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Let’s face it – learning to play music is hard, and we all have days when we want to quit. I’ll admit that when I was a kid, I quit my music lessons more than once. As music teachers, it’s our job to help our students continue to love music, even when they feel discouraged and want to give up.  Here are some tips I’ve learned over the years to help students stay encouraged with music.

1. Ditch the Lesson Book. Some kids love the structure lesson books provide, while other kids loathe the dreaded books.  As educators, it is our job to figure out what works best for each student.  I’ve always had the philosophy that if a lesson book is making a student dread music class, it’s time to find a different approach.  Some kids love to play Disney songs, others love Taylor Swift, and some of my students even play Miles Davis.  As a teacher, I am constantly working to find the best possible material for each student so they can grow as musicians.

2. Play Pots and Pans not Piano! Yes, you heard me – pots and pans and other household items make great instruments!  Ever tried to play a bunch of syncopated beats on a frying pan?   It’s hard, but it’s also incredibly fun!  One of my most promising students came in saying she was having a “pain-o” day.  Instead of forcing her to drag her way through the prepared lesson, we collected pots and pans from my kitchen, and played percussion ensemble for the entire lesson.  Sure my neighbors were less than thrilled, but it was just what she needed to feel like music was fun again. She later even used some of the rhythms we played around with to compose a piece on the piano!

3. Encourage Students to Write Music. Some students are great at reading notes off the page, others are great improvisers, and some love to compose and write their own songs. Encouraging creativity and individuality is a great way to keep a student loving music!  I like to help students record their songs and create CD’s to give out as gifts. They love it!

4. Put on a Show. Everyone needs a goal!  Even though recitals can be a little nerve racking, I’ve always been amazed at how happy and motivated students are when they come in the week after the performance! Many of my students ask when they get to do the next recital. Last year, several students came in incredibly excited and inspired to learn pieces they had heard other students perform.

Best of luck with your lessons in the new year!

- Joy A.

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Presenting….the Top 10 Reasons Why TakeLessons Gift Certificates Make an AWESOME Holiday Gift!

10.  Our gift certificates NEVER expire!

Whether the recipient wants to start lessons right away or a few months down the road, a TakeLessons gift certificate provides a flexible option that lets them start lessons when they’re ready.

9.  Gift certificates are good for any type of lesson we offer.

With more than 30 types of lessons to choose from, there’s something for everyone!  If you know what instrument the recipient is interested in learning, simply give us a call and one of our student counselors can check our database of teachers to confirm availability at the time of purchase, or you can do a search on our site and find a teacher yourself!

8.  Location, location, location!

TakeLessons gift certificates can be used toward lessons at any of our 3,000 locations across the country – including our Best Buy and Learning Care Group (Childtime, Children’s Courtyard, La Petite and Tutor Time) lesson centers.

7.  More convenient than fighting the crowds at the mall…

Gift certificates can be printed and mailed to the recipient – or, if you’re a last minute shopper, email delivery is also an option.

6.  Lessons for any age or stage in life.

Old or young, beginner or advanced – everyone can benefit from music lessons.  Our instructors help their students set goals and create a customized curriculum to help them achieve those goals!

5.  A first class experience from start to finish.

Nothing is more important to us than keeping our customers happy.  When you purchase a TakeLessons gift certificate, you can be sure that you are making a risk-free investment.  Should the recipient not be satisfied with their lessons for any reason, we will gladly set them up with a new instructor to ensure that they have a wonderful lesson experience.

4.  A great addition to music instrument gifts.

Planning to buy Junior that guitar or drum set he’s been begging for?  A gift certificate for lessons with one of our TakeLessons Certified™ Music Teachers will make sure he starts his music career off on the right foot.

3.  A fun and unique gift option that will be remembered.

Chances are the recipients on your gift-giving list have all the neckties and kitchen appliances they need.  This year, why not give a gift that will make an impact and potentially change a life?  Which brings us to our next point…

2.  Forget Rockband and learn to play for real!

Sure, video games are fun – but learning to play an instrument provides many more physical and mental benefits, including improved memorization skills, increased self-confidence, and enhanced creativity.

And the number one reason to purchase a TakeLessons gift certificate this holiday season?

1.  It’s better than fruitcake.

Enough said.

Call us at 877-231-8505 or click here to purchase your TakeLessons gift certificate today!  Happy Holidays!

While there are certainly many benefits to music lessons for children, getting them to practice their instruments isn’t always the easiest task.   Samantha D., one of our Rock Star teachers who frequently works with young children,  sent us the following list of her best tips and tricks for encouraging children to practice.

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— In my experience, the responsibility of practicing relies strongly on the parents until the child is in middle school. Before then, children do not have the capacity to send themselves to their instrument to study for a set period of time. Most young children, if excited and confident, will sit down and play their instrument but will tend to “noodle,” not focusing on what was taught in the previous lesson. Parents must encourage and direct their children to spend time practicing and oversee what they are practicing with gentle reminders. If pushed too hard and forced to practice, the child will no longer see music as fun, but rather as a chore to add to the list.

– Have the parents sit down with their child and look at the family schedule.  Involving the child when scheduling practice time will go a long way and help them feel like they are part of the decision. Keep in mind that practicing in smaller increments throughout the day is much easier on small children than forcing them to sit still for one hour.

– I find that setting a timer does not always work with kids; they will end up not practicing what they should for a majority of the time because they are just waiting for the buzzer to go off. Instead, I suggest that the parents have them play the song a set number of times during each practice session. It is a fine balance that parents will struggle with, but pays great rewards in the end.

– It is mostly the teacher’s job to create the desire for the child to practice. Music should be fun and rewarding -  not a chore. So if the child is eager to improve and eager to impress their teacher, practice time will naturally happen. Teachers should create an environment that feels safe to the student and promotes confidence.

– Rewards are an excellent way to encourage practicing.  However, there is a fine line between reward and a bribe. A bribe is used to persuade the child to do something they really don’t want to do, while a reward is used to encourage good behavior.  Stickers have always been the prize of choice, but I go one or two steps farther. I use a regular sticker when we have finished a song, but if the child has worked extra hard on a more difficult song, I have ‘special’ stickers that I give out.  I also set goals with each of my students; when they reach a goal that we have set early on and check regularly, they may choose a prize from a basket of items from the Dollar Store.  They know that if they do not put in the time to not even bother asking for a sticker, let alone a prize.

– My last incentive that I am just starting to incorporate is a points chart.  Let the children race each other to see who can accumulate the most points by the end of the semester. Points are awarded for good behavior, listening, sight reading and theory, as well as practice times. I encourage the parents to also have an incentive chart at home so the child can keep track separately from me and have an extra reward.  Most parents are happy to do so, as they want to see their child succeed just as much as I do!

– As a teacher, it is my job to keep my students excited about every step forward, no matter how small. Concerts are another way to create a sense of accomplishment. Kids LOVE to perform for their peers and are not put off because another student played the same song or they are not at the same level as another student.  Another idea I am working on incorporating is “Day of the Week” concerts favored by Suzuki method teachers. During one week every month or semester, students from each day’s lessons will play for each other.  Then they are constantly working toward a performance, rather than waiting 6 months in between concerts.

– The best thing you can do for a young child is to encourage them every step of the way. They will put all of their effort in to playing their best for you if they know that you truly care and will always support them no matter what.

-Samantha D.

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When we explain this to parents, another concern usually arises – “How can I help encourage my child to practice and stay engaged in lessons?” The good news is that there are many ways parents can help keep their children excited about their lessons. We asked some of our talented TakeLessons music teachers to share how they encourage parents to get involved and got some really great feedback.  Check out this piece written by one of our Dallas guitar teachers, Jerry W. Jerry lists some interesting ideas for parents to make the musical learning process more enjoyable for their kids. Once the kids are engaged and practicing regularly, they are more likely to see their results faster!

Jerry writes:

Tips for Music Teachers: Young Guitar Students, Parents & Practice

Each year, I am approached by parents who request that I teach guitar lessons to their children.  I am always flattered that they would choose me to teach their child.  The child is usually enthusiastic as they begin their musical journey.  After about a month, the student’s attitude begins to shift from enthusiasm to the realization that they have undertaken a lifelong journey of learning.  Based on my experience, I have observed a number of ways parents can help keep their kids engaged in the process.

1. Stay informed about the lessons.  Parental involvement in the learning process is essential.  Students, oftentimes, get caught up in the details of the lesson that they are learning.  In this situation, they tend to lose sight of the long term goals.  Parents can lend a “big picture” perspective to the child.  Parental involvement can be anything from visiting with the teacher after each lesson to view the material that has been assigned to actually taking lessons with the student.  Taking lessons together is a great way for parent and child to foster a common interest.  Oftentimes, the parent can actually assist the student at home and can even practice together.

2.  The importance of the teacher’s attitude toward each student, and their progress, cannot be overstated.  The teacher must communicate with the parents each little “victory” in the learning process.  Honest communication to the parents of the areas which are going well, as well as areas which need improvement is very helpful in keeping the student engaged in the process.

3.  Parents, just like teachers, can develop creative ways to keep students practicing.  These strategies can include:  seeing that the student use play-a-long Cds, recording practice time, practicing with the student, and taking the student to performances of great artists.  Parental involvement in this way can be very effective in helping the student achieve both short term and long term goals.

Learning is, quite simply, not a “one size fits all” process.  A Harvard education professor once stated that “you cannot make some learn something.  You can only create circumstances under which they want to learn the subject.”  Therein lies the great challenge for any teacher.  Common sense parental involvement can go a long way toward creating such an environment.

-Jerry W.