About Music Lessons

What you need to know and how to choose the type of lesson

Below we have some tips on how to choose the type of lessons. Academic Music School offers private lessons and group lessons for all ages. We offer lessons in all major instruments including:

Canada being such a diverse country Academic Music School is proud to offer lessons in the following languages. Please contact us to find out if lessons are available in your language.

The most frequent question we are asked is how long will it take to become a good musician? Well first, we must establish what "good" means to you and your child. Is it conservatory exams that you want to complete? Or do you want to perform in front of you friends and family? For some just being able to play a simple jazz piece is enough to fulfill a sense of accomplishment. Once our goals are established it's just a matter of time along with consistent and diligent practice. Please remember that music is a lifelong skill and it takes a serious commitment of time and energy to become proficient.

We are also asked many times how much practice time is required? Again not a simple question to answer. This will largely be dependant on the person. The key is to be consistent and make practicing a part of your daily routine. For younger students it is best to treat this like another class and make practicing part of a homework routine. As we get older this can become a little more difficult as many other commitments are in our lives. Again, be proactive and make this part of a daily routine. Like a good athlete, musicians need to exercise there music skill on a regular basis.

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Private lessons

Private music lessons are standard fair but a few considerations should be taken before deciding on private lessons. A lot can be gained from taking private lessons due to the 1:1 ratio of student to teacher. These lessons are generally once a week for half an hour. It is crucial for the student to be comfortable with the teacher as the student will be spending a lot of time with the teacher. With this it is also essential for the parent and teacher to have a good relationship. Early on in the learning process the parent will be a key factor in setting up proper practicing habits.

For students who are preparing for either RCM or Conservatory Canada exams private lessons are great. Your teacher can make a personal plan to achieve the highest marks possible on your exams. Private lessons are a great way to prepare for exams and recitals but remember to play in front of groups as well.

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Group lessons

At Academic Music School we try to offer a variety of programs for our students. One of the ways we do this is by offering group lessons. Group lessons can be used to teach a variety of skills.

Recently, the Academic Music School has adopted the Mayron Cole Piano method. The method is intended to be used for group instruction but is very successful for private teaching as well. The foundations of this course is built on the principle that learning piano only requires three simple skills, rhythm, reading notes and playing the notes. Like in math, this program will start students learning simple rhythm patterns and working up to complex pieces of music.

One of the great things about group lessons is the social aspect. Students have a chance to interact with other students and develop friendships along the way. As a side factor to this students have some extra incentives to work hard. Because of this social interaction group lessons are great for all ages and is most beneficial to those who are just starting out.

Currently, AMS teaches group lessons in music theory. Starting in September exam preparation for theory and keyboard harmony can be taken as a group lesson. We feel that this new program will streamline the learning process and reduce fatigue for our teachers. For more infor mation about this class please visit this page.

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Our curriculum

Academic Music School has a wide variety of programs for our students. For those who are taking private lessons our teachers will discuss the best options for you. As a general rule we teach from, Piano Adventures, Hal Leonard, and James Bastien music courses. If you are interested in violin we offer lessons in the Suzuki method. This is one of the most recognized methods throughout the world. The Suzuki method is taught by our violin staff who is majoring in performance at the University of Western Ontario.

From the age of 4, children are exposed to the basics of music in a fun supportive group environment. We have two programs that build a solid foundation for later success - Preschool Music and Dance and Preschool Music for Little Mozarts. These courses are very interactive and fun! The courses are taught through a series of short stories that require student participation.

As mentioned before Academic Music School has adopted the Mayron Cole piano method for teaching group piano. This is another surprisingly interactive method that also requires a lot of student participation. Please contact us for a demo of this program.

Over all learning music is a fun process. To get the best results from your program be honest about your commitment with your teacher as we have plenty of ideas to meet even the most demanding of schedules.

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Your first lesson - What to expect

So you have registered for you lessons, now what? At your first lesson please sign in with our friendly desk staff. Your teacher will great you when it is time for your lesson to start. This first lesson will be a general info session for both the student and the teacher. Your teacher will start with general questions about you. We want to know the basics such as name, address and your current employment/school. First, this helps us establish a rapport and gives us an idea about how much time you will have to practice. As teachers we would also like to know any medical conditions that may effect you during lessons or while practicing at home. This is for your safety so please be as honest as possible.

After the general questions your teacher will asses your previous music abilities and musical deficiencies. These tests will involve recognizing melodies, chords, rhythms and pitch awareness. Yes, our teachers may require you to sing regardless of the instrument. We don't do this to embarrass anyone but like spoken language it is important to be able to speak, listen and write. For transfer students please be prepared to play a short piece for your teacher. Also, technical exercises may be asked of you as well.

Once the tests have been completed your teacher will give you an assessment. The assessment will include a plan of attack. At this point goals will be discussed. If you plan to take conservatory exams it is vital that you tell your teacher up front. Preparations for exams usually start a year in advance.

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Schedule of lessons

During the registration process our staff will help you decide on the appropriate length for your lesson. Most students take lessons once per week but this can be expanded. Some students wish to take more lessons per week and some only take a few lessons a month. Either of these situations can work but remember that consistency over a period of time will achieve the best results.

The Academic Music School follows the Thames Valley District School Board calendar, which can be found at the TVDSB web site. You can visit our calendar which also includes other important AMS dates. Please be advised that the school will be closed on all Statutory holidays.

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