What qualifications do your instructors have?

All of our instructors are required to be pursuing a bachelor’s degree in music. However, this is the minimum we require as a school. The majority of our instructors has already obtained or is pursuing a master’s degree in music, while many others are pursuing their doctorates.

What do I need to bring for registration?

Know your best 3 available times for lessons. Our staff will do its best to place you in one of those times. Also, if you have had previous instruction, you may be asked to demonstrate your skill level to locate the right instructor for you. Either bring a previous piece or we can provide material here for you.

What age range do you offer instruction to?

The youngest students at our school are 3 1/2 years old. These are typically group lessons and our individual courses begin at the age of 4. The oldest student at our school is 58. As a general rule, anyone who wants to learn how to make music is invited to join.

If my child plans to become a professional musician, how would you train him/her?

Most parents want their son/daughter to learn music at young age because they want to establish their child’s musical talent. In the beginning, the majority of parents only intended to test the child’s talent and interest, but under their parents’ appropriate guidance and the child’s innate aptitude, the child could be prepared to receive professional training. We will consult with the parents and provide them with expert advice in order for the child to succeed. Over 20 years, Song of Songs has successfully trained many professional musicians, including music performers, music instructors, music managers, music therapists, and many others. With student’s talent and parents’ cooperation, we will do our best to provide the most appropriate training.

To Parents,

General Information and Practical Advice Regarding Music Education
For more than 20 years, “Song of Songs” received many questions from parents regarding their children’s music education. We have compiled those questions with answers from our experience, hoping that it would be a helpful reference for other parents. The discussed questions may not be relevant for everyone, but those are our goals and our cherished desires. Let us educate the next generation and make them better.

Q: Does musical prenatal education help develop child’s music interest?
A: According to studies, it does help the child. When the mother listens to music, all her nerves will be relaxed, which is beneficial to the fetus. Therefore, if the mother could listen to music constantly, especially during the earlier period of her pregnancy, it will definitely influence the development of child’s personality, aptitude, and music interest.

Q: How could I inspire and encourage infants to learn music?
A: Before officially receiving music training, you could play music at home so the infants could be exposed to and be in touch with music. As for toys, parents could choose simple percussion instruments (or anything they could be used to create a rhythm) for the child to make random beats and learn naturally.

Q: When should a child start taking music lessons?
A: 4-6 years old is the general age when most children officially start taking music lessons, but some children do start earlier. Nowadays a three-year-old child is already comprehensive; hence we suggest to start trying at 3 years old. However, one has to monitor closely and observe the child’s reaction carefully, for it could potentially damage the child’s interest if he/she is starting too early.

Q: How should a child start his/her music lesson?
A: Before 6, we suggest a child to start studying music by taking group lessons. Group lessons is usually designed for children to learn the basic elements of music naturally through activities and games. At the same time it will imperceptibly inspire children and motivate their interest.

Q: Is starting from group lesson necessary for all children?
A: No, not necessarily. If a child already has had a basic understanding of music and tends to learn better under independent environment, it is recommended for him/her to start from individual lessons.

Q: How long should a child take group lesson before switching to individual lesson?
A: There is no standard timeline for a group lesson. Group lessons should only serve as a spring board to establish children’s interest in the beginning stage; eventually a child should start taking individual lessons. Therefore, parents should observe and examine the children’s learning ability and make the transition accordingly.

Q: Is it better for a child to learn music at young age?
A: Every child’s cognitive development is different, so there is no specific age when they should start learning music. Some people argue that it is better for a child to learn music when his/her comprehensive ability is fully developed, for the child would learn more effectively. This theory is not necessarily incorrect, but we emphasize the idea that letting a young child be exposed to music would stimulate and benefit his/her brain. In addition, at the practical level, learning music at young age would help the child to develop a more systematic method of practice. On the other hand, a more mature child has the tendency to be more resistant, and most of them will likely have to deal with pressure from school, hence they would give up learning music easily. Therefore, from our experience we tend to recommend a child to start learning music at young age.

Q: My child is going to start taking individual lessons, which instrument would you recommend?
A: We like to recommend a child to start with a keyboard instrument (such as the piano). When a child does not have a strong sense of intonation, it is better to train them with an instrument with a fixed tone until they develop the concept of tonality. By doing so, it would be easier for them to pick up other instruments in the future; they would only need to work on their technical skills.

Q: Could we start with violin or other instruments?
A: Not a problem. The only concern would be that they might not have a strong sense of tonality yet, and may not understand the placement and the relation of each note. When a child cannot find the right note, he/she may lose interest very easily. However, there are cases where a child started with the violin and played it very well, especially the ones who have brothers or sisters at home who are also learning musical instruments.

Q: Could a young child sit still for music lessons?
A: In the beginning a child may not have the patience to sit through a lesson, but it is a good opportunity to teach him/her about endurance. One could start with shorter lessons and adjust the length of the lesson along the way. Parents should also use this method to monitor the child’s practice time at home.

Q: Is fingering important for my child when learning piano?
A: Fingering is an important technique when learning instruments, without the correct fingering, students will not perform well. However, if parents worry and focus too much on fingering, the child may lose interest quickly. We suggest the parents work with their child on this issue, so that he/she can get the correct fingering without too much pressure.

Q: How could I find the appropriate music teacher for my child?
A: At a young age, we suggest you find a teacher who understands children’s mindset and knows how to communicate with them.

Q: How do I know my teacher’s credibility?
A: After your child begins taking lesson, you may discover that those who know how to play may not necessarily know how to teach. In addition, other issues such as the background and personality of both parties also play a factor in determining an instructor for individual lessons. Therefore, we can only emphasize on two basic characteristics a teacher must have: One, he/she must have a growing and improving knowledge discipline in music. Two, he/she must be both sensitive and professional.

Q: I feel a teacher is not very suitable for my child, but at same time I also think changing teacher constantly is not a good idea, what should I do?
A: If your child is an advanced student, it is not a good idea to change teacher constantly. However, for elementary and intermediate students, it sometimes may benefit the child as they are exposed to more ideas. At the same time, vice versa, if you are looking to change teachers frequently, you might wish to adjust your expectations as well.

Q: When my child switches to a new teacher, he/she tends to criticize the methods of previous instructors, so what is the standard?
A: It is human nature for a teacher to feel that he/she knows the correct method. Nonetheless, there is no actual standard.  There isn’t any one technique that is the ultimate technique. We believe that the most important characteristic to look for is a professional music teacher that is objective and at the same time, is willing to grow and learn with students.

Q: Should parents accompany their child to his/her music lessons?
A: It depends on the character of your child. If he/she is very dependent on you, your presence could create problems for the instructor. On the other hand, if your child is inattentive, you may want to be there so he/she can concentrate. We recommend parents to work with your child’s teacher regarding this issue.

Q: How should parents without any music background assist their child with his/her music lessons?
A: Regardless of one’s music background, all parents should work with their child’s teacher and monitor his/her practice at home in order for your child to succeed. It is irresponsible and inappropriate for parents to regard a music class as a daycare unit and leave everything to the instructor. If you have absolutely no music training, you should try to learn with your child and show your concern about his/her music education.

Q: I feel my child is not as gifted, should he/she learn music?
A: Learning music could provide a positive force to a child’s character and improve his/her cognitive ability. On the other hand, if you observe closely, you will discover that those children with musical talent received disciplined and systematic training. In other words, nurturing their music talent requires relentless effort, arduous work, and continuous patience. Most musicians in the world succeed not because of their innate aptitude, but as a result of their acquired training and hard work. After all, music requires practice, practice requires patience, and patience requires training.

Q: Should I be strict about my child’s music education?
A: Yes, parents should be strict when it comes to their children’s music education. There is no standard on how strict you should be, but we recommend parents to “use both hard and soft tactics.” The hard: demand your child to practice on a regular basis; the soft: provide encouragements and rewards.

Q: How long should my child practice music daily?
A: It depends on your child’s age and level of patience. It is necessary to practice daily, so we recommend parents to schedule their child’s practice, just as they would for their  daily homework. Generally it is better to practice as much as possible, but the quality of daily practice is much more important than the quantity itself. Hence we recommend parents to monitor their child’s practice constantly and adjust the practice time accordingly.

Q: My child is very roguish, is it possible for him/her to learn music?
A: It certainly is possible, but it will definitely require more effort from the parents to enforce practice strictly and monitor the progress carefully.

Q: If I do not know anything about music, how can I monitor my child’s practice?
A: In that case, you can monitor by timing each practice sessions. At the same time, you can ask your child’s teacher to mark the parts where he/she is not playing correctly, so later when you monitor the practice, you will know what to focus on.

Q: If I am a musician, should I teach my own child?
A: It is certainly possible to teach your own child, but it might not be effective. The teaching process might take longer than usual, and at the same time it will be difficult to be strict as well. Since you are a musician, probably the most effective way is for you to work with your child’s teacher and monitor his/her daily practice at home.

Q: I do not have a piano at home, is it a good idea for my child to learn piano?
A: You might not need a piano when your child is taking group lessons, but once he/she starts taking individual lessons, we strongly recommend buying a piano. Since it is impossible to make any progress without practice, you should not waste your money on lessons. In addition, it is inappropriate to use a keyboard to practice at home, for the weight of each key is different, it might affect your child’s touch and fingering.

Q: Is it better to send my child to learn music elsewhere, or is it better to have lessons at our house?
A: Generally, a child learns more effective in a different place. A child is usually more relaxed at home, so it will be more difficult for him/her to focus, and the attitude toward the instructor may change as well. Therefore, we recommend to bring your child to another place to take music lessons. A setting such as a music school provides an environment that is conducive to learning versus attempting to have a child focus in the same place where he/she watches TV.

Q: How can my child improve?
A: Most children feel daily practice is dreary and tiresome, plus most parents do not know how to encourage their child. As a result, 8 out of 10 children give up music. Our experience indicates that a child’s learning progress is not constant, but normally he/she improves the most when they are preparing for a performance or an examination. Hence, we encourage parents to provide their child with such opportunities.

Q: If I do not know anything about music, how can I tell my child’s level?
A: If you ask your child, it is highly likely he/she does not know either. We believe it is important for every student to know exactly where they are and what they are capable of. It not only will build up their confidence, but most importantly it will motivate them to work harder. Thus, we suggest every student to participate in examinations and appraise one’s ability. “Song of Songs” is proud to represent Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, one of the most renowned music examinations in the world. This is one of the best ways to find out about your child’s level.

Q: There are many types of music examinations out there, how should I choose?
A: All musicians are qualified to hold music examinations, but not all of them are recognized; some are acknowledged by individual instructors, some are accredited by the state, and some are approved by your country. For instance, in New York State the standard music examination is NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association), but it is not recognized by other states. Hence, we recommend your child to take examinations that are certified internationally, such as ABRSM (the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music), for it will have more authority and is identified by musicians all over the world.

Q: My child does not plan to become a professional musician, should he/she participate in examinations?
A: Music examination will help your child in many different ways, especially in the American college system where they not only emphasize on test results, but also consider each student’s talents. Most prestigious schools, such as Ivy League Universities, require applicants to have both excellent grades and credited scores for talent. The scores from recognized music examinations will definitely help your child to become a more competitive candidate.

Q: Is it important to tune my piano regularly?
A: The sense of tonality is established during a child’s young age; hence it is important to learn with a piano that is correctly tuned; playing with an out-of-tune piano may hinder your child’s musicality. We suggest you tune your piano at least twice a year, especially if you own a new piano at home.

In conclusion, we believe every parent holds the key to your child’s music education; your involvement will determine his/her success. We as a music school can only rigidly discipline ourselves and build a high standard as we patiently inspire our students. We live in a stressful and demanding society, and we understand most parents have a lot to deal with in this day and age. However, we hope to work with you to educating your child and helping them to find a place in the society.
Bless You!

Song of Songs