Bucktown Music - Let the Music Begin
  • home
  • about
    • meet our team
    • blog
    • outreach/donate
  • private lessons
    • register now
    • private lesson student portal
  • kindermusik™
    • register now
    • kindermusik™ parent portal
    • promotions
  • group classes
    • mini maestros (ages 3-4)
    • instrument explorers (ages 5-6)
    • adult guitar classes
  • staff resources
  • contact
    • careers
  • home
  • about
    • meet our team
    • blog
    • outreach/donate
  • private lessons
    • register now
    • private lesson student portal
  • kindermusik™
    • register now
    • kindermusik™ parent portal
    • promotions
  • group classes
    • mini maestros (ages 3-4)
    • instrument explorers (ages 5-6)
    • adult guitar classes
  • staff resources
  • contact
    • careers
Search

What to expect from the very BEST music classes & lessons for any age!

8/7/2018

0 Comments

 
One of the most common questions we hear is “when should my child start music lessons”? The best music classes will consider your child, your family, your goals, and the amount of time you have to commit.  There are a lot of music lessons in Chicago, I hope this post helps you find the right one!  ​
Birth to Age 3
​​This is the optimal time to start those neural connections firing, not only in music, but with early childhood development as well.  Your child will need many skills to be successful at playing an instrument.  A quality early childhood music program, such as Kindermusik, will actively educate parents and help young children to:
  1. Keep a steady beat
  2. Move their fingers independently of each other (essential for playing ANY instrument!)
  3. Expose them to many different instruments and styles of music (they will better know what instrument they would like to pursue)
  4. Work on eye tracking (reading music)
  5. Gross motor movements (learning to hold an instrument properly takes core and arm strength)
  6. Learn to anticipate certain parts of the music, such as starts/stops to teach musical form (our brains are wired to detect these patterns!)
  7. Teach parents how to support their child's learning, and provide music, activities and games to continue the learning at home.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

​Many parents want to rush their child into lessons, but we've found that it is much better to wait until they are physically ready to play an instrument, so that they get the joy of mastering it, and want to continue.  We want to give them the tools and skills to master it!

Picture

School Age Children (Kindergarten & up)
If you aren’t sure what instrument to start your child on, I would start with the piano.  It is a visual instrument, so children can see where their fingers go, and it uses both treble and bass clefs (for non-musicians, treble clef is used for high sounds and instruments such as the flute or violin, and bass clef for low sounds and instruments, such as cello.)  Children who start on piano learn to read both clefs, so later on if they want to pick up something else, they already have that advantage. ​

Here are some things to keep in mind:

Preschoolers (3 - 5 years old)
​Preschool music classes should expose children to music from around the world, in different languages, and teach them about instrument families.  The best preschool music programs include:
  1. Fingerplays to build strong fingers (it’s surprisingly hard to move your ring finger by itself!),
  2. Rhythmic speech patterns in poems, stories and songs to teach preschoolers about cadence in music.
  3. LOTS of singing! Preschoolers love singing, especially call/response (echo) songs where they have the opportunity to match the pitch and timbre (sound) of a teacher.  We musicians have a phrase:  “if you can sing it, you can play it!” 
  4. Movement.  At this age, learning is directly linked to movement, so your preschooler should have plenty of opportunities to physically move to the music to understand the concepts being discussed. 
  5. An introduction to (NOT instruction on) many different instruments, including the piano/keyboard, violin, ukulele, drums and other percussion instruments, wind instruments such as the slide whistle or recorder, with playful games.  This will help them decide which instrument they'd like to pursue in the future.
Picture
This adorable pianist has been coming to Bucktown Music since he was an infant! This was taken at our latest piano recital, where he did an amazing job performing on the grand piano downtown!
  1. You'll need to decide between traditional or Suzuki method (will discuss in a future post!)
  2. Find the right music teacher: choose a teacher who is able to motivate your child, and explains lessons to you as well so that you can help at home. 
  3. You will need a quality instrument for home practice.  No matter how talented your child is, or how much practicing they do, they'll need a good instrument to sound fantastic!  They are also easier to play.  Your teacher or music studio should be able to give you a recommendation on what type of instrument to get and where to get it from, and whether it makes more sense to purchase or rent an instrument.  Some instruments, such as violins and guitars, come in smaller sizes for children, so your child will need to be measured before you choose an instrument.
  4. Practice schedule: you will need to set aside 10-15 minutes a day for practice, otherwise your child won’t make progress and will be frustrated.  Young children will need your help to read the lessons and know what to practice, and how to do it (See Above #2 about a teacher with great communication skills!).  Another great practice tip is to have your child play a song XX times, rather than for XX minutes, I like to use how old they are (7 year olds play their songs 7 times per day, and so on).​
Picture
The gift of music lasts a lifetime! This is from the surprise retirement party of MY orchestra teacher, along with some of our alumni friends, including my brother Chris (far right), who also teaches here at Bucktown Music! We came together, "snuck" into the orchestra and performed under her direction 25+ years later. It was amazing!
​Learning an instrument is a long process, and takes time, patience, and dedication (from the child AND the parent.)  That first year is exploratory, and sometimes frustrating to new beginners.  It’s SO important to get past the “learning curve” so that your child will be able to be successful at playing and see how enjoyable it can be, so that they want to continue.  By giving your very young child the tools and skills needed, you are giving them the best opportunity to bring beautiful music into your home!
0 Comments

How long does it take to learn an instrument?  Tips for success!

8/7/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture

Adult Students:
  The first step is to have a heart-to-heart with your teacher about your goals, expectations, and time.  Do you want to learn to read music and play Beethoven?  Or are you looking to learn some easy chords so you can play a few songs for your friends at your next party?  Would you like to join a community orchestra or form a band, or are you looking for a creative outlet to relax after work?
Make sure you and your teacher are on the same page, and that your teacher is comfortable teaching the kind of music that you want to learn.  You'll probably need a beginner book so that you can learn the notes and some basic theory behind what you are playing.  After a few weeks of learning the fundamentals, you will probably be able to play a few simple songs.   ​
On guitar, for example, if you learn 3-5 chords, you can play a TON of different pop songs (of course, it does take a lot of practice to change between the chords!)  Piano students will be able to play simple melodies and have their teacher (or guitar playing friends) accompany them.  Voice students will work on pitch matching, breath control, placement, vowel shapes, and contour.  Your teacher will be able to help find music that matches your voice and range.  Ultimately your progress depends on: natural ability (a little), determination and perseverance (a lot), and how much time you have to practice.  You should see a definite improvement within a few months, and like anything, the more you do it, the better it gets!

​Nobody has ever said "I wish I hadn't learned to play the piano"!

Picture
Young Students:  Parents should be actively involved in young children's lessons.  Children who can't read yet will need help going over their assignments and understanding what is expected.  It helps to bring in a notebook and your teacher can write down what you should be working on and any helpful tips (rhythm, posture, hand position).  The most important thing with music lessons is that it is not only a mental skill, but a physical one as well, that needs to be practiced over and over to master the muscle memory needed to be successful.  At the beginning, your child should probably be practicing 10-15 minutes most days.  Don't leave practicing until the day before your lesson, you really can't "cram" it in.  You'll definitely want to practice the day after your lesson, when your teacher's tips are fresh in your mind.  Piano students will generally use a series of 4 books (Lesson, Theory, Technique, and Performance) which work together, and gives your child several different ways to practice one skill, which keeps it more interesting.  Guitar, violin, voice, and other instruments will usually have 1 or 2 books to work with.  Another tip for practicing is to have your child play each song the number of times of their age (7 year olds will play each song 7 times.)  Be sure to listen in and make sure they aren't just rushing through!  The goal is to improve at least one thing each time you play. ​
Picture
A child's progress is greatly influenced by certain skills, such as finger dexterity (can your child make "O"s with each of their fingers touching their thumb?), the ability to move each finger independently of the others, their natural ability to keep a steady beat, and their communication skills with their teacher.  Everyone learns at a different pace, but most children will get through their Level 1 book in 6-12 months.  Older children will make MUCH quicker progress.  
​
Keep in mind that a child who takes lessons for three years from 9-12 years old will make SO much more progress than a child who plays from 5-8 years old...​
Make sure your child stays in lessons long enough to get the joy of mastering an instrument, which usually takes until about Level 3 of most lesson book series (approximately 2-3 years).  Psst...you're paying for lessons, so you want to make sure your kid is getting the brain benefits everyone is talking about, right???

If your child seems frustrated or bored, talk to their teacher about adding some fun repertoire (maybe music from their favorite movie or video game), or finding an ensemble or performance opportunity to keep them motivated!

It's very common to hit a plateau with your playing.  KEEP IT UP!  That means you are making progress and just need to "get over the hump" to make it to the next level!  If there is a piece that you are struggling with, ask your teacher for hints, break it up into sections, practice it a million times and move on! 

How long did it take YOU (or your child) to master an instrument?  
Please comment below!

0 Comments

When do music lessons really "stick"?

8/7/2018

0 Comments

 

Yes, it's true! Music makes you smarter and it's good for reading and math...BUT...

Many parents feel that getting their child started in private lessons as early as possible is the best choice. One of the most common questions we hear at our studio is “when should my child start playing an instrument?”  I’ve had many (yes, MANY) people who insist that their 1, 2, or 3 year old child be enrolled in private music lessons. 
What we’ve found is that young children thrive in a research-based group class (such as our Kindermusik program), and the LATER the child starts private lessons, the more likely they are to enjoy lessons and want to continue.
​
Picture
Anyhow, these inquiries made me start to wonder when all of my musician friends and our studio teachers started “officially” studying their instruments, so I turned to the professionaals.  I wanted to try to find the sweet spot, that magic age of when it seems to “stick.”  So I interviewed all of the musicians I know to see when they started, and here's the result:
​
Picture
Who did I ask?  Out of 40 replies, 32 people are professional musicians, from teachers to performers and music studio owners.  8 people are NOT professional musicians but did retain knowledge of the instrument and could bang out a tune if they wanted.  
​
Many people shared that they started lessons at a young age and then got frustrated and quit, which is what we often see with very young children (under 6).  The majority of students who began in the 10-13 range started in their middle school orchestra/band/choir, and most children in the 4-9 year old range began on piano or violin.  The very young students (4-5 years old) who continued playing were from musical families whose parents were able to help with their practice. Many of them quit for awhile and then re-start when they were 8-9 years old.​
Picture

The quicker progress that a child makes at an older age gives them the joy and confidence that comes from mastering an instrument.

Picture
The quicker progress that a child makes at an older age gives them the joy and confidence that comes from mastering an instrument.  They also need less direct supervision/help from a parent (we know you are busy already!).  ​
THIS is what we do at Bucktown Music, create a solid foundation so that all students will be successful in creating any kind of music they enjoy for many years to come.  The message I want you to get is that YOU HAVE TIME!  ​

True, some children ARE ready at a very young age, but it is a huge parental commitment, and we've found that if you wait a few years, ALL children can be successful.  We are not going to let you miss the window of opportunity, we believe that ALL students, young and old, have the ability to love and enjoy making music,  because a good beginning never ends!

Picture
Picture
Picture

Meet Patty LeClair Kennedy, one of our voice/piano and Kindermusik teachers, shares her musical journey:

​

I began piano lessons at age 4.  My very well intentioned parents noticed that I gravitated toward music and they enrolled me in piano lessons before my 5th birthday.  I could not yet read and I was overwhelmed immediately.  Both my teacher and parents were very supportive, but didn’t catch that for the first few years of my lessons I did not read music (or any written notation), and was playing only by ear.  Eventually my pieces became too difficult to learn only by ear, and when all of a sudden I couldn’t play my music, everyone thought I must be acting out or wasn’t trying.   By that point I was extremely anxious and was so afraid of letting my “grown ups” down.  I felt stuck for many years, making very little progress.  I remember the day reading music suddenly clicked for me, and it was in 4th grade while I was having the time of my life at choir camp (no surprise that it came through singing for me.)  I began studying saxophone privately shortly after that and began studying formal classical voice by 10th grade, and never stopped.  I wasn’t ready to read music or study privately until I was 9 years old, and I still went on to become a professional musician!  Even more importantly, I went on to a life of finding utter joy in music every single day!

In addition to teaching Kindermusik, voice and piano lessons at Bucktown Music, Patty leads the female vocal ensemble La Caccina.
0 Comments
    Picture

    Author

    Jessica Solares is one of the founders of Bucktown Music, along with her husband Luis. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Elmhurst College, and is a licensed Kindermusik  educator with Top Program distinction.

    Jessica was hired as Manager of Business Development, Studio Division for Kindermusik International.  She is thrilled to have this new role to train educators around the world to open stellar music studios!

    Archives

    May 2021
    March 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    August 2019
    August 2018

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Operating Hours

Mon-Thurs 9:00am-12:30pm, 2:30pm-8:00pm
Fri 9:00am-12:30pm, 2:30pm-6:00pm
Sat 8:30am-2:00pm
​Sun CLOSED

Our Location

Bucktown Music
1890 N. Milwaukee Ave
​Chicago, IL 60647

Get In Touch

(773) 904-7426
​music@bucktownmusic.com
home
our team
careers
​contact
  • home
  • about
    • meet our team
    • blog
    • outreach/donate
  • private lessons
    • register now
    • private lesson student portal
  • kindermusik™
    • register now
    • kindermusik™ parent portal
    • promotions
  • group classes
    • mini maestros (ages 3-4)
    • instrument explorers (ages 5-6)
    • adult guitar classes
  • staff resources
  • contact
    • careers