The Many Benefits of Music Lessons and Performance

AN OVERVIEW

Music Lessons require Commitment on the part of the Student to Dedicate a Sufficient Amount of Time to Daily Practice for the Achievement of prescribed, Weekly Goals. This imparts Discipline and Responsibility. Goal-Oriented Achievement is Facilitated by a Commitment on the behalf of the Parents to exercise Regimentation. Keeping and Implementing one's Commitment takes Discipline. Discipline is not Innate; It must be taught. Through Parental Enforcement of a Regimented, Practice Schedule, Discipline and Responsibility are learned. Determination, encouraged by Parental, Positive Reinforcement assists in creating Diligence. Practice require Repetition and Attention to Detail. Repeating the Attained Piece once it is Thoroughly Mastered opens the door to Improvisation and Creativity. Small changes in the Performance or Interpretation of certain Genres place the Student's Signature on the Particular Piece. What a Psychological High! Experimenting with music is FUN. It offers the Student an Opportunity to Exercise his or her Imagination and Ingenuity and introduces Music Theory as an Ingredient in the Teaching Recipe. Do NOT "Straightjacket" your child with "Cookie-Cutter Instruction." Discipline need not preclude Fun and Entertainment. Individualization is Key. The Teacher who Embraces this Philosophy of Music Education exercises Latitude, the Roots of which date back at least as far as Eighteenth-Century, Keyboard, Performance Practice.

Practice = Concentration = Repetition = Fluidity = Acquisition =

Expressiveness = Sensitivity = Satisfaction =

A Boost in Performance Level, Confidence, and Self-Esteem

The Aforementioned Benefits are Imperative for Successful, Productive, Instrumental Performance. It is the Teacher's Responsibility, among many other things, to provide Motivation. Motivation is Best Achieved through Assignments that Uniquely combine Materials which meet the Students' Individual Needs and Desires. Individualization, properly applied, incorporates the Fundamentals, Ancillary Music, and Experimentation that couple Achievement with Fun. The Teacher must choose eclectically from Many and Varied Sources in order to Personalize Assignments.

Music Lessons and Annual Recitals constitute a Very Effective, Motivational Marriage. There are Various Approaches to conducting a Recital that yield Different Results. I Espouse an Educational Emphasis rather than a Testing Arena. With this Technique, the Recital is used as a Forum for Learning to Perform before Others. The Student in Given the Opportunity to Exhibit his or her Musical Accomplishments in a Relaxed Atmosphere before a Supportive Audience. The Objective is to Promote a Confidence-Building Experience in a Setting that is Conducive to bringing about a Solid Performance. If Mistakes are made, Replays are Permitted. "Practicing" before an Audience typically Reduces Nervousness and an Enthusiastic Ovation at the Completion of the piece Cements Confidence. The Transfer Phenomenon applies here. Being able to Perform with Confidence before an Audience facilitates Speaking before Classmates, Conducting Presentations, etc. Being Prepared for the Event in Sufficient Time generalizes to Meeting Deadlines in Other Settings.

Achievement, Self-Fulfillment, and Enhanced Self-Esteem are Three Peas in a Pod. Scientific Investigation Strongly Suggests that Music Lessons may Enhance Intelligence (higher I.Q.) and Academic Accomplishment, Bolster Self-Esteem, and Improve Discipline. This Validates my Three-Peas-In-A-Pod statement. Research has demonstrated that Music Majors have the Highest Admittance into Medical Schools. Music Students average 465 on the Verbal Section of the S.A.T.'s and 495 on the Mathematics Section as Compared to the National Average of 427 and 465, respectively. Another study indicates that Skills learned through the Discipline of Music may Transfer to Study Skills, Communication Skills, and Cognitive Skills useful in Every Facet of a Student's Studies in School. There also appears to be a Relationship between Music and the Strengthening of Mathematics, Dance, Reading, Creative Thinking, and Visual Skills.

An Exceptionally Beautiful Benefit of Music Lessons is its Admittance into the Worldwide Brother/Sisterhood of Musicians. There is a very Special Chemistry that Musicians share. There is a Magnetism or Affinity that engenders Camaraderie. Musicians easily make Friends with One-Another because of their Musical Commonalities. Conversations naturally develop in Small Communities and BANDS come into Existence. This makes for Fun Experiences that may continue for a Lifetime, are quite Rewarding, and often Lucrative. Therefore, if you want to Stimulate Socialization in your Child, expose him or her to other Music Students. This will probably occur Naturally anyway.

I can share an Experience with you that Exemplifies this Special Chemistry. Recently, I had the good fortune to take a vacation in China. I Cannot speak Chinese, nor could most of the Chinese people who environed me speak English. Nevertheless, a Universal Language prevailed, Music. One evening, I found a Piano Store and decided to take a look. I was with some friends who asked me to Perform. I went from piano to piano Playing an Assortment of Genres. At one piano, I played a Blue Piece and to my Delight, I heard Another Pianist begin to Perform. Suddenly, he moved to the piano next to me and we Played Together for the better part of an hour. Other Musicians who worked in the store Surrounded us and Enthusiastically cheered us. When we finished, the Collective Exuberance was Palpable. We had Fun. The Entire Store had Fun. Afterwards, in an unusual Verbal/Signing exchange We Conversed. I was Invited to Return to China to Participate in a Jazz Concert at a local university with these fellows. Now, we exchange emails and there is a good possibility we will perform together in the future. I made Friends for Life. How Beautiful is that?!

As Must be Apparent, the Benefits of Music Lessons Generalize or Transfer to Many Areas of a Student's Life. When taken Singularly, in any Combination, or in their Totality, the Result is Betterment in the Quality of the Student's Life.