Help Your Child Continue to Learn After Their Music Lessons Are Over

Playing an instrument can bring a lifetime of excitement to a child, even if their parents are not musically inclined themselves. If you can't hold a tune, though, you can still help you child become the best musician they can be. Learning an instrument is a huge deal, and without the support of a parent, it can be nearly impossible. Some of the best music lessons help your child reach their full potential. Between lessons, though, there are four huge things you can do at home to help your child get excited and passionate about music!

1. Practice every single day.  Jimi Hendrix didn't become a star by practicing once a week - if your child wants to see progress, they need to practice daily. By setting time aside with your son or daughter to allow them to practice their instrument, you're giving your child the encouragement and the space they need to improve on what they have learned from their music lesson. Not only will your child become better, but they'll be excited to know that they already have an audience! When they finally learn their first song, you get to be the first one to hear it.
2. Learn the basics.  You don't have to become a pro to appreciate the progress your child makes, but it helps to learn the fundamentals when it comes to music so you can assist them in their journey. Learning how to read music, taking notes of the instrument your child is using, and asking questions yourself when your son or daughter is at music school can help you pick up an ear for what sounds right. This way, if your child becomes stuck or has difficulty picking up a particular skill, they won't be stranded until their next lesson. It's particularly useful if you can sit in on their music lesson, so you know what their teacher expects for the next lesson.
3. Surround your child with music.  A thirty-minute lesson or one-hour lesson may teach the fundamentals and necessities to become a pro, but finding an environment with the same interests will make learning an instrument a fun experience. Even if you don't play music yourself, taking your child to a music group with friends, going to a concert, or just listening to their favorite albums in the car will remind them that learning an instrument is more than work - it's fun!

The experience of learning an instrument will carry your child through their entire life. Even if you do not play music yourself, there are still ways to instill the love of music to your son or daughter. For the best music schools in Allen, TX, visit Matt Burk Music Studio to start your child on the right track to becoming a rock star. Call (469) 353-6100 1 to learn more.

Music Lessons Allen TX
Matt Burk Music Studio
1701 Legacy Drive, Ste. 150
Frisco, TX 75034
United States
(469) 353-6100

Top Tips on Practicing with a Metronome During Your Music Lessons

A metronome is a tool that can enhance your music lessons by providing the best tempo for the piece you are playing. It creates a steady sound that enables a musician to keep the proper pace for playing a piece of music. Practicing with a metronome on a regular basis can improve your playing mastery by helping you maintain speed.

Choosing Your Metronome

There are several types of metronomes available, from digital or wind-up models to apps on your phone. Mechanical wind-up metronomes are typically best for musicians who play classical instruments. Digital metronomes offer more features and are generally best for musicians playing more modern pieces of music. Younger musicians may do better with mechanical metronomes as watching the pendulum swing provides a visual cue to the rhythm.

Setting Your Metronome

Once you have decided on the best metronome for your situation, you will need to know how to set it for each piece you are playing. Many digital metronomes offer a "beats per minute" feature for determining the tempo. Select the BPM needed for each piece. On these devices, you will also need to set the volume level. The level should be loud enough to hear but not so loud as to overpower the piece you playing.

Using Your Metronome

Become familiar with the sheet music you are using before start your metronome. Then practice your piece without paying too much attention to the tempo. When you know all of the notes, you can start to focus more on the proper rhythm of the music.

Begin slowly, listening to several beats of your metronome before you start to play. Focus on the areas in your piece that are problematic for you. Every piece of music typically has easier sections and more difficult areas. You may need to practice the more difficult sections of the music first before bringing everything up to tempo.

When you are comfortable with the entire piece, increase the tempo just a bit. It can help to tap your toe to the beat of the metronome. Play through the whole piece until you have mastered that speed. Increase the speed once more, and play until you are comfortable again. Continue this process until you can play the entire piece at the appropriate tempo.

Why is it Important to Practice with a Metronome?

Humans don't naturally keep a constant tempo. Even our heartbeats speed up and slow down. When someone plays a piece of music without a metronome, they will often speed up or slow down slightly and then try to compensate for the changes in tempo. A metronome reduces this tendency to rush or drag. Keeping a constant tempo is particularly important when musicians are playing together. If everyone is playing at their own pace, the group as a whole will be out of time with each other.

Contact Matt Burk Music Studio to schedule your music lessons in the Allen TX area. Call (469) 353-6100 today!

Music Lessons Allen TX
Matt Burk Music Studio
1701 Legacy Drive, Ste. 150
Frisco, TX 75034
United States
(469) 353-6100

What to Expect When You Begin to Learn to Play Piano in Allen, TX

If you're about to experience your first piano lesson, you might not know what to expect. Here are some things that you can count on experiencing when you first begin lessons.

You can expect to be a little nervous, but the thing to remember is that you're new. You won't be playing the greats when you first start, so remember this to help relax.

Some questions you might have include questions about practice times. You'll need to know what accessories and books are needed. Ask how the lessons are structured, and what the teacher expects of their students.

Expect to learn some finger exercises, such as the Hanon method, to help finger strength. Call Matt Burk Music studios to learn to play piano in Allen, TX.

Learn to Play Piano Allen TX
Matt Burk Music Studio
1701 Legacy Drive, Ste. 150
Frisco, TX 75034
United States
(469) 353-6100

The Importance of Hand and Sitting Position During Piano Lessons

Learning to play the piano means more than mastering the process. Your technique is just as important; without the proper technique, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or Tendonitis can occur over time.

When you sit down at the piano, your hand placement should be natural and curved. Stand up straight with your hands at your side and notice the natural curve of your fingers. That is the position you should aim to accomplish. Sit on half of the piano bench with your feet flat on the floor and back straight.

These sitting and hand placement techniques can help prevent injury and improve your ability to play. For more information on the proper piano playing technique and piano lessons in Allen, TX call Matt Burk Music Studio.

Piano Lessons Allen TX
Matt Burk Music Studio
1701 Legacy Drive, Ste. 150
Frisco, TX 75034
United States
(469) 353-6100

Use the "Simple Playback Method" in Your Music Lessons in Allen, TX

What do you want to get out of your music lessons?  Allen, TX sits close to the vibrant jazz and popular music scenes of Denton, Fort Worth, and Dallas, so you might want to focus on your ear training.

But can you learn to read a chart when you only know how to read note-by-note? Can you make the jump from classical to popular music styles?

You absolutely can -- and you can even do it without spending hours on painstaking interval drills.

We talked to Justen Blackstone, Artist Lecturer at Moravian College and co-founder of Backstage Podcast, to find out.

Use the “Simple Playback Method” in Your Music Lessons in Allen, TX

“Simple playback can be a fantastic way to train the ear of all ages,” said Blackstone. “A teacher can simply make up a melody on the piano and ask the student to play that melody back to them verbatim.”

Justen usually starts with a five note span on the keyboard -- C-G -- and sets progressive levels for his students.

In level one, for instance, he plays a three-note melody between C-G and asks the student to play that melody back. Level two could be a five-note pattern, and he usually progresses with a student all the way up to ten notes.

“These melodies increase in interval difficulty, length, and timing (syncopation, dotted notes, etc.),” Blackstone said. “Once the student has mastered the five-note span, I will then expand the available notes and even add sharps or flats.”

You Don’t Need a Piano to Use the Simple Playback Method

Your music lessons in Allen, TX will have a piano, but what if you don’t have a keyboard at home?

All you have to do is start with Spotify. Find a simple song (it can even be one that you know), and listen to 5-10 seconds of it before pausing; now sing that melody back. Move on to more unfamiliar and difficult songs, and increase the amount of time you go before pausing the song. Just do your best to sing it back correctly.

If you want to keep up your keyboard ear training, download an app like Melody Ear Training. It’s fun, cheap, and will dramatically improve your ear playing.

What About You?

Would you like to incorporate ear training into your music lessons in Allen, TX?  Give Matt Burk Music Studio a call at (469) 353-6100, or visit us online. You’ll improve your practical musicianship, and you'll be jamming at the Scat Lounge in no time.

Music Lessons Allen TX
Matt Burk Music Studio
1701 Legacy Drive, Ste. 150
Frisco, TX 75034
United States
(469) 353-6100