Learning an instrument as an child can be a wonderful, imaginative, and maturing process. Children are, by nature, creative and drawn to art and self-expression. As a teacher, my job is to both allow the student’s creativity to flow, unimpeded, and guide them to expand their possibilities.
Some of the benefits of lessons for children include:
Mental focus.
An outlet for emotional self-expression.
Confidence.
A fun social activity.
A lifelong connection to music and the arts.
Having taught many students, some as young as 4, I understand that it takes a lot of patience and sensitivity to nurture a student through music lessons over the long term. It’s important to really listen to children, to understand that they may not know quite how to express their needs and preferences clearly, and to allow them be themselves.
I’ve also found that it’s important to know when to guide the lesson, when to allow the child to lead, and when to meet them halfway. Fun and laughter are also essential elements in any lesson.
I always begin with the student’s goals and motivations for playing music, and tailor lesson to them. With that in mind, I draw from a number of sources to build a musical path for the student: the “Dounis Method”, Suzuki, and color-based notation are all tools for musical growth.
If you’re considering lessons for a child, feel free to get in contact with me for any questions or requests.
Dinnerstein Music Studio 