Top 10 Reasons Why Your Child Should Take Music Lessons at Scottsdale Music Academy

1- It’s Fun!!

There are many reasons to get your child involved in music at an early age but there is no better reason than allowing them to have FUN! At Scottsdale Music Academy, that is our #1 priority! It has been proven that playing music can promote stimulation to areas of the brain that promote increased joy and decreased stress. Whether you are learning to play guitar or starting off with voice lessons, SMA will make sure that having fun is mandatory!

2- Build Self Esteem

In addition to the morale that the student gains from working hard at a skill and succeeding, the positive individual attention given in one-on-one lessons fosters self-esteem and self-worth in the student by showing them that they are worthy of personal attention and that others believe in their success.

3 – Make Lifelong Friends

When you become a musician or a vocalist, you become a part of a bigger community. Not only is it fun to play music that you enjoy, but it feels awesome to join together with others to create a unified sound. Friendships and relationships are strengthened through common interests and artists typically find that their most meaningful relationships are found through those they meet through the sharing their art form. At Scottsdale Music Academy we take you from private music lessons into group lessons all the way to a band creation!

4 – Learn Self Discipline

Learning to play an instrument takes time and effort, which teaches patience and perseverance. Musicians have to work through difficult sections of music multiple times in a row before they can play it correctly. Practicing often and working through the tough times requires perseverance. The best musicians in the world are masters of discipline. Our instructors will take the time with each student individually to hone their skills to become the best of their chosen craft.

5 – Develop Creativity and Artistic Awareness

Music allows children to retain (and adults to rediscover) much of their open and creative outlook on life as other areas of education and society push them towards conformance. Scottsdale Music Academy wants you to be yourself and use your artistic gifts to do it!

6 – Increase your memory skills

Research has shown that both listening to music and playing a musical instrument stimulate your brain and can increase your memory. A study was done in which 22 children from ages 6-9 years old were given either singing lessons or keyboard lessons. A control group of 15 children received no music lessons at all. Both groups participated in the same preschool activities. The results showed that preschoolers who had weekly keyboard lessons improved their spatial-temporal skills 34 percent more than the other children. Not only that, but researchers said that the effect lasted long-term!!!

7 – Express Yourself!

Develop a new and deeply powerful medium of emotional education and expression through “playing” the emotions of the composers and creating pieces of the student’s own. When the student participates in the production of quality music and really understands and connects with it, the intellect and the emotion are profoundly stimulated and the student comes away from the experience with an enriched and more meaningful life.

8 – Our Amazing Instructors

The instructors at Scottsdale Music Academy understand that each student is different. Every student has a different background, a different skill set and a unique way of learning. We take the time with each individual to improve on their weaknesses and enhance their strengths with our one on one learning sessions. Each instructor at SMA has had real life experiences with music but has also been educated in the art of music and this helps relate to each one of our students.

9 – Build Character

Studies have shown that students who study music develop stronger moral character, are much more likely to score high in their classes and standardized tests, and much less likely to engage in substance abuse or criminal behavior.

10 – Self Expression!

Self-expression is the pinnacle of art. Every feeling in the emotional spectrum finds release in it. The single greatest skill you can develop as a musician is the ability to consistently create music that allows you to express yourself. Most musicians would agree that such a skill is the holy grail of true musical freedom. Learning to play an instrument can provide an outlet for your energy and emotions. Elements such as melody, dynamics (range of soft and loud), harmonic qualities, and tempo all serve as expressive tools. As we become more proficient in our playing, so too will we become better equipped to express ourselves through the music emanating from our fingertips. Self-expression helps shape our identity and individuality and contributes to our overall sense of well-being.

To learn more on how we can help you or your child improve their talent, click on this link: www.scottsdalemusicacademy.com

Without further ado, here are the most tried and true methods we’ve seen that are guaranteed to help you rock your music lessons like a true star.

1. Take Notes

 Unless you’re blessed with eidetic memory, otherwise known as perfect memory, you’ll want to take notes during your music lessons. Chances are your instructor will share some personal tips and tricks of the trade during your lesson and you’ll want to refer back to that when practicing on your own. Nothing’s more frustrating than walking out of a music lesson feeling confident in your skills only to lose that confidence once you’re flying solo. Taking notes will help you combat that problem by giving you a way to virtually access your lesson, even from home.

2. Record Your Lessons

 Another great way to take advantage of your music lesson is to record your session (with your instructor’s permission, of course). Most cell phones nowadays have a built in recording device that makes it easy to capture almost every moment, and your music lesson is definitely a moment you’ll want to have on hand. Like jotting down notes during a lesson, recording your lesson will make practicing at home so much easier. Not only will you have your instructor’s every word on tape to refer back to whenever you need it, you’ll also have a better idea of what you actually sound like.  Plus, recording your lessons is a great way to chart your growth and build an audio archive you can listen to once you’re a full-fledged musician and feel like taking a little trip down memory lane.

3. Set Expectations and Goals

 Before embarking on your musical journey, it’s important to know what you hope to accomplish from your music lessons. Having both long term and short term goals will help keep you on track and ensure you progress from week to week. Whether you dream of sold out concerts or a simple jam session with friends, setting expectations for yourself is key to mastering your lessons and your instrument.

4. Be Prepared

 One of the best and easiest ways to ensure you rock your music lesson is to come prepared. While this entails doing basic things like showing up on time, practicing in between lessons and properly tuning and cleaning your instrument so it’s ready for use, it also entails some mental preparation. To get in the zone during your music lesson, you’ll want to clear your mind of any distractions. We recommend listening to your favorite artist beforehand to pump yourself up and get your musical juices flowing, or try taking a few minutes at the start of your lesson to note down any topics you want to cover that day, both of which will help get your mind in gear and maximize your musical efforts.

5. Embrace the Learning Process

 Mastering something new is never an easy process, and learning to play an instrument is no exception. Setbacks and disappointments are inevitable, and the sooner you realize that the better. Some people approach music lessons with unrealistic expectations and a preconceived timeline for success. The truth is no one walks away from one music lesson a bonafide rock star. Learning to play an instrument and play it well takes time and effort. There are no short cuts. Musical greatness is achieved like anything else…one note at a time.

 The Bottom Line

Music lessons are the building blocks of any good musician, but whether or not you reach rock star status depends on you. Like notes on a page, music lessons are there to guide you, but ultimately, how the music is played is up to you!

For private or group music lessons in Scottsdale, call (602) 751-3537.