Gearing up for back to school music lessons? Read on for some tips to make your first lessons back not only productive but fun!
Here we go again!
As August rolls around, so to do the preparations for school. If you and/or your students have chosen to take the summer off, that might also mean getting back into the swing of music lessons. Coming back to lessons after some time off can be a bit difficult. There are quite a few things you can do to prepare yourself for your first lesson after vacation.
If you are a parent of a young music student, you may need take the lead on these tasks. It is essential for young, beginner students to have grownup support especially when they just start. If you’re unsure about what your specific student might need, you can always contact your child’s teacher! Chances are, s/he has experience with beginners and may have some tips to help make music lessons fun and successful.
Try these tips to have a great first lesson!
You will likely have to spend some time on old stuff. Be patient with yourself and your teacher! Just like anything, taking an extended break from music making will result in a bit of learning loss. This is nothing to be afraid of! As a student, it’s important to understand not only the likelihood of needing to review concepts from the past, but also the necessity for it. Try not to be frustrated by spending some time going over old pieces or concepts—this is a refresher that will set you up for success during the year.
Make sure your instrument is in working order! Especially if you play an instrument that has been sitting in a case all summer, ascertain whether it is in proper playing condition before you head to your first lesson. If you are a string player, check those strings! Do you have picks, rosin, tuners, a bow? If you are a wind player, are your slides functioning? Do all the corks and pads still seal each part of the instrument? Double check your supplies: working reeds, cork grease, slide grease, polish, swabs, cleaning cloths…nothing is more frustrating than a lesson that can’t get off the ground simply because the instrument doesn’t work, or you don’t have what you need. If you are pianist, do you have an instrument to practice on? Is your home piano in tune, or does your keyboard still work?
Find your music. What pieces or method book did you finish with at the start of the summer? If you are just beginning lessons, or transitioning to a new teacher, take your previous books to your lesson or ask your teacher in advance what sort of materials s/he would like you to have. It’s difficult to have a lesson without a baseline, and your most recent music will provide that jumping off point.
Have some goals or ideas that you are excited to work towards. Oftentimes, your studio will have performances to prepare for. Or, your school might offer access to solo and ensemble performance competitions. These are fantastic, but what will make you happy in lessons? Is there a particular aspect of your instrument you want to focus on this year? Do you want to start learning a new style of playing, or perhaps try out improv or composition? Is there a specific composer/artist/piece that you’d like to learn? Giving your teacher some insight into how s/he can help you succeed will really help your teacher tailor your lessons to you!
Prepare a practice space, and start scheduling in some practice time. Even if you aren’t starting lessons right away, it’s a good idea to make sure you have time set aside in your schedule for practice. No practice means no progress! If you don’t plan for it, it most likely won’t happen. So, make a plan as early as you can!
Get in touch with your teacher. See what your teacher needs from you to make your first lesson a blast! Depending on who you are studying with, your teacher might have some specific requests or items you’ll need to bring with you. Many teachers ask students to use particular method books, or to bring a notebook to lessons so that practice notes can be written. Some teachers require pencils, or particular stickers for your instrument—some teachers don’t want you to bring anything at all except yourself and your instrument. Go ahead and shoot an email, text or call to your teacher and check in—you and your teacher are a team, and the best way to get on the same page is to start a dialogue. Familiarize yourself with your studio’s policies, as well. Oftentimes, questions can be answered by visiting a studio’s webpage or social media so it never hurts to make sure you’ve gotten on any email lists, followed social media, joined newsletters, or any of those things. One can never be too prepared!
Lastly, start getting excited! Music lessons are an amazing opportunity to learn a skill that you will have for the rest of your life. Once you’ve done the prep work, there’s nothing else to worry about aside from getting pumped!
It’s going to be a great year of music, and from all of us here at Vibe: have a wonderful “back to school” whenever that is for you! We wish you and your (music) teachers all the best this academic year. Thank you for reading!
—Charissa Garrigus, Instructor at Vibe Music Academy
