Schools that have music programs have significantly higher graduation rates than those without music programs (90.2% compared to 72.9%).

On average, students in music performance scored 57 points higher on the verbal and 41 points higher on the math section of the SAT than did students with no music participation.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What age should my child start piano lessons?
A good time to start girls in piano lessons is around age 5 - 6. A good time to start boys in piano lessons is a little bit later, around age 6 - 7. Children that take piano lessons should be able to sit and concentrate and listen to directions for a thirty minute session. They should also be able to read numbers and letters well and recognize left and right. Most importantly they should be able to understand the process of piano lessons and that they are required to practice on their own outside of lesson times. A twenty to thirty minute evaluation lesson should be given to beginning students at these ages.

What age should my child start voice lessons?

Girls should begin vocal study between the ages of 10 - 13. Boys should begin vocal study at a later age, between the ages of 13 - 16. In some situations vocal study can be started earlier than age 10 but the primary focus of lessons at this age should be fun and for the purpose of training the ear, working on performance anxiety and very basic vocal technique. More advanced vocal training should begin in the early teenage years after the student has experienced vocal changes during puberty. Be cautious of any teacher that wants to "train" a young child's voice. If you are interested in an evaluation to assess possible vocal damage from cheer leading or improper singing teaching, please contact me.

How long of a lesson should I take?
Lessons are usually taken in half hour or hour sessions. Students that take hour lessons (with regular weekly attendance) are the most successful in my studio. Half hour sessions are good for beginners and for younger students. I feel that middle school, high school and adult students should commit to weekly hour sessions.

How much should my child practice a day?
I leave the entire practice routine up to the student and the parent. I assume that if you want to take lessons then you are going to put in the practice that is required for you to learn the art form. A little practice each day is better than none. A set amount of practice each day is even better than a little practice. As serious music students we should aim to build focused and efficient practice habits. The practice routine should be set up and understood between the parents and the student because in most cases the parents are paying for the lessons. If you are engaging in "the practice fight" on a regular basis then the dedication to lessons should be re-evaluated.

Why don't you accept voice students that also participate in cheer leading?
In my experience as a vocal coach I have seen so many times the damage that cheer leading can do to your voice. Vocally, it is very demanding and most cheer leading coaches do not properly teach cheerleaders how to yell in a healthy and supported manner. In most cases, students that participate in cheer leading are putting more hours into yelling and screaming than they are into singing practice. The two cannot go hand in hand. It is frustrating for me to try to teach singing to cheer leading students and it is also a waste of money for the student.