Everything you wanted to know about children's music lessons

What instruments should my child play?

The right instrument is the one your child likes to play. Music is about feelings; mastering an instrument requires technical proficiency, but to really excel, the musician must also be able to connect with and understand a musical piece on an emotional level.

That is quite hard to do if you don’t even like the instrument you are playing! So you should choose the instrument your child likes, that your child has an affinity with. If you like something enough, you will be motivated to excel in it.

Should I enroll in a school or with a private teacher?

The most important thing is to choose a good teacher with whom you and your child have good rapport and chemistry, and whose teaching approach you agree with.

Where the lessons are held should be a secondary consideration. That said, I’ve found that students tend to learn better outside of their home, maybe because they have a more structured learning environment by attending a school or studio.

Are music lessons suitable for all kids?

All kids can definitely benefit from exposure on music, though how far he or she eventually takes it will depends on his or her interest or aptitude.

While not every child who takes up music will eventually go on to pursue a diploma; even a basic education, just learning to play the piano, would provide practical benefits such as helping to train the child’s hand-eye co-ordination or sense of rhythm.

What is the right age to start?

I have found it is not so much the age, as whether they are able to benefit from the lessons.

The child should have sufficient attention span to concentrate for the 30 minutes lesson duration for beginners, and should be able to recite alphabet letters in order, do some simple single digit addition and subtraction.

And of course, you, the parent, must be able to commit your time to revise and practice with your young child.

When my child complains about the music lessons (it’s too difficult, I don’t like the instrument, I don’t like the teacher/classmates, etc), when should I persist and when should I change/stop the music lessons?

I’d say this is not so different from anything else your child might be studying. When the going gets tough, kids complain! Parental support and encouragement are really important, especially in something like music that takes a lot of time and effort and repeated practice.

Parents should work closely with the teacher to see if there are any issues and what solutions can be worked out, and talk to the child to find out what exactly might be the issue.

Sometimes the child simply isn’t interested in music, or sometimes the teacher isn’t suitable, and if it really is those cases, then it might be time for a change. But 95% of the time though, it’s a child being a child and there is nothing that an encouraging word and a hug would not solve!

Is it true that if my child has long fingers, he or she sould take up the piano?

Long fingers would definitely be an advantage! However, finger length is just one among many factors in determining a child’s aptitude for music. If he has a good rhythmic sense, enjoys music, good motor skills, ability to recognize patterns, has an eye for details, etc. he should also consider learning the piano!

Should my child start one-to-one or group lesson?

Each has its own merits. Group lessons are suitable for music exposure and awareness, with the focus more on sharing and exchange.

However, learning musical instruments well requires intensive coaching and attentive communication and listening between both the student and teacher.

Hence, individual sessions are preferable for practical lessons. The mode of instrument can also be tailored to suit each child’s learning pace.

What should I look for in a music teacher?

The easiest things to look for are the teacher’s qualifications and track record- the examination results and maybe competition prizes produced by his or her students. While these are useful indicators, they may not be enough in themselves.

The teacher will guide your child along his or her musical journey, which may last many years. So you want to make sure the teacher shares the same musical goals/vision that you like to have for your child, and has good chemistry with your child and yourself.

The teacher should be able to communicate and build rapport with your child and yourself, and her teaching style should suit your child. In addition, children learn by example, and nothing motivates them as much as a teacher who truly loves music and is able to explain to them in clear languages they can understand.

How do music lessons help my child in his development? Is it true that music helps improve maths grade and memory?

There’s been quite a bit of research demonstrating that music education encourages superior academic performance in children. I think music trains the mind in terms of pattern recognition, memory through having to remember notes and so on.

But I think a lot of the benefit brought by a musical education stems from the fact that mastering music requires a lot of patience and determination. Along the way, children acquire qualities such as discipline, patience and perseverance, which will help them a great deal in their other academic pursuits as well.

Written by

Lynn Tan

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