Avon, Avon Lake, Westlake, Bay Village - Music Lessons

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Q & A

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Avon School of Music Strongsville Academy of Music
(440) 934-9988 (440) 572-9000

Q: Do I need a piano at home to take piano lessons?
A: It is ideal if you do have a piano at home, but you can start lessons by using an electric keyboard to practice on. Most of our students rent or buy small electric keyboards practice on at home. We recommend a keyboard that has regular sized keys and a touch sensitive response. A touch sensitive keyboard means if you press a key harder it will play louder and if you press a key softer it will play quieter.

Q: Do I need a full drum set to take drum lessons?
A: No you do not need a full drum set to start drum lessons. Students can start lessons by using a practice pad. This is a small dinner plate sized pad that costs $20-$30 that is used for practicing basic drum rhythms.

Q: How long does it take to learn an instrument?
A: There is no set answer of how long it takes to learn an instrument. With regular practice a basic level of playing can be accomplished in a few months. Most of our students take lessons on a long term basis because they want to be constantly improving and they find the lessons enjoyable.

Q: I don't have any musical background or ability; can I still help my child practice?
A: Yes. Even if you don't have a musical background you can ask the teacher for advice on how to help your child practice. By simply monitoring that they are doing exercises a certain number of times per day the student will progress. Many parents occasionally sit in on their child's music lesson to get an idea of the proper way a song should sound or how the student should be positioning their hands.

Q: Do the qualifications or background of a teacher make a difference?
A: Yes. There are music teachers that have a background of only a general music education degree or bachelor of arts. If a child or adult wants to play an instrument, for the best results, he/she needs a teacher who has studied their instrument in college in performance and has had pedagogy training (training that teachers can acquire in order to enable them to adapt to a student's way of learning, not a one-size-fits-all approach). Having a teacher who has had performance training in college and pedagogy can give you the instruction you need to learn properly, have good habits and practice strategies, help you progress quickly, and be inspired to reach your goals. All of these put together create the enjoyment that music can bring. If you do not have a teacher who is qualified, you cannot expect to learn properly, practice properly, and experience the thrill of making music. Often teachers who have only studied music education have not met performance standards of professional musicians. If you want to know how professionals do what they do, study with one has been University-trained to do it and communicate it.

Q: I want my son/daughter just to have fun. Do qualfications of a teacher matter in this case?

A: Yes. Good teachers who are also good performers know how to enjoy music. A Universty-trained teacher in performance has made it a career to play his/her instrument (or sing) because this is what they enjoy doing more than anything else. The former concertmaster of The Cleveland Orchestra, Josef Gingold, was known for his great teaching because he would instill in his students a love for music. He knew how to inspire because he was himself inspired by music! There is a correlation between knowing how to play well and having fun. Trained, knowledgable, and passionate teachers know how to have fun with music. To use an illustration, there is a difference between someone who can describe a vacation by the seashore but has never been there and one who has been there and can take you there, too.

Q: What sets you apart from other places?

A: First, the qualifications of the teachers. Other places have teachers that are either self-taught or have not studied performance in college. This is a huge difference that translates into learning to play properly from the start like professional musicians do. If you learn well, you can excel and enjoy more (Click here for a comparison of music studios).

Second, our teachers have learned pedagogy (training that teachers can acquire in order to enable them to adapt to a student's way of learning). Other places don’t emphasize this important point nor mention it. Pedagogy is critical for instrumental and vocal instruction so that teachers know various methods and practice procedures to teach their students. With this knowledge, they don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach. Knowledge is imparted in ways that adapt to the student and his/her specific needs in learning an instrument. This, too, translates into more enjoyment with playing or singing.

Third, our school has constant contact with an advisory board comprised of professional musicians to help ensure the quality of teaching.

Fourth, our school makes enjoyment of music played in a proper fashion its highest goal. Most people know that achieving anything worthwhile requires work. But some places tell their students from the beginning that learning music is not fun. This is not true! Our goal is to teach the skills needed and to make it fun!

Fifth, we hold all-school recitals that enable children to hear many different kinds of instruments. This helps expand their musical appreciation.

Sixth, our faculty often performs on the recitals giving students the opportunity to hear how a professional can play and be inspired to achieve their own goals.

Seventh, for convenience, members of the same family can often schedule lessons at the same time saving hour of driving to different lesson providers.

These are several differences and there are more. Feel free to explore all the options that Avon School of Music and Strongsville Academy of Music have to offer!