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An expert in teaching creative children and helping parents understand their creative child, Catherine coaches parents, and works with students of all ages, teaching music and the piano, along with several other instruments. Creative people see the world and every aspect of the world differently from other people. As children we don't know we are doing that. Unfortunately parents think that their child is just being difficult. It wasn't until Catherine was in her 40s that she realized she WAS creative and that that was why she never really 'fit' in with what everyone else was saying or thinking or feeling. Since then she has been taking her experiences and helping others to understand what they are going through.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Questions and Answers About Music Lessons

1. What is a good age to start music lessons?
Music teachers will argue this question. I think the younger the better. I would say 3 or 4 years old depending on the child and the teacher. The theory of music is much like school work. School aged children don’t like having extra things to write. So if you ask them to do the written theory that goes with the playing of the music they don't want to do it. The theory of the music gets lost. Younger children love to write and draw, so they will absorb the theory behind the music with a lot of enthusiasm. Please remember though, that music is a good thing to learn no matter what age you are.

2. How often should a student practice their music lesson?
Any amount of practice is a good thing. However, the more often the student practices the better they become. So, 1 hour, 1 day a week is not as good as 15 minutes everyday of the week. I practiced 30 minutes each day Monday through Friday and my parents gave me the weekend off from practice. They treated like it was a job, you worked at it for 5 days. In 4 years I was playing just about any song that was put in front of me. In today's busy world, I would say take the two busiest days and don't practice on those days. On the other 5 days find a time that is consistent to practice. Example: Right after school.

"Music lessons should be about the student. Each student learns in different ways, and at different speeds. Music is a journey, and on that journey, we will work and learn together." - Catherine


If you have a question you would like answered by Catherine please email her at Catherines.Music.Notes@gmail.com or Music.By.Catherine@gmail.com
Visit her at http://sites.google.com/site/musicbycatherine

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