You Have Time on Your Hands
Homework and extracurriculars fill the school year to overflowing, but oftentimes summer has the opposite problem: not enough to do. This makes summer the perfect season to explore a new instrument. Not only do lessons provide a source of structure to an otherwise lackadaisical landscape, but with all that free time on their hands, kids actually have an adequate opportunity to practice and put those newfound skills to the test.
You Don’t Have to Commit to a Full Year
One of the biggest drawbacks to signing up for a fine art during the school year is that families often must commit to a either a semester or a full school year of lessons or classes. What happens if your child discovers a month into lessons that oboe isn’t all it was cracked up to be? Summer, on the other hand, is a great time for students to explore whether or not they really like playing an instrument. Many private teachers offer short-term summer sessions, so kids can decide for themselves whether music lessons are for keeps. Unsure of just what instrument might be a good fit? Check out a program like REW’s Exploring Instruments Camp, where students can try out a handful of instruments and determine which one is “the one.”
It’s a Great Way to Make Lasting Friendships
Summer music intensives, group lessons and musical theater camps are great ways for children with similar passions to meet. Common ground, coupled with working together toward the end goal of a concert or performance, can build relationships that last far beyond the summer.
It Keeps Skills Fresh
If your child has been taking music lessons throughout the school year, summer can be a critical time to fine-tune those skills and build retention that would otherwise be lost. For students who participate in band or orchestra throughout the school year, private summertime lessons can help players make encouraging gains. Likewise, students that take private lessons during the school year may find summer band camp or group lessons to be a motivational jumpstart. Summer is also a great time for students to mix it up and try new things, like learning techniques in a new genre such as jazz or bluegrass.
It’s the Gift That Keeps on Giving
Music lessons are an investment in a child’s future. Unlike some hobbies, musical skills can be enjoyed and fine-tuned throughout an entire lifetime—and you never know where they may take your child. Learning a new instrument can also be a gift to the whole family. An excited and eager music student soon discovers that practicing is a form of self-expression, creativity and stress relief. And that practice provides an in-house concert to all who listen.
Lauren Greenlee is a mom of three, a violin teacher and a writer hailing from KC. Her boys all take piano lessons, and their practice is often the soundtrack to her days.