Signing your child up for music lessons offers many benefits, from increased practical skills to better bonding experiences with peers. To reap the greatest reward from these lessons, beginner musicians must take the right steps. Here are a few tips to help your child achieve success by playing music.

Do:

Choose a quiet place to practice.

The best places to practice an instrument are quiet and removed from others in the home. This ensures your child can concentrate without any distractions. It also prevents you and your family from being disturbed by the practice sessions.

Practice on a daily basis.

Musical skill develops best when practice sessions occur on a regular basis. Encourage your child to find time each day, even if it’s just for 15 minutes. This is better than practicing one day a week for a long period of time, which can be daunting to many children.

Make recordings of lessons and practice sessions.

Camera phones make it easy to record both sound and audio during lessons and practice sessions. Playing these back will show your child where they need improvement, as well as illustrating where they excel.

Don’t:

Skip warmups.

Warmups are essential, whether it’s before a lesson or a practice session at home. Make sure your child is taking five to 10 minutes before practicing to just play around with the instrument.

Choose a piece of music that is too complicated. 

Simple is always better when beginning music lessons. Choosing a piece that is too complicated will make the learning process that much harder, which can be discouraging to a young child.

Rush through practice sessions.

While it’s natural for a child to be excited about learning an instrument, proper pacing is key when learning anything new. It’s better to struggle through one lesson and come out of it with a clear understanding rather than rush through new songs without letting them sink in.

Along with establishing strong habits, your child also needs an experienced instructor to succeed with their instrument. That’s why many parents look to the Music & Dance Academy in Tucson, AZ, which offers music and dance lessons to both kids and adults. Kids as small as three are welcome at this school, but advanced students can also take advantage of the university-trained teachers. Additionally, lessons are offered in both private and group settings. Visit their website for more information on lessons, or call (520) 327-2303 today to learn how you can enroll your child.