Music, Dance & Theater Classes

Location

Bravo! Academy of Performing Arts
Most chosen and fastest growing school in Boca Raton
Bravo Central: 561-482-3700       Bravo East: 561-447-4417

Print this page

6 WAYS TO GET THE MOST OUT OF MUSIC LESSONS

FAQ’s About Music Lessons

These are practical tips that we have discovered from years of teaching and our experience teaching hundreds of students each year.

1. How Young is too Young - Starting at the Right Age

Adults can start any instrument at any time.  Their success is based on how willing an adult is to commit to practicing.  We actually had some beginner students in their 70's!

For children, starting at the right age is a key element to the success of their lessons.  Some people will tell you the sooner the better but this attitude can actually backfire and create a negative experience. If a child is put into lessons too soon they may feel overwhelmed and frustrated and want to stop lessons.  The last thing you want to do is turn a child off to music just because they had one unpleasant experience that could have been prevented.  Sometimes if the child waits a year to start lessons their progress can be much faster.  Children who are older than the suggested earliest starting age usually do very well.

Piano

Children can start piano lessons if they are 5 or older. By this age they have begun to develop longer attention spans and can retain material with ease. Reading and basic math comprehension are necessary to grasp the concepts involved in the reading of music.

Our instructors teach the standard method of theory and musicianship.  Our students learn to read music and understand musical theory concepts.  Memorization and ear training are also a part of our lessons.  Our studio uses the wide variety of well-established piano-teaching methods, such as Bastien, Thompson, Schaum, Alfred, etc. The piano books are prepared for the students so that parents are not obligated to search for the  books by themselves. Students are expected to practice regularly at home to be prepared for the next lesson so that encouraging progress can be achieved.  A piano for home practice is essential.

Violin

Children can start violin lessons if they are 5 or older. Violin or Viola lessons are available Monday through Saturday.

Guitar

7 years old is the earliest age we recommend for guitar lessons.  Guitar playing requires a fair amount of pressure on the fingertips from pressing the strings. Children under 7 generally have small hands and may find playing uncomfortable.

Our students learn to read music, play chords and learn scales.  They also learn solo playing, accompaniment, improvisation and finger picking. Students are expected to practice regularly at home to be prepared for the next lesson so that encouraging progress can be achieved. A guitar for home practice is essential.

Voice Lessons

8 Years old is recommended as a good starting age for private vocal lessons.  Due to the physical nature of voice lessons, (proper breathing techniques, development of the vocal chords and lung capacity), the younger body is generally not quite yet ready for the rigors of vocal technique.  For children younger than 8, we offer children's choir program. 

At Bravo Academy, voice students will learn projection, expression, proper singing posture, diction, and a variety of other singing related skills.  The teacher initially will assess the student’s natural ability and skill level.  From there, the instructor will set out to not only improve the student’s vocal quality, but their musicality and “ear” for music as well.  Students may bring in their favorite music to be considered for use by the instructor.  Confidence is built as students master songs and eventually perform for others.  Students are expected to practice regularly at home to be prepared for the next lesson so that encouraging progress can be achieved.

2. Group Lessons

Our Music, Mommy & Me and Music Workshop programs are based on classical music.  Children play piano and many percussion instruments in ensemble. Such activities are very important for kids: they hear and see how the music is made.  Our music programs for young children encompass more than 500 activities, which cover many of the fundamentals of music.

The group classes are small, the limit is a maximum of 8 children in Music Workshop classes (ages 3-7) and Music, Mommy & Me classes (ages 2-3). All children are carefully matched according to their age.

These programs are continuous. Musical concepts are taught using a step by step approach. Your child will get the maximum benefits, if he/she is enrolled in our music course starting from age 2 through age 6 or 7.

Group classes can be very effective as an introduction and foundation for basic music skills.  Because they often cost less, group classes are a great way to see if a student is a good match for a particular instrument while offering a fun, relaxed environment in which to learn the basics.

3. Private Lessons when Learning a Specific Instrument

When learning how to master an instrument, private lessons are superior to group classes. In private lessons it is hard to miss anything, and each student can learn at their own pace.  The teacher has the time and focus to work on the individual student's strengths and weaknesses. For that lesson period, the student is the primary focus of the teacher.  Although private lessons cost more, they are more productive and highly recommended for those wishing to learn more than the basics of an instrument.

4. Take Lessons in a Professional Teaching Environment

Learning music is not just a matter of having a great teacher, but also an environment that is focused on music education.  In a professional studio environment a student will not be distracted by TV, pets, ringing phones, siblings, the teacher’s children or anything else.  With only 1/2 to 1 hour of lesson time per week, a professional studio environment can produce better results since the only focus at that time is learning music.  Students in a studio environment are also motivated by hearing peers who are at different levels and by being exposed to a variety of musical instruments.  In a music studio, the lessons are not just a hobby or sideline for the teacher, but a responsibility that is taken very seriously.

5. Make Practicing Easier

As with anything, improving in music takes practice.  One of the main problems with music lessons is the drudgery of practicing and the fight between parents and students to practice every day.  Here are some ways to make practicing easier:

A) Time Set the same time every day to practice so it becomes part of a routine or habit.  This works particularly well for children.  Generally the earlier in the day the practicing can occur, the less reminding is required by parents to get them to practice.

B) Repetition We use this method quite often when setting practice schedules for beginners.  For a young child, 20 or 30 minutes seems like an eternity.  Instead of setting a time frame, we use repetition.  For example,  “Practice this piece 4 times every day, and this scale 5 times a day.”  The child then is not so focused on the amount of time they are practicing their instrument, but knows if they are on repetition number 3 they are almost finished.

C) Rewards This works very well for both children and adult students.  Some adults reward themselves with a cappuccino after a successful week of practicing.  Parents can encourage children to practice by granting them occasional rewards for successful practicing.  However, praise tends to be the most coveted award. There is just no substitute for a pat on the back for a job well done.  Sometimes we all have a week with little practicing. In that case, there is always next week.

6. Have Fun!!!

Music should be something that is enjoyed for a lifetime. Try not to put unrealistic expectations on your children to learn too quickly.  Everyone learns at a different pace and the key is to be able to enjoy the journey!!!!

Top of the page