Music Classes Are Your Way To Musical Madness

There are just as many ways to learn music as there are styles of music, more, I think. Music classes can take on a variety of forms and cover a wide array of topics from technique to theory.

When first introducing a young child to music classes, many classes focus on music appreciation in an age appropriate manner. Babies and young children are encouraged to move their bodies to the music or shake a tambourine in a rhythm. This fosters a life-long love and appreciation of music. Some children are introduced to playing classical instruments from a very young age, sometimes as young as two or three years of age. Children this young cannot learn to read music, instead they are taught to play by ear or using the very popular Suzuki method.

The Suzuki Method was developed in Japan in the mid 19th century in Japan. It is based on the idea that any child can play a beautiful piece of music well with practice. It begins focusing on tonalization which is a term that means a technique teaching a student to create a beautiful tone from their instrument. It was developed initially for the violin but has been reproduced for other instruments.

Because many Suzuki method students are pre-reading a large portion of the curriculum is based on sound recording. By learning how a piece ‘should’ sound a child can learn to recreate that sound. This technique is fabulous for beginning students but more advanced students often fall short on their own musicality.

Baroque music is heavily featured in the Suzuki method and while it is beautiful, students are not necessarily exposed to other genres readily. As a former Suzuki student, I did teach myself the entire Nutcracker Suite for the violin, so expanding on it is defiantly possible.
The Suzuki method was originally developed for the violin but has been expanded to include other instruments as well. Overall, I believe this is a great method to begin learning a musical instrument with, particularly if a student has no prior experience or knowledge of musical notation.

The Orff approach is another common method used to teach music. It is founded on the belief that music is, like language, a form of communication. Similar to learning to speak, every child can learn to be musically literate with gentle guidance and encouragement. In addition to helping young children the Orff approach is very useful when working with the elderly population, as it incorporates memory, dexterity, and agility in an enjoyable format.

Music lessons may follow the Suzuki method or any one of hundreds of methods. Classes can be private or group lessons, based on musical notation or based on imitation and listening. Each has decided benefits and draw backs.

As a student progresses often there is a local symphony or orchestra that is available to play with. Learning to play with a group and follow a conductor is another learned skill. Playing in a symphony or orchestra also provides a social outlet for individuals who enjoy music.

Whether engaging a child in music education or electing to take lessons as an adult, there are a myriad of benefits to be reaped.

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