Elementary Aged Children

What To Do if Your Child Has the Signs?

If your child has 3 or more of the signs, you probably have noticed that they are more sensitive to music than most other children. They are usually very interested in any music playing in the car, and want to hear their favorite song over and over again. They can get songs stuck in their heads, and are continually asking to buy a new song from tunes.

The first thing you should do is get them evaluated for musical aptitudes. Please click on this link for information on how this is done: Testing

What IF your Child is Talented?

Every year that you wait, is a year that could be used to get your child the knowledge their brains can most easily assimilate as a child. A child's mind is uniquely capable of learning music to the highest levels, and they are able to play "right-brained" naturally, which makes them that much better at learning all subjects.

For music students, college is now. If you are saving for your child to go to college after high school, this money will be useless if your child would have been good at music. This is because a student who wants to get into a good music program MUST have studied music for years in order to even be considered for a good program. If your child is talented, the money you are saving for college needs to be spent on private lessons when they are still in elementary, secondary, and high school. When they get ready for college, if they have had the education they need, they will be able to get scholarships to college.

What Instrument Should My Child Play?

Usually, a child will ask to play a specific instrument, and we do our best to accommodate that choice. There are some mismatches that can occur, however. To get good at some instruments, there are personality traits that are very helpful. For instance, a string student has to have a very detail oriented personality. Highly creative students tend to do better on piano or guitar. Students that are really good at math, and have a lot of kinetic energy, tend to do very well on drums or harp. When a student specifically asks to play a band instrument like trumpet, or saxophone, we feel it is best to let them play that instrument, if possible. We have a band program specifically designed for these students to succeed, no matter what the personality type.

Instrument Quality

As a rule, it is best to buy the best instrument you can afford at any age or ability level. A good instrument makes learning at any level so much easier, because in addition to learning all of the skills it takes to play, the student isn't also battling an inferior instrument that has action problems, or is out of tune.

Instruments, however, don't have to be pretty, and they aren't necessarily expensive. For a piano student, getting a real piano... older is fine, as long as all of the keys work and it can be tuned up to pitch. For other instruments, ask the seller if you can take the instrument in to a music store and have it assessed for quality and functionality before you buy it. There are many wonderful used instruments available on Craig's List. This is a way to find high quality, low priced instruments for your child to play.

If your child needs to start lessons, please read the link to the right about testing, and contact us to schedule an appointment. We would be honored to work with your talented child!