When I tell someone that I teach piano, the initial response I get is, “I wish I had taken piano lessons when I was younger” or “I wish my mom forced me to continue piano lessons rather than letting me quit.” Since I started teaching in 1992, no one has ever said, “I wish I hadn’t learned how to play the piano.”As adults and parents, we seem to understand how essential and beneficial learning to play an instrument is in our childhood and adolescent years. Parents have various reasons for investing in music lessons for their kids. One of the main reasons is parents’ belief that music lessons will help their kids in school. And they are right! This is one of the 5 top reasons why kids need to learn a musical instrument. As shown by research, taking music lessons has numerous benefits especially in the development of intelligence and character. Here are 5 Top Reasons for getting your kids involved in music lessons.

1. Music Lessons Enhance Brain Development.

Many research studies have been conducted to measure the effects of learning a music instrument on cognitive development. Findings indicate that children who take music lessons over several years show greater improvement in spatial-temporal reasoning skills which are necessary for learning math and science. Music-making kids surpass their classmates who don’t take lessons in reading comprehension. In addition, children who take music lessons benefit from improved memory skills. When we look at the research, it is easy to see that taking music lessons over a prolonged period gives kids an academic advantage to the point of increasing IQ and SAT scores. Your kids will be smarter!

2. Music Lessons teach kids how to Accomplish Goals.

Setting goals is crucial to making progress in anything that we pursue whether it’s a passion or not. Typically, if we are passionate about something, we pursue that “something” by setting our own goals. Many times others set goals for us including our parents, teachers, bosses, coaches, government, religious leaders or peers. Goal-setting is an important part of day-to-day living, and it is the first step toward achieving a sense of accomplishment. Proficiency on an instrument is a long-term goal achieved over a period of years. In order to accomplish this goal, the music teacher and student must set and accomplish short-term goals that will ultimately lead to long-term achievement. One of the greatest rewards of being a music teacher is to help young students become top-notch musicians and performers over the course of their elementary through high school years. Some students go on to pursue music as a career path. Others go on to pursue other passions. Whatever their pursuits, taking music lessons has taught them how to make progress towards their dreams.

3. Music Lessons develop Self-Discipline in kids.

We all know that anything worth having in this life doesn’t come easy and that with hard work and consistency we can achieve great things. How do we instill the character qualities of self-determination and discipline in our kids who are living in a fast-paced society that has grown accustomed to immediate gratification? Music lessons are a fun and effective way to help a child learn self-discipline. Students find motivation in the music they are learning. However, in order to perform this music well they must practice consistently. As the music teacher helps a student structure weekly practice time, the student is empowered to learn the music through self-discipline. Developing the skill of self-discipline can be adapted to achieve goals in other areas such as academics and sports.

4. Music Lessons help kids become Independent and Self-Sufficient adults.

Many child psychologists agree that a child’s happiness and ability to become an independent and successful adult is greatly dependent on that child’s sense of self-worth and confidence. The qualities of children with high self-esteem include:

• tackling new challenges
• being independent and true to themselves
• taking responsibility for their decisions and actions
• having confidence in themselves and taking pride in their abilities

These characteristics can be developed with consistent music lessons throughout the childhood and adolescent years. New challenges are tackled regularly in music lessons by learning a new piece or song, learning a new technique or progressing to a higher skill level. As students make progress in learning a musical instrument, they are able to choose the music they love to perform – classical, pop, country, etc. Being true to yourself is recognizing what you love most and pursuing it. The decision to practice or not practice can have its consequences, and students must structure their practice for progress. Seeing students perform in front of an audience is a highlight for teachers, parents, family and friends. Students experience a great sense of accomplishment after a performance.

5. Music Lessons promote Self-Expression and Creativity

The world’s greatest leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators and inventors have something in common – creativity. This creativity can evolve into the power of invention. Think of Benjamin Franklin and his numerous inventions that were born from his creativity in discovering improvements to the way things worked. Making music naturally elicits self-expression and creativity, and the ability for students to express themselves with confidence and creativity opens up incredible doors of opportunity. As you think about which extracurricular activities to choose for your kids, consider the true benefits of your investment. We all want our children to live life to the fullest and to experience great happiness as they follow their dreams. Sometimes, they need a little guidance from us. We invest in our kids’ futures by giving them opportunities such as music lessons. Taking music lessons cultivates qualities that lead to lifetime success. Make learning a music instrument a priority in your home and encourage your kids every step of the way. Allison J Boyd, Music Therapist – Board Certified President of Metro Music Makers, Inc. www.metromusicmakers.com www.facebook.com/metromusicmakers www.twitter.com/metromusicmaker

When determining whether or not you want to take piano lessons, guitar lessons, voice lessons, violin lessons, or drum lessons, the third thing to consider is how your TIME  should factor into the decision. In Reason #3 of Why You Should Have In-Home Music Lessons, we consider the TIME SAVINGS of in-home music lessons.

Reason #3: Time Savings

In-Home Music Lessons with Metro Music Makers will save you valuable time, and take the pressure off of your already hectic daily schedule. Do you need to pick your daughter up from school at 2:30 pm, take her to swimming practice, than rush her to her violin lesson at a studio 20 minutes away? Are you tired of sitting in your car for an hour waiting for your music lesson to end? Metro Music Makers eliminates all of the wasted time with In-Home Music Lessons. Our instructors come to your home and save you valuable time that can be spent with your family.

When determining whether or not you want to take piano lessons, guitar lessons, voice lessons, violin lessons, or drum lessons, the second thing to consider is WHY you would like to take in-home music lessons. In Reason #2 of Why You Should Have In-Home Music Lessons, we consider the CONVENIENCE of in-home music lessons.

Reason #2: Convenience

In-Home Music Lessons provide you with a level of convenience that cannot be matched. There is no reason to leave your house, when a well qualified music instructor can come to you. Have a piano lesson at 5:00 pm, but rush hour traffic has got you pulling your hair out? In-Home Music Lessons will prevent that from happening. Have a guitar lesson you’re running late to because there was an accident on the interstate? Metro Music Makers will send the instructor to you. Eliminate stress by having In-Home Music Lessons with Metro Music Makers.

When determining whether or not you want to take piano lessons, guitar lessons, voice lessons, violin lessons, or drum lessons, the first thing to consider is WHERE you would like to take the lessons. In Reason #1 of Why You Should Have In-Home Music Lessons, we consider the ENVIRONMENT in which you want to learn.

Reason #1: Environment

Your environment is crucial when taking music lessons. It’s imperative that the student be comfortable and in an environment that promotes growth and learning. Home is not only where the heart is, but it’s also where you will be most comfortable taking music lessons. Metro Music Makers will send an instructor to teach you at your home. Why visit a strange place with a new teacher when you can have that person come to you? Stay at home and enhance your experience. Let Metro Music Makers send a teacher to your house and give you the home-field advantage.

Welcome to the Metro Music Makers Blog! We are excited you have joined us, and promise to make your trip here as informative and painless as possible. Metro Music Makers provides in-home music lessons to customers in the North Metro Atlanta area. We currently offer piano lessons, guitar lessons, voice lessons, drum lessons, and violin lessons to students of all ages. We decided to create this blog as a way to update current and future customers about the trends and happenings within the music education industry. Also, we will use this blog to educate and share helpful ideas and tips for people who would like to start taking lessons or those who are currently taking lessons. Thank you for dropping by and we hope that you will become a regular reader of our blog.