Starting a Musical Instrument

What you need to know

Starting a musical instrument

What you need to know

Hopefully, your child has arrived home fired with enthusiasm and is excited about the idea of playing

a musical instrument. However, taking up an instrument is not a decision that should be taken

lightly. As a parent, you are committing yourself to considerable financial outlay and your child to

daily practice. Having said this, playing a musical instrument can be very rewarding and a skill

which, once acquired, is for life. Obviously, you will want to give your child the best possible chance

so this leaflet has been written to give you some basic information and guidance.

What instrument should my child play?

In the first place, the answer is simple - the one which excites and inspires them most! However, it

is best to get professional advice before deciding since hand size, mouth shape etc. may preclude

certain choices. Since we have specialist staff at hand, we are able to offer advice as to the

suitability of an instrument for an individual child. A short trial on an instrument can easily be

arranged to be sure there are no obvious problems.

Where do I find a good teacher?

The decision having been made to start music lessons, the next hurdle for most parents is finding a

good, reputable teacher. This is a difficult area since anyone can set up as a private music teacher

without experience, training or qualifications. Having said this, qualifications are not always a good

indicator of a competent and effective teacher since many professional players are superb teachers

yet have no formal degrees or diplomas.

All the visiting music staff at CHS are respected teachers and performers who have large private

teaching practices and years of experience and are well used to dealing with youngsters of all ages.

Which teacher should I choose?

Firstly, it is important to have a specialist teacher who plays the instrument you want your child to

learn. Recommendation by word of mouth is the most common way parents find out about the

existence or competence of a music teacher. However, another good guide is the Incorporated

Society of Musicians’ “Register of Private Music Teachers” available in most main public libraries. Any

teachers in this register have to abide by a strict code of practice and have to be vetted before being

allowed to join the Society.

Since music lessons are mainly carried out on a one-to-one basis, it is important that both you and

your child feel comfortable and relaxed with the teacher and that all parties have similar views and

realistic expectations. At CHS we try to match your child with the teacher that we think would best

suit them.

If you decide to use a teacher outside school here are some questions you might ask:

Would I be welcome at my child’s lessons?

What is the teachers view as to the use of grade examination, music festivals etc.?

What is the record of exam results of his/her pupils?

What is expected by way of practice?

How will the teacher motivate your child to practice?

What reporting procedures do they have?

How will they communicate what work needs to be done between lessons?

Do they have any particular teaching method? Suzuki?

How much are lessons and how are fees payable - weekly, monthly or termly?

How much notice is required to discontinue lessons?

Finally, be wary of teachers who charge excessively low fees. They may be very competent, but

generally, you get what you pay for.

If you would like to meet any of the music staff at CHS this can easily be arranged.

How much practice will my child have to do and how often?

The key to success is regular daily practice. To begin with this might be as little as 10mins once or

twice a day but as your child progresses they will need to do more in order to maintain progress.

Will I have to help with my child’s practice sessions?

Yes. It is quite appropriate to sit with your child in their practice sessions. Parents often think that

they have not got the expertise to help, but very often the most difficult aspect of practice is getting

a child to approach it in a methodical manner. Too many children repeatedly ‘play through’ pieces

rather than breaking them down into small sections and performing them with a SLOW, REGULAR

pulse. A common sense approach is often all that is needed. One would not expect a young child to

learn to read without daily help and supervision - likewise with learning a musical instrument.

Obviously, as a child matures, they may begin to resent supervision in which case parents can at

least ensure that practice is done as part of the daily routine.

Lessons in school or out?

The main advantages of having lessons in school is that family schedules are often very busy and

many parents find it convenient not to have to travel sometimes large distances to and from a

teacher’s house. Parents can also be assured of the fact that they will be getting a competent and

professional teacher.

Whilst it can sometimes be an advantage to see your child’s music teacher on a regular basis at the

beginning or end of a lesson which one might expect of lessons at a teacher’s house, most staff at

CHS give out their home telephone numbers and are happy to discuss pupil’s progress at any time in

the year. By prior arrangement, most are also happy to have parents attend their child’s lesson to

discuss progress.

The most often cited reason for pupils not having instrumental lessons in school is that parents are

worried about their children missing academic lessons.

Tuition is arranged during the school day on a rota basis so that a student will not miss the same

time-tabled period more than once or twice a term. Experience has shown that this causes no

detriment to the pupil’s general progress, which is closely monitored.

Finding an instrument for your child

Most students eventually buy their own instruments, however, many parents start by either

borrowing one of the limited number of school instruments or hiring an instrument commercially

until they are sure that their child has shown sufficient commitment. Whilst it is often cheaper to pay

for an instrument outright, most music shops operate a ‘Try Before You Buy’ scheme whereby an

instrument is hired for a fixed period of either three or six months. If a parent decides to buy the

instrument at the end of the rental periods, the rental cost is deducted from the retail price of the

instrument.

Second Hand Instruments

Second hand instruments can prove a good investment; however, it is always best to get

independent professional advice before buying one. Whilst an instrument may look in good

condition, the only way to asses it effectively is for an experienced musician to play it. Poor quality,

old or badly maintained instruments are difficult, if not impossible to play and expensive to get

repaired if this is possible.

Visiting staff are happy to give impartial specialist advice about the purchase of, or hire of,

instruments. Details of school instruments and recommendations of music shops which operate

rental schemes are available on request.

Insurance

Inevitably, children’s instruments do get accidentally damaged from time-to-time. In view of the

considerable expense of replacement or repair it is strongly advised that you insure your child’s

instrument. Please note that house insurance policies sometimes have clauses sometimes exclude

musical instruments. Names of specialist companies are available on request.

Please Remember

Learning an instrument is a three way process involving the teacher, pupil and the parent. Without

parental support and encouragement, a child cannot hope to succeed.

If you have any queries or problems or would like to discuss the matter further, please do not

hesitate to contact the Director of Music at:

Cheadle Hulme School,

Claremont Road,

Cheadle Hulme,

Cheshire

SK8 6EF

Tel. 0161 488 3330.

For an application form please download from the school website.