That Jazz - Monkey Max Music and File Download

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Part IV: I Like the Way You Play: The Jazz Musician
� Evaluation of a student’s progress: Do they expect a new scale or piece to
be learned each week? Do they ask a child to practice a certain number of
hours each week and have a parent initial a time card? Does a child learn
one new piece each month? And how do they reward success? Young
players love it when a teacher sticks a little star on a sheet of music
that’s been mastered.
� Rates: Rates can range quite a bit. One teacher I know gives 30-minute
lessons for $20; another offers 1-hour lessons for $50. Some teachers let
you pay by the lesson; others ask that you pay for a month of lessons up
front. Discounts may be available if you pay for several lessons at once.
� Cancellation policies: Some teachers have liberal policies and others
make you pay for missed lessons. In fairness to teachers, they rely on
having regular students to provide consistent income. It’s bad etiquette
to cancel constantly or change the schedule all the time.
� Expectations for parents: You need to know what the teacher expects
from you. Suzuki instruction requires parental participation. Obviously,
the older the child, the less parental supervision is necessary.
It’s common for budding musicians to have several different private instructors
between grade school and high school. By eighth or ninth grade, many
kids tell you if they’re bored with their teachers.
Keeping an eye on the practice routine
When lessons begin, your role is to provide support. Aside from paying and
providing transportation, you need to encourage more than criticize. When
a child starts lessons, teachers don’t usually want parents to be there. The
presence of a parent is a big distraction from the basic learning process and
the bond that should form between student and mentor.
It takes several lessons for most beginners to get basic sound from an instrument
and several more to be able to play a piece or two. You hear by trial and
error at first, but make sure to love those squeaks and squawks and botched
notes as signs of effort. Young players won’t get into jazz until they’ve mastered
basic skills.
Music teachers believe it’s a good idea to set aside a place in your home for
practicing. This hallowed ground could be the garage, the family room, a bedroom,
a den, and so on. Follow these points for consistent practice:
� Playing in the same place each time builds consistency. Get your aspiring
player practicing and in the groove as a habit more than a chore.
� Delete distractions. Don’t leave the television or stereo going in another
room; unplug the phone, or turn off the cell phone.