Have you always wanted to take music lessons but never had the chance as a child? Or have you noticed your child gravitate towards music and you’d like to explore the option of lessons?

Deciding to take music lessons is a decision that could possibly change your life. It’s a skill that not only teaches you how to make music but can bring people together and create an environment of joy and liveliness. Students are often met with overcoming learning curves and technical challenges however the outcome is not only being a musician but becoming a well-rounded human.

So if you’re ready to start this chapter for yourself or a loved one, read on for your beginners guide to starting music lessons.

What makes music such a wonderful tool is its accessibility to people with all types of needs or support. Music encourages the use of the body, movement, hearing, and sight. However, this does not mean one approach fits all or that all senses must be used to enjoy music.

Age: OCMS believes you are never too old to learn a new skill. We have many happy students ranging from 4 years-adulthood.

Skills: Whether you have yet to pick up an instrument or are a seasoned performer, lessons can help with your specific goals.

Extra Learning Support: OCMS specializes in a supportive learning environment for students who could use extra instructional or physical support. Music Therapists are trained in different teaching and reinforcement techniques to best help those who have learning or behavioral needs.

Before you begin lessons you might want to take a few moments to consider the following:

Objective- What are you or your child’s goals for taking lessons? What are you trying to get through lessons? You might want to develop a new hobby to pass the time or have heard of the many benefits children have by taking lessons that transcend to their education. Or you just want to have fun! Whatever your goal is, it is helpful for you to communicate to your teacher so they can prepare lessons with the right framework in mind.

Timing- Based on your objectives that you established above, you can determine how much time you or your child will spend practicing weekly. There is no sugar coating that to learn and grow as a musician you must practice. Home is where most, if not all, of the growth happens.

Our philosophy is that everyone should have access to music. Based on your needs and expectations we can develop a practice schedule that works best for you or your child.

Resources- It is very important that beginner music students have an instrument to practice on between lessons. Also, it is important to understand as you or your child progress in their music education, it is recommended to have instruments that offer the specific musicianship requirements (i.e. pedals and weighted keys on pianos and keyboard, etc.).

Finding a Teacher/Studio- One of the most important decisions you will take that will influence your music education is finding a studio and teacher that is best for you. Just like there are many types of students there are many types of teachers. Based on the requirements that are important to you, ask about the teachers background and education. Who have they studied under? Do they have a history of performance? Are they trained to work with students with special needs? Do they speak a specific language?

First Lesson- The first lesson is very important because this is where you meet your teacher and learn about their studio and teaching styles. As was mentioned before, there are many different teaching styles and it is up to you to decide if they fit your needs and requirements.

Practicing- Arguably one of the most important aspects of music lessons. Talk to your teacher about your growth expectations so you can decide the best practice schedule. Do you want you or your child to progress a level each year? Is your child starting to learn more challenging pieces? Are you learning an instrument as a stress-free hobby between work hours? All of these scenarios would require different practice times, so as you can see, one size does not fit all.

Respect- A successful student-teacher dynamic is built on respect and empathy. OCMS believes a teacher should try to understands a students needs while encouraging and challenging them to grow. At the same time, a student should respect their instructor’s time by arriving to lessons on time and cancelling lessons with enough time (see our studios policies here).

It is inevitable that lessons must come to an end at some point. Hopefully you or your child have learned a skill that has brought joy into their life or a skill that can be used throughout their life or even passed down.

A teacher never forgets their students and the time spent being a part of otheir lives.