Many people frequently ask us about taking lessons with their son or daughter. We typically get that request for guitar or piano lessons and some other instruments as well. Taking music lessons with your child can be an excellent bonding experience for beginning students. Children are very inspired by watching their parents play music. Seeing their parents play helps them to realize that it is very possible for them to do it as well. While the bonding and inspiration are a great thing it is also very important to realize the point where it is necessary to separate the lessons. While it can be fun to take lessons together, there will quickly come a time when it is clear that each student has different needs with their music training. Group music classes are great for the beginning stages and great for more advanced students for master classes and other specific areas of study. Beyond the introductory training however it is much more efficient to have private classes. This is so because some people whether they are adults or children pick up on some mental and physical concepts faster than others. We all have strengths and weaknesses and of course they differ from person to person. Playing music brings out the child in us even as adults. During semi-private lessons with parents and students, i’ve seen parents try to dominate the lesson and try to speed up things if they already understand the lesson. This can leave the child frustrated and wanting to quit because they don’t feel like they can keep up. Often times the child is more musically inclined and can be held back if the parent is not keeping up. Some may decide to take lessons together for a year, some for a few months, and some maybe just a few weeks. It’s important to discuss this matter with your music instructor right from the start. Knowing when to switch from group lessons to private lessons will help you get the most value from your time invested in music.
by Henry Bahrou
School Director
Grosse Pointe Music Academy
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