PIANO LESSONS: When It's Right
Starting piano lessons early in life is not always best. Many preschool and early elementary students cannot sit still for the lesson, have small hands, are only beginning to learn to read words, and have difficulty practicing daily at home. It is a major investment in parent and child time, money, and often frustration. In fact, the same material can be covered in a fraction of time (and expense), and with fewer tears, when the child is older and more self-sufficient.
A good age to begin is age 8 or older if the student possesses the desire to learn, a willingness to work at making music, and has a support system at home. Keiki Kani offers Music Basics for all ages (3-1/2 and up) and Piano for ages 7 and up. Let your child enjoy making music - and let his age, desire, and abilities determine how he makes music.
A good age to begin is age 8 or older if the student possesses the desire to learn, a willingness to work at making music, and has a support system at home. Keiki Kani offers Music Basics for all ages (3-1/2 and up) and Piano for ages 7 and up. Let your child enjoy making music - and let his age, desire, and abilities determine how he makes music.
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Why Group Lessons?
Group lessons have been recognized for its’ ability to greatly enhance music ear training and ensemble skills while developing self-confidence, responsibility, independence, and leadership in a peer learning atmosphere. Students who begin with group lessons are better-prepared for private lessons because basic music skills have been previously introduced and group-paced lessons teaches students to be responsible for their own progress. Students learn best from their peers and enjoy socializing with others their own age. Peer learning,socializing with others, and age-appropriate materials often heightens the desire to learn and therefore increases practice to gain knowledge and skill. Group lessons allows students to share their fears, mistakes, goals, and successes with the group they sometimes trust the most - their friends.
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Researchers find Active Music Making Expands the Brain
In the April 23, 1998 issue of Nature, Researchers at the University of Munster in Germany reported their discovery that music lessons in childhood actually enlarge the brain. An area used to analyze the pitch of a musical note is enlarged 25% in musicians, compared to people who have never played an instrument. The findings suggest the area is enlarged through practice and experience. The earlier the musicians were when they started musical training, the bigger this area of the brain appears to be.
Source: Music Education News, Nature, New York Times (http://www. nytimes.com)
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