of the first lessons on piano is learning to have correct hand position while pressing down keys, that are the correct distance apart. You must have a piano or keyboard for them to practice on.

Q- Weekly lessons seem expensive/time-consuming. Can we do every other week?

A- In my experience with over 150 private students, it has been proven again and again that weekly lessons are the best way to go. When a student is allowed to go every other week, what most often happens is the student doesn’t practice much at all the first week he is “off,” and when he goes to practice that second week right before the lesson, he has basically forgotten everything the teacher discussed in his previous lesson. He makes almost no progress.

Q- How long will learning to play an instrument take? Or, When will she be done learning to play [instrument]?

A- If you really want to know, they will never be “done.” There is always another level of better playing they can achieve. There will always be another piece to learn. Now, not every student wants to or needs to go to become a concert artist, but to get to a level of proficiency and independence, it will take several years of lessons from a good teacher. (And lots of practice!)

Q- My child wants to become a music teacher and/or be a music major in college. How can they prepare for that?

A- Being a music major takes a lot of discipline. You have to like practicing… a lot: 1-2 hours daily practice at minimum at most universities. So make sure they are used to practicing now.

-Ask their teacher what they suggest. A good teacher will know how to prepare students for college auditions.

-Get your child into some music theory studies. They don’t have to know everything about music theory, but knowing basics will help them immensely!

- Have them perform as often as possible for family and friends. Performing is a huge part of being a music major.

Q- I think my child has aptitude for being a musician. Do you think they have potential?

A- Yes, any child that has a desire to learn and a has good teacher can become a musician, but only if they work hard and practice. A child that thinks they are good at music but never practices (because they think they don’t need to) will not become a musician. Just because someone says they have “talent” doesn’t mean they still won’t have to work hard.

Talent + hard work = results.

Q- How long until they will be able to play [difficult piece of music]?

A- Probably years, if they are a brand-new beginner now. Some famous pieces have been arranged into easier arrangements, so those will be reachable sooner, but the “real” versions of famous pieces will probably be several years away.

What other questions do you have about private lessons?

“Never let fear stop you from asking something you don’t understand or know. To pretend or to act as if you know is not a wise thing to do.” Catherine Pulsifer, inspirational author.

Image by Peggy und Marco Lachmann-Anke from Pixabay