Frequently Asked Questions
“What age is my child ready to begin studying an instrument?”
We have had success with students as young as 5!
“Do you offer programs to prepare students for auditions?”
We have enabled students to get into music programs at James Madison University, the University of Virginia, The Berklee College of Music, and Radford University. In addition, students have entered and won spots in bands, school musicals, Battle of Bands events, and recording/session work.
“How long are your lessons?”
Our lessons are 45 minutes. This was decided to be the optimal time for both student and teacher. More concepts can be introduced and the extra time can be used for creative output and review.
“What are rehearsals like?”
Rehearsals are a living breathing organism. No two are alike. Students are in a very vibrant learning environment and the pace is intense and fast. In this system, we have developed the strongest musicians in the area. This has been proven time and time again by the amount of Musician-Inc. students who are involved in very high level playing situations.
“What if my child misses a lesson?”
We understand. Families have many responsibilities, sometimes with multiple kids in two or more activities. Kids also get sick. With that in mind it’s also important to understand the importance of consistency. It’s important to the student’s routine to have a consistent number of days between lessons. And it’s important to the operations of the school. Ultimately you’re renting a time slot during which music instruction will happen. It’s your slot and nobody else can take it. We need at least 24 hours notice in order to give you a rescheduling of the lesson. This make up may or may not be with your regular teacher.
“How much should my child expect to practice?”
A beginning student should practice a minimum of 20-30 minutes per day, 5 days per week. A student cannot build skill if they only play during their lesson. It’s recommended that parents schedule practice time as an activity, as most kids are still developing their time management skills. With the many distractions available to young people students sometimes don’t remember to practice on their own.
“Does my child need to have his/her own instrument?”
In order to keep a regular practice routine during the days between lessons and rehearsals it’s best for your child to have a dependable and comfortable instrument to practice on. A connection between instrument and student/performer is one of trust and familiarity. All musicians have a favorite instrument that becomes identified with them. The importance of this is not lost on beginners either.
“Can my child switch to another instrument if he/she feels it’s a better fit?”
Yes, of course. Musical instruction is a complex and exacting activity and sometimes trying out more than one instrument leads a student to “the” one that he/she was meant to play. Not only that, we encourage students to pursue performance and study on at least two instruments.
“Do you teach students to read music?”
Yes, theoretical application to musical study demands that notational decoding become a part of daily practice. Having said that, not all students share the same aptitude for reading. Many great musicians have had extremely successful careers in music without reading. However, those musicians had incredible musical instincts that enabled them to overcome the deficiency in reading notation. Reading chord charts is imperative for all students and that aspect is also an important part of a musician’s development.
“How many songs can my child be expected to play in your shows?”
With regular dedicated practice and attendance, your child should be able to attain at least four songs during a season. Motivation is the key factor in this as is regular attendance at rehearsals and lessons. If a students doubles on instruments/vocals that number could easily double.