When is the best time to start music lessons?

I am frequently asked by parents at what age should they enroll their child in music classes. The answer varies. If you are talking private music lessons on a specific instrument such as guitar or piano, my answer is dependent on the child. Can they attend to a task for 20-30 minutes? Can they track across a page? Do they know their alphabet (at least A-G!) and can they count meaningfully to 4? If the answer is yes to these questions, then the child is ready for lessons. If the answer is no, perhaps a group music class which is based in rhythm and singing is best.

"Rockin Rugrats" is such a class. It is held Monday mornings at Music of the Bay from 9:15 to 10:00. Grave Morrison is the teacher. She uses live music, rhythm instruments, call and response games and game songs to engage children ages 3.5-5 years in meaningful music play. Students will experience steady beat, rhythmic patterns, melodic patterns and creativity in an upbeat, engaging 45 minute class.

Call 508-759-2214 to register. Class starts Monday, June 4, 2012. Tuition is $100 for 4 weeks. Drop-in fee of $25 per class. Visit www.musicofthebay.com to read Grace's biography and learn more about Music of the Bay.

To Read Or Not To Read

One of the main debates in private guitar lessons is that of tabs versus traditional notation. Tabs are a system of numbers and dots on a guitar neck grid that show the player exactly where to play the pitches in a given song. There is no rhythmic notation included in this code, thus one needs to either practice with a recording or know how the song sounds beforehand. Private lesson teachers and students can access tabs quickly and easily on line, thus making them a good tool for instruction.

Traditional music notation is the language of music, including melody, harmony, rhythm and dynamics. It is all inclusive, allowing the musician to know all that is necessary to play a given piece of music. It is not as "instant" as tabs, however. One must study music notation to be able to read it fluently. That is the one drawback as I see it for guitarists.

At Music of the Bay, our teachers use a combination of traditional music notation and tabs in their lessons. We do require that all beginning students learn music notation so that they will be able to play any song from any sheet music. Tabs are used as a tool to help students access songs they hear on the radio or on CD's quickly. This keeps the student motivated to learn and interested in their lessons even more.

Every Song Has an Introduction

So here is mine. Hi. My name is Michelle. I am the mother of 3 teenaged sons and the wife of a wonderful man. I am also a school music teacher and the owner of a successful music store. In my spare time, I direct a community chorus known as the Saints and Singers (not sinners, although we just might be!). Music is the lifeblood of my existance. It is my work, my refuge and my joy. Teaching music is my way of sharing this joy with the world. It's what makes my heart sing. What makes your heart sing? How is music a part of your life? I'd love to hear from you.