It’s so great you’re looking give your child music lessons in Kelowna.
There are so many benefits from building confidence and developing new skills to enhancing coordination and math skills, so let’s set you up in the best way possible.
AT WHAT AGE SHOULD MY CHILD START LESSONS?
First off, there’s no perfect age for a kid to start taking lessons, so no worries if you feel your kid is “behind” because they’re older or are starting too young because they’re 4-5.
That said in general, 6-7 is a good starting age, as they’ll tend to be able to focus better and have more finger dexterity which will come in handy for all the songs they play.
Now that doesn’t mean four year old’s and five year old’s can’t have success – I’ve been shocked more than once at the ability of younger kids to focus and play – so really it comes down to where your child’s focus level is at. If they can handle 5-10 minutes at a time they’re going to be just fine, if they tend to struggle with that, then maybe give them another year and reassess.
SIGNS THEY ARE READY
– They’ve expressed interest, or shown curiosity in music. This is huge, because it generally means they’ll be extra motivated to work through the repetitive parts of music that can at times be a grind for kids.
– They have good finger dexterity. Doesn’t have to be the most amazing fine motor skills, just decent finger control, so they can start doing things like pressing two keys at a time with the same hand.
– They have a decent attention span. As mentioned prior, doesn’t have to be anything crazy, if they can focus for 5-10 minutes on a single task, that’s great. Most stuff for children is broken down into short, easy parts, so your kid will stand a good chance of growing and thriving in lessons.
Now if they can’t focus super well, it’s not the end of the world, most seasoned teachers have methods to work around this, for instance for my four year old’s and ADHD students, I use lots of colours and quick tasks to make it fun and keep them on track (just make sure to mention to your child’s teacher any special requirements your child might have as it’ll give them the best chance of getting through to your child quicker).
CLASS LENGTH
For any kid under the age of ten I only do thirty minute lessons. It’s the perfect amount of time for them to learn and have fun, without feeling too overhelming.
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF
Between driving your kids to lessons and staying on top of them to practice we all know signing up for music lessons can be just as a commitment for you as it is for the child, so it’s always good to consider a few things beforehand.
- Am I able to set aside time to practice with my child during the week? We all live busy lives and being a parent and full time worker is a lot, so if you think you won’t be able to help guide them through a ten minute practice (ask their teacher, they can show you what a practice should look like) and you don’t trust that they’ll do it on their own, then you can either decide its not worth it or just book an additional lesson during the week that serves as a “practice” for the kid.
- How does your child handle taking instruction from other people than mom and dad?
- Does my kid have an instrument to practice on? Might sound obvious but some people like to wait to buy an instrument until they’re sure their kid is going to take lessons for months. Totally understand, but I’d recommend while they’re taking lessons at the very least renting an instrument from Wentworth Music or just buying a cheap one off of Facebook Marketplace, to give your kid a chance of practicing at home. For a guide on what to look for in a piano (price and quality) you can read my “A Parents Guide To Piano Lessons in Kelowna” blog here.
- How long am I willing to have them attend classes before I decide it’s not for them? Sometimes you know right away but generally music takes time to sink in, especially with young ones, so consider giving your kids 5-6 lessons before deciding it’s not for them.
Everyone learns at their own pace and in their own way, and even for teachers it can take some time to figure out what resonates with your kid in a lesson. I have students who love the theory and “pattern” solving element of a lesson, and I have others who just love playing songs. But we can only figure these things out about a child with some time. - Does the teacher offer a free first class so I can see if my kid likes it? Every dollar counts, and it’s always better to see if your kid and the teacher are the right fit, which is why I offer a free first lesson to all new students.
WHAT LESSONS LOOK LIKE FOR DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS
Each teacher is different, and each kid requires different things, but I’ll give you a general idea of the stuff I cover with various age groups.
For kids 4-6, our goal isn’t to get your child to be Beethoven, but instead to get your kids familiar with the world of music.
So I do a mix of about 15-20 minutes on the instrument and use the rest of the time doing theory disguised as games and activities: everything from clapping activities to drawing treble clefs. On the instrument they’ll start to play rudimentary songs, and work on fundamentals like properly positioning their hands/fingers.
For kids 7-9, it’s similar, but the activities will now start bringing things in like math (example, counting out the beats in a measure). Again, it’s specific to the child, but now we’re starting to get away from “little kid” stuff and introducing more information.
For kids 10 and up, the games are gone and it’s pretty much all playing. Theory is discussed at the instrument, and we start really getting into the nitty gritty of it all. Kids at this age tend to have good focus, finger control, and can comprehend the “larger” ideas of music.
And of course, with every age group, we make lessons fun. Yes, there will be repetition and work to do but we want to try and make the lessons enjoyable as possible so your child has positive associations with the instrument, and because music should be fun!
AND THAT’S IT!
It can feel stressful trying to “get this right” but no need to overthink it. Music lessons are so great for kids, and there’s no harm in having your kid take lessons and then if they seem to not be ready, removing them and waiting a year or two.
And if you’re thinking of snagging a free music lesson in Kelowna on piano or guitar, you can reach out to me via this form or by emailing me at alex@uptnotesmusic.com
Have a great week!