Does your child love to sing? Love plunking on the piano or pounding on the drum? Do you think you might have a future musician in your home? The average cost of private music lessons ranges from $15-40 per half hour (www.takelessons. com). Keep in mind the cost will vary depending on location and the expertise of teacher. With these numbers, private lessons cost parents $1,000 to $2,000 a year. This may make you wonder, are music lessons really worth it? Let’s look at some short and long term benefits of music lessons.
Discipline. Learning to play beautiful music doesn’t happen overnight. All students must start from the beginning, playing scales and mastering basic skills. In our society instant gratification is the norm. Music teaches the value of patience and discipline because children must set aside time for practice and make it part of their routine in order to further their skills.
Work ethic. Music teaches children a good work ethic because they see the value of practice as they improve and reach new achievements. Students will learn how dedication creates good results, while failing to do all the necessary practice results in mediocre results. These lessons carry into school studies and future employment.
Memory. Is your child always forgetting things? Music requires kids to practice memorization. Even if sheet music is used, students memorize how to play each note and the sheet music eventually becomes a guide. Students can use their developing memorization skills in a variety of ways in school and at home.
Math and language skills. Music helps develop math and language skills that gives kids an edge in school. “Students who have early musical training will develop the areas of the brain related to language and reasoning. The left side of the brain is better developed with music,” according to the National Association for Music Education.
Teamwork. Teamwork isn’t just for sports. Music students may have an opportunity to participate in a band or orchestra. This provides kids experience working as a team and a sense of camaraderie. Teamwork develops social skills that they will use for a lifetime.
Confidence and social development. Kids will gain confidence as they begin to perform music for an audience. This helps kids learn to face their fears and builds self-esteem. As kids build up this confidence, they are more likely to boost their communication skills and have increased social development.
Lifelong challenge. In music, there is always room for improvement. This creates the opportunity for students of any age to improve and challenge themselves for many years to come.
Stress relief. Playing an instrument can be an outlet for kids. Music can be relaxing and a form of stress relief, as well as a way to express yourself creatively. Kids who have this outlet are less likely to find negative ways to relieve stress, like drugs and alcohol.
Expression and creativity. Kids who play music are trained to think creatively. The ability to think outside of the box in many other situations is a coveted asset among many employers.
Improved coordination. Kids who play instruments develop their hand-eye coordination. Just like in sports, playing an instrument requires these skills and develops their motor skills.
Higher test scores. Studies show that children who are exposed to music education have higher SAT scores and better grades in school overall, according to the Children’s Music Workshop.
Introduces children to other cultures. Through music kids are exposed to other cultures, teaching them awareness and empathy for others. This helps them become more accepting of other cultures at an early age.
My daughter recently started taking piano lessons. As I sat in the room observing her first lesson, I witnessed something. As she played her first chord, a smile spread across her face. It was clear she has a true love for music. To me, this makes the cost of lessons worth it. Each family will have to weigh the overall price of music lessons against their child’s enjoyment of music and the many benefits to make a decision whether music lessons are truly worth the cost.
Finding the Money
Paying for music lessons and buying an instrument for your children can be difficult or even impossible for many families. Fortunately, there are organizations in Naples that will help foot the bill.
Collier County Public Schools
Music is accessible to all students, through a wonderful program in the middle schools in CCPS. Stringed instruments – violin, viola, cello, and bass – are provided free for one year to any student who takes orchestra in middle school. Students receive instruction on the instrument during orchestra class. It’s a cost-effective way for your child to try an instrument for a year before you make the financial commitment. And your budding musician may qualify for scholarships that fund private lessons (see below).
The Music Foundation of Greater Naples (formerly Naples Music Club)
The Music Foundation of Greater Naples (MFGN), formerly the Naples Music Club, has a wide range of programs that provide assistance to music students, from beginner to advanced. Its scholarship program recognizes the achievements of the area’s best youth musicians. Awards are used for summer music camp, private music lessons, instrument upgrades, or college tuition. Through its Outreach Programs, the MFGN also provides funding for private lessons for promising students who have never studied privately. Visit www.naplesmusicclub.org.
Naples Concert Band
Naples Concert Band has awarded more than $100,000 in scholarships to its student members. The awards are intended to pay for lessons, music camps, or to purchase an instrument. Students must play at least four concerts and participate in related rehearsals to be considered for a scholarship. Visit www. naplesconcertband.org or call 239-270-1221.
Music for Minors Foundation, Inc.
Each year, Music For Minors contacts teachers in Collier and Lee Counties to nominate deserving students in the music programs at their schools. The students and their parents are interviewed to determine if they fit the criteria to be awarded an instrument. Eleven students were selected in 2017. If the student remains in good standing in the program for three years, the instrument is theirs to keep. To date, Music For Minors has awarded close to 300 instruments, and hopes to eventually provide private lessons to the students in the program. Visit www.music4minors.org or call 239-273-2250.