Frequently Asked Questions
Question: At what age should I start my child in piano lessons?
Answer: The short answer is that it is different for every individual. I rely on three general guidelines to make this assessment.
1) The child needs to be able to comfortably reach an interval of a sixth (e.g. middle C up to A1) on the piano.
2) The child needs to have a strong, working grasp of the alphabet and of numbers 1-10. In addition, (s)he should have some
basic English reading skills.
3) The child needs to be able to sit still and focus for around 30 minutes at a time.
It is CRUCIAL to the child's personal and music development that private study be a positive and energizing experience. My number
one goal as a music educator is to nurture in my students a love for their art and a genuine appreciation for other artists. Therefore,
it is essential that every student is "set up" for the highest level of success, even if that means waiting a year or two to begin study.
Question: How old do you have to be to study voice?
Answer: Again, the appropriate age is different for every individual. I am happy to meet with any prospective student to make a readiness assessment. As a general rule, I do not accept vocal students with unchanged voices (preadolescent). I do recommend that those not yet old enough to study voice, take a few semesters of piano. This way, they learn the basics of music reading, related theory/structures, and general musical expression and can then apply these skills to their study of singing.
Question: My child is too young for the school band program. Can (s)he still study a woodwind instrument privately?
Answer: Again, the answer is different for every individual. The general guidelines for assessing a child's readiness to play a wind instrument are similar to that of those desiring to learn piano.
1) The child needs to be able to comfortably hold the instrument, be physically able to manage the mouthpiece, and have the necessary
hand size to reach all keys.
2) The child needs to have a strong, working grasp of the alphabet and of numbers 1-10. In addition, (s)he should have some
basic English reading skills.
3) The child needs to be able to sit still and focus for around 30 minutes at a time.
Question: What is the time commitment for taking private music lessons?
Answer: To some degree the answer to this question depends on what you want to get out of your studies. In addition to the weekly lesson and the recital at the end of the semester, the bulk of your time commitment is up to you by way of daily practice. The old adage, "practice makes perfect," is not entirely true. Only "perfect practice makes perfect." Accordingly, a great deal of the lesson time is devoted to learning good rehearsal techniques.
Question: How long should I practice each day?
Answer: I seldom have to ask how much a student has practiced during the week. After well over three decades of personal study and teaching, it is not difficult to recognize whether or not a musician has adequately prepared (and I also know all of the excuses that go along with lack of preparation). Clearly, the amount of effective practice/study and the level of success are directly related. I leave the questions of "how much" and "how long" to the individual student. The answers depend on how much you want to learn and how quickly you want to progress. That said, it should be noted that consistency is more important than the amount of time you spend at any single sitting. I STRONGLY recommend that you practice/study at least a few minutes every day.
Question: Do I have to participate in the studio recital at the end of the semester?
Answer: Absolutely! This is not just a showcase for the studio but also a culminative experience for each student. Most importantly, however, it is an essential learning experience. Performance is not something you learn in theory. It must be practiced. Think of the recital as a lesson in musical performance. That is, after all, why we work to perfect our artistic, musical expression— to share it with others!
Question: What styles of music will I learn?
Answer: My three favorite songs by Sting are "If I Ever Lose My Faith in You" (the song that won him the 1994 Grammy award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance), "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life" (a jazz collaboration with trumpet player, Chris Botti), and "Come Again Sweet Love" (a classical collaboration with violinist, Joshua Bell).
Mozart was well versed in the music of Handel and Bach. He did not, however, compose in the "baroque" style. Instead, he composed in the newly emerging "classical" style (one he would later be thought to have perfected).
My point? Great musicians aren't just one thing. At the beginning of each semester, I sit down with each of my students and talk about our semester goals. We will identify your personal tastes and goals; based on an understanding of your strengths and weaknesses, I will throw in a few goals of my own; and together, we will plot a course for your musical development. Often this means employing musical exercises that help you cultivate the tools you need to succeed, not just the repertoire you most want to perform.
More Questions?
Feel free to contact me (james@jgmusicstudio.com). I am happy to answer any questions you may have.