Frequently Asked Questions

How old does my child have to be to start lessons?
Young children can learn musical instruments easily and intuitively. They should be able to read basic letters and numbers, listen attentively, and follow instructions.
Piano: Piano lessons are great for ages 5 through adult.
Guitar: Students with a small-sized guitar can start at ages 7 or 8. Ukulele is a great choice for younger students.
Voice: Age 8 or 9 is the perfect age to begin voice lessons.
Drums: Drum students typically start at age 8 so that they can reach both the pedal and cymbals. Younger students are welcome to come in for an evaluation to see if they're big enough to get started.
Strings: Violin students can start as young as age 4 or 5, and viola or cello students start at age 6 or 7 due to the size of the instrument.
Am I too old to start lessons?
No, it's never too late to pick up an instrument! Adults have many learning advantages: longer attention span, focused practicing, better reading comprehension, and inner motivation. Kingwood Music School has many adult students who are either returning to music lessons or trying a new hobby for the first time.
What if the instrument looks too big for my child?
Guitars, violins, cellos, and other string instruments all come in many different sizes. Having the correct size is important in order for small hands and fingers to learn good technique, and the teacher will help you determine which size instrument your child should be playing. Piano keys are all the same size, but there are other ways of making a piano fit a young student, such as using footstools and adjustable-height chairs.
Are there alternatives to buying an instrument?
It's very important for students to have an instrument at home to practice on.
-Violins and cellos can be rented from Gold Violin Shop or Lisle Violin Shop, and we can help you arrange the rental.
-Drum students can start out with a drum pad and sticks.
-Piano shops in Houston that offer rental services include Houston Piano Company and Fort Bend Music Center. Alternatively, you can buy or rent an electric keyboard to get started. We recommend a keyboard that has 88 keys, a sustain pedal, and a touch sensitive keyboard. A touch sensitive keyboard means if you press a key harder it will play louder and if you press a key softer it will play quieter.
Can I sit in on my child’s music lesson?
Yes, we have an open door policy. It is your choice when to sit in. However, please keep in mind that while some students work better with a parent in the room, others may find it distracting. The teacher will give you some advice on this after they get to know your child. Each classroom has a viewing window so parents can see into each room.
How long should my child practice?
Even the most gifted student won't improve without consistent and careful practice! If students don't practice, their progress will be slow, and then they'll get bored because they feel stuck at the same level. Starting out, we recommend a minimum of 15 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Short daily practice sessions are more beneficial than one or two long sessions a week. The discipline that students learn from a daily practice routine will not only help them be successful as a musician, but will also help them achieve great things in other areas of their lives.
How can I, as a parent, keep my child motivated?
The most important thing is for parents to stay involved! Drop in on a lesson from time to time. Supervise your children's practice at home to make sure they understand the new things they learned that week. Offer rewards for consistent practice. For younger students, calling their daily sessions "play time" rather than "practice time" sets an enjoyable tone. When they master a piece that they've been working on, give positive feedback so that they know you noticed. Encourage students to play for you and other family members so that they experience an interested audience. Create a musical environment by playing music that relates to their instrument, so they have a goal of what they will sound like with practice. You are your child's best coach!
My child has lost interest in lessons and practicing. Should we take a break?
Mastering a new skill sometimes feels difficult, and your child may want to quit from time to time. This is completely normal. Instead of taking the obvious route by quitting, help your child work through the plateau. We've all met adults who regret quitting and say "I wish my parents had made me stick with lessons." You, the parent, are the best decision maker in this situation, because you're able to look ahead and see the long-term benefit of music lessons. Parents do their kids a big favor by demonstrating that, often in life, the things that they work the hardest for turn out to be the most rewarding.
Brinton Averil Smith, Principal Cellist of the Houston Symphony Orchestra, says:
"Practicing is hard, and not always fun, but it is precisely because we try something difficult, and slowly learn to master it, that music builds our confidence and our brains. Today we are conditioned by the myth of genius to feel that if our children don't show instant talent or passion for something, we should look for some area where they can excel with less effort. But the notion that most successes are Mozart-like prodigies is just wrong. Even Mozart didn't write his greatest works until he was in his thirties, and virtually every musician is more the product of hard work than inherent gifts. The greatest benefit of music study is not for those for whom it is easy, but for those for whom it is hard. I teach my daughter music not because I want her to become a musician, but because I want her to know that with persistence and consistent work she can master any challenge in her life."