Susan Terrill's Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the best age to start taking lessons?

The best age to start taking lessons is when the student is interested and interest level is high. I have taught students as young as 3 and as old as 53. That being said, sometimes encouragement in the direction of music lessons is needed. I customize the approach and take into account the student's age, cognitive skills, emotional and physical readiness and make adjustments accordingly. I receive the most new students at 7-8 years of age, but I am experienced and equipped to handle all ages and all levels.

2. How much should my child practice?

Practice levels again depend upon the student, their ability to commit to time on task, and their age and skill level. I work with students to set personal reasonable practice goals. Of course, the more you practice, the more rapid the progress will be. As a general rule of thumb, elementary students should practice 15-20 minutes 4-5 times per week, middle school students, 30-40 minutes 4-5 times per week, and high school students 30-45 minutes 4-5 times per week. With practicing, more is more!

3. Should I still come to lessons if my child hasn't practiced this week?

Absolutely!!! Periodically, it is beneficial to have a baseline lesson that gives us a measuring stick of progress when practicing has not happened. However, continuing to wait until you have practiced typically prolongs the period of time before practicing resumes. The time the student most needs to come to lessons is when they haven't practiced.

4. My child is getting frustrated in the learning process-what should I do?

Encourage them to stick with it. Remind your child that learning anything new is frustrating, but when you stick with it, you learn something new and it becomes fun. Press on!

5. My child was sick from school today--should he/she come to lesson?

It depends on why they were sick. If they have a fever or are sick at their stomach, then no. I will reschedule 2 lessons per semester missed because of illness. However, if it is a headache, then it is okay to go ahead and come. A general rule of thumb is if your child was exposed to another child with your child's symptoms, would you be okay with the exposure? Most illnesses are spread hand to mouth. An awareness of that, will help minimize the spread of germs in this community.

6. My child is afraid of performing at the recital--what should I do?

No one ever got over a fear they did not face. When we let students avoid their fears, what we are really teaching them is there is something to be afraid of. Most of our fears are irrational. I have never had a student that did not feel it was a positive experience after the recital. Being nervous before a performance is normal--even for professionals. Each experience leads to less nervousness. The recitals in my studio are less about a perfect performance and more about a community celebration of progress.

7. Do I need to sit down with my child when they practice?

The short answer is no. I don't expect everything to be perfect in one week and I expect to reteach some parts or all of the lesson. It helps me to see what the student really grasped and what they really need help with. That way I know what to focus on with the next lesson. Please do not feel that you need to "tutor" or "coach" your child so that their piece is perfect. That gives me a false sense of what they understand.

8. What are the benefits to playing a musical instrument or vocal instruction lessons?

The data is pretty conclusive. The study of music and playing an instrument or singing increases attention span, executive functioning, ability to devote time to a task, enhances cognitive skills across all subject areas, and increases academic performance in school and standardized test results. Check out the following link. https://youtu.be/R0JKCYZ8hng

9. What is the average progress a student can make during the year?

The beauty of studying music is that each child sets their own learning curve. Each child's learning curve is as unique as they are. Applaud any and all progress and effort and they will progress at their maximum level.

10. If I miss a lesson, do I still need to pay?

Again, tuition secures your child's spot on my schedule. I have reserved that time for you and most times, have turned down another student to save that spot for your child. If your child misses for any reason, payment for each week lessons are in session is expected. Planning ahead and providing the minimum 48 hour notice will aid in possible rescheduling providing available time slots. Thank you for your help in understanding this.