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Health & Fitness

What to Expect in Music Lessons

So you have never taken lessons before and you’re not sure what to expect. It can be a little intimidating spending 30 minutes in a room where all the attention is going to be on you. To help calm those nerves and help you understand what happens during music lessons, we have come up with a list of 10 things to expect in music lessons.

 

First Lesson

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To begin with, the first lesson should consist of you and the instructor getting to know each other. Some music academies will go over policies and payment during your lesson time. Ask the owner/teacher/coordinator if this is the case and if it can be done prior to lessons.

 

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Goals

During your first lesson, you should communicate to the instructor what your goals are. This will help them develop an appropriate lesson plan for you. Do you want to play in a band? Do you want to write music? Or, you may just want to play some songs for yourself. Be sure the instructor is clear on what you want to accomplish. 

 

Learning Disabilities

If you have any learning or physical disabilities, discuss with the instructor any additional assistance you may need. This will help the instructor structure the lessons in a way that will help you be most successful. 

 

Lessons for Your Time

If you paid for half hour lessons, your lesson should start on time and run the whole 30 minutes. Quite often, instructors provide additional time if they don’t have a student waiting and they see you can use some additional help. Be careful not to come to expect this as they may eventually have students scheduled after you. On the other hand, if you are finding your lessons consistently being short, don’t hesitate to bring it up to the instructor. 

 

You Are the Star

I have heard many stories of students going to lessons only to have the teacher play for 20-25 minutes and spend the remaining time showing a simple riff. Your lesson time should be focused on you and your learning experience. The instructor should only be playing to support or accompany you, or to demonstrate the lesson.

 

Time to Take Your Medicine!

As a beginner, you will have to learn things that are not very exciting. Some techniques or lessons you may not be able to see the relation is to what your goals are. Practicing scales or songs you don’t like, may not be always be fun, but it will help you play what you want to play in the long run. 

 

No Pain, No Gain

Depending on the instrument learned, you will experience some discomfort. On guitar, your fingertips will get sore. There really is no way around this except to practice and develop calluses. Your instructor will be mindful of this and will give you exercises to develop coordination and technique which will help the discomfort subside. 

 

Can’t We All Just Be Friends?

Taking any kind of lesson is a person to person business. Sometimes people just don’t get along or see eye to eye on things. If for whatever reason you don’t feel your instructor is a good match for you, don’t hesitate to discuss with the instructor or their supervisor. Most instructors will understand and not take it personally. The music academy will be more than happy to make arrangements for another instructor if available. 

 

Moving the Goal Line

The instructor should have a good understanding of what your performance level is. With that known, the material provided to you for instruction should be just above your current level. This will keep you challenged and improve your performance ability.

 

Fun!

Lastly, music lessons should be fun. Part of that fun is that you are challenging yourself and learning something new in the process. Let me let you in a little secret…you’re not going to perform everything right and you’re going to make a lot of mistakes. That is okay! Trying to coordinate your hands, eyes, ears, feet, and brain is a long and difficult process. Be able to laugh at the mistakes you make and just keep practicing and you will get there!

 

What do you think?

 

RS Music provides in home music lessons on a wide variety of instruments in the Central Jersey area. For lessons, please call 732-320-5980. You can find more information regarding instruction on other instruments at www.rsmusiccompany.com
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