Investing in music lessons for your child might seem very overwhelming. All the few dozen schools available in town, all promise to be the best in your quest to finding the perfect music school, but how do you narrow your search in finding the right fit?
Ok, let’s jump right in, shall we?
Searching For The Perfect Music School
Before the Hunt
At the Franklin Music Academy, we start accepting kids at age six in our in-studio programs. For virtual lessons, we ask that parents wait until age 8 because online lessons are more involved. However, before you enroll your child in our music school, building their interest in music shouldn’t magically start just a few months before enrollment. There are lots of things you should be doing with your little one before paying for music lessons. The acceleration of a child’s growth and development early on largely depends on a parent’s commitment to engage and teach their child at home. Engaging in fun music-infused activities with your baby or toddler will develop cognitive, kinesthetic, and communication skills years before the classroom. If you’re already doing this then you’re golden! Singing, dancing, or playing calm music at bedtime are simple elements that make a huge difference before gradually introducing age appropriate instruments.
Health & Safety
Focusing on music school health and safety in addition to keeping our lessons fun, creative, and inspiring can be challenging, but we’re motivated to continue serving a solid service and proud of how far our students have come since quarantine. Prepping for soft openings, work life, child care, social distancing, family activities, vacation, healthcare, etc. can be confusing for many. As a result, individuals are now establishing their own level of safety. However, as a business, we have a responsibility to keep our community safe so we are sanitizing daily and requiring that kids wash their hands before music lessons.
Hardcore Facts
There are many important factors that you must consider while searching for the perfect music school and your best resources are literally staring you in the face. Begin your search with asking for testimonies from friends, family, or your school music teacher. As typical as this may sound, they are an invaluable resource and provide an inside look behind all the bells and whistles you see in online advertisements. What company doesn’t talk themselves up?! Most of the students that we acquired at the Franklin Music Academy came from parent referrals. While chatting-it-up with folks you trust, ask questions regarding music education methods, instructor credentials, and policies. If you’re new to town, don’t worry. Check out social sites like Nextdoor and Facebook or research Google reviews that give you testimonials from neighbors.
Be prepared
Before you talk to a music instructor, be prepared with useful information about expectations and your child’s abilities and learning style. This helps the instructor customize lesson planning for the private lesson. Not every music school has the ability to customize music lessons. Always ask if they can.
If you have found a school that pleases you then it is the responsibility of the instructor to tell you if and when adjustments are needed in their lesson plans to achieve a goal. If this is needed then it shouldn’t come as a surprise. You may need to assess your expectations as your child gets older. The instructor should keep you informed about your child’s musical progression through homework assignments and classroom performance.
Time-consuming
Depending on the music school you choose, there could be a sizable difference in your child’s work load. Some kids may need more or less practice time than others. Time management is a skill that helps your child juggle all their activities and will come in handy in adulthood. Your child will need your support to ensure they develop musically and manage time wisely.
Before adding music lessons to your weekly agenda, take a look at all of the obligations you and your child have. Attending a conservatory may require rigorous take-home practice requirements, rehearsals, and performances to be demanding. Does it make sense adding an activity that will require some practice?
Before hitting the eject button, Wait! Not all music schools are equally demanding. While some schools are very competitive others focus on playing music for enjoyment. At the Franklin Music Academy, our focus is to instill a passion for music first. Secondly, build the amateur artist.
No surprises
Performances and recitals are a wonderful way to gauge if music lessons are paying off. Trust me, you’ll wanna see your little angel perform once they have made noticeable progress. This year, gathering in public at recital halls and event centers was difficult with the pandemic so we launched a Virtual Recital, which showcased a collection of students of varying musical ability. Stage freight might bring your child a little anxiety before the recital, but this will soon disappear after they participate a few times.
Before settling with the prefect music school, inquire about registration and performance fees, associated rates for products and services, and music studio schedules. It’s our practice to keep fees as low as possible. You’ll be happier you made all the right decisions by asking the right questions, assessing your family schedule, and budgeting funds. Enrolling your child in music lessons to later abruptly quit due to poor planning is an avoidable circumstance.
Select The Franklin Music Academy As Your Perfect Music School
The Franklin Music Academy is a small business making a BIG impact in music education for 10 years. We have energetic and fun instructors with a background in music. We’d love to hear from you soon. Contact us to set up an appointment today!
The article, Finding the Perfect Music School, doesn’t cover every related issue to searching for a music school and should act only as an aid. Below, we have provided resourceful links to help clarify any additional questions you may have or you can Contact us.
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