1/15/2015

Ask The Right Questions About Music Lessons New Jersey Teachers Offer Their Students

By Enid Hinton


Though it may be tempting to go to any studio for lessons, there is an advantage to choosing one right nearby your home. There are many caring and qualified teachers available. The key is to have the right questions in mind when attending that all important first interview.

Families living in the city of Paramus, NJ will find many instructors well educated and prepared to teach students of all ages. There is much to be found of quality in music lessons New Jersey teachers provide for their pupils. Before scheduling your initial appointment, it will be helpful to have the following list of questions ready to ask.

Ask for the resume and studio policy of the educators you interview. You will want to talk about their experience working with youngsters. Talking with them will tell you more about their personalities, enthusiasm and passion for teaching than most anything else. These traits are not solely found in young, but often in much older and experienced instructors.

Ask the prospective educator what will be taught during the learning period. Technique, repertoire, theory, sight reading skills and even some music history are all things that should be included, though exactly how much and how frequently will depend upon the age and development of the student.

Find out what teaching method books are proposed for your children. Some stick to one, while others are familiar with many. Being able to advance through a sequence of concepts that are cumulative work best for beginners through late intermediate levels, and using all books for each level generally provides more well rounded musical learning. Teachers who are global thinkers may embrace many different methods in order to use what works best for each individual child.

Ask if the teacher will give a mini lesson as a way for you to see how he or she interacts with your child. Many do provide these for free because it allows them to evaluate private lesson readiness. It also will give you ideas about what to expect during lessons.

Find out if pupils enrolled in the studio are expected to perform publicly or not. For some, this is a mandatory policy. But, should shyness run in your family, then being part of a friendly studio will be more important than participating in competitive ones. Recitals are part of the fun of playing music, and most children discover that they enjoy the friendships they make when practicing alone has taken so much of their time getting ready for the performing events. When performances take place, how many are held each year, where they are held and any additional fees and duties involved should be completely discussed.

Do ask about fees and how they are handled. This varies widely. There are music schools that expect tuition for an entire semester in advance. Some private studios ask for monthly tuition in advance. Still others require hourly tuition payable at the beginning of each scheduled lesson. If you are prepared, you will know which of these options you are willing to use.




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