What Is a Good Age to Begin Voice Lessons?

Posted on by Heather Brunner

With the popularity of shows like American Idol and America’s Got Talent, voice teachers are getting more calls about voice lessons.  What information do you need to know when talking to a potential teacher?

 

The very first thing a teacher should ask you is how old is the person who is wanting to take voice lessons.  Every teacher has a different age range and there are good reasons for that.  Some teachers focus more on a pop style of music.  These vocal teacher tend to take students at a younger age.  Vocal instructors who focus more on classical training or who have a classical background like to wait until students are a little older and more physically mature to begin lessons. 

 

As a teacher who was classically trained, I see it as my job to preserve and protect young voices.  Learning to sing with proper technique will extend the range and the strength of the voice.  I break my students into 2 distinct groups.  Those who have gone through puberty and those who have not.  Why does this make any difference?  For a female singer, the changes that puberty brings allows the muscles to knit together and offers more support for singing.  Up to that point, a teacher is offering coaching and hopefully preserving the voice.  For male singers, the onset of puberty bring on that wonderful squeaky-squawky sound.  The teacher and student will not know the students vocal assignment and range until after the process is complete. 

 

So there isn’t an exact answer as to what is a good age to begin voice lessons.  Always ask if you can schedule a trial lesson with a potential teacher.  You only have one voice, so take care of it.  Find a teacher who is right for the vocal style that you are wanting to sing.

Why I like Being a Piano Teacher in Charlotte, North Carolina

Posted on by Heather Brunner

 

1.  Being a musician is a respected profession. 

2.  There is well established fine arts community that offers many opportunities to my students.

3.  I am fairly compensated for being a teacher with a BM and MM in Piano Pedagogy and 10+ years of teaching experience.

4.  There is a large piano teacher community.

5.  Having a full studio is relatively easy compared to other parts of the country.

How young can children start piano lessons?

Posted on by Heather Brunner

Yesterday, we talked about adults who want to take piano lessons.  What about the opposite end of the spectrum?  How young of a child can begin piano lessons?

 

The independent piano teacher usually sets their own policy for the age limit for beginning piano students.  When I started lessons with Elizabeth Cothern in Mississippi, I had to be in second grade.  Many teachers still hold to the rule that students need to be able to read and be semi-independent.  This is a great guideline for families where the parents of unable to assist in practice from an application stand point. 

 

However, if the parents or grandparents are willing to sit and help a student then really it is up to the teacher as to how young is too young.  There does need to be some maturity there.  I have had 4 year olds that have no problems sitting through a lesson and were quite dedicated in their practice.  With other 4 year olds, it was obvious immediately that the child was not ready to begin lessons.

 

Here is my list that I follow at Brunner Studios when evaluating a potential new student that is quite young.

 

1.  At least 4 years old.

2.  Recognizes the letters of the alphabet and numbers 1-9.

3.  Rudimentary understanding of left and right

4.  Can the student focus and behave for a 30 minute lesson?

5.  Will the student have assistance at home with practice?

6.  Is the student interested in playing the piano?

7.  Does the family have access to a piano on a daily basis?

 

Every child is different.  If you are interested in piano lessons, contact a teacher and set up a trial lesson.  Summer is a great time to give piano lessons a try.

Piano, Voice and Oboe Lessons for Adults

Posted on by Heather Brunner

So often I hear adults say “I wish I hadn’t quit piano (fill in the blank for other lessons here) lessons when I was younger.”  I never hear adults expression gratitude for their parents letting them quit.  Sometimes an adult will say that they wish that they had gotten the chance to take music lessons.  My response is always  that it is never too late to start lessons. 

 

Why should adults go ahead and take the chance and take lessons?

 

Adults are going to pick up learning to read music more quickly than a young child.  Being more independent and able to reason through problem will keep the learning process moving at a steady pace.  It can take a young person several months to learn all of the notes on the musical staff.  A dedicated adult can learn the same information in just a few weeks.  This will allow more time to focus on learning to play with the proper technique. 

 

Adults are more apt to practice and focus as they are the ones paying the lesson bills.  You probably aren’t going to pay for something that you don’t enjoy or don’t spend time practicing.  If you go back to lessons after many years away, the desire to learn is there.  Mom and Dad aren’t making you take lessons and the initiative is yours.

 

Adult students are more active participants in picking out what music they would like to play.  Often adult students will come into lessons with a specific goal in mind.  They would like to learn to play or church or to play in a band.   Lessons can be tailored to fit your needs in these areas. 

 

So if you are thinking about beginning piano, voice or oboe lessons and you are an adult.  Go ahead and jump in. 

 

Brunner Studios offers flexible scheduling for adult students.  If you want lessons in the morning, during lunch, or after work, then there is a time on the schedule for you.

Schedule a Summer Recital

Posted on by Heather Brunner

This weekend is Memorial Day.  The start of summer.  Many students around the country are already out of school and those who aren’t are counting the days.  As teachers we encourage our students to take summer lessons.  Try scheduling a summer patriotic recital to give your students a goal to work towards.  After those spring recitals we run the risk of losing focus.  A fun filled relaxed recital of patriotic music just about fits the bill.  Brunner Studios offers summer piano, voice and oboe lessons.

 

Here are a few ideas for your patriotic recital

1.  Picnic Style-  If you have the space, have everyone bring blankets and snacks.  Have the audience sit on the floor.  Encourage the families to sing along if they know the song.  Have your older students practice their accompanying and host a sing along.

2.  Red, White and Blue-  Have your students dress in their patriotic best.  Nothing like a theme to bring out that creativity.

3.  Duets and Trios-  If your students have time, let them learn a duet.  There are some great patriotic arrangements out there for 4 hands.

 

Enjoy your holiday week!

Prizes and Awards

Posted on by Heather Brunner

 

It is that time of year again.  The school year is just about over and it is time to hand out those achievement awards.  Every year I struggle to find just the right balance between well-earned and well-deserved awards and recognition for students who didn’t accomplish a major feat but stuck it out another year. 

 

Certificates go a long way for many students.  Almost everyone completed a book this year or participated in a festival or concert.  So I’ll head to Lakeshore Learning www.lakeshorelearning.com and purchase a bunch of certificates and those nice shiny gold seals.  I’ll do certificates for book completion, festival participation, practice records, and attendance.  It does take a really long time to fill these out, but most of the time the kids are happy to receive them.

 

Composer Busts.  A few years ago my mom was at the Dollar Tree and they had black and gold composer busts for….you guessed it….a dollar.  She bought them out and I am still giving them away.  My students with perfect attendance and those who met a minimum number of practice minutes for the year will receive a bust. 

 

I am not giving these out at a program this year because I ran out of time and the kids are about concertized out.  So at their last lesson they will get their prizes.  It doesn’t take much to make most students happy so this is a way to end the year on a high notes and to motive the students to keep practice during their summer lessons.

Summer Lesson Special

Posted on by Heather Brunner

Brunner Studios is now offering a special discount to new students on summer Piano, Voice and Oboe Lessons.  Schedule and Pre-Pay 4 Lessons and Receive 2 lesson for FREE!  This is a savings of over $50.

Summer Lessons offer flexible scheduling.  Students who take at least 4 summer lessons will receive priority registration for fall lesson times.

 

Contact Brunner Studios today!

Conveniently located near Idlewild Rd and I-485.

Piano, Voice and Oboe Lessons in Charlotte, NC

Posted on by Heather Brunner

Summer is an exciting time to begin piano, voice or oboe lessons in Charlotte, NC.  Brunner Studios offers extreme flexibility in summer scheduling and standard lesson times during the school year. 

 

Why should you start piano , voice or oboe lessons in the summer?  Many people’s busy schedules slow down in the summer when the kids are out of school.  This gives the student, whether young or mature, the chance to be more focused and to get grounded in the basics before the more regimented school year starts back.  Back to school is difficult enough without starting a entirely new activity to boot. 

 

Students who take summer piano, voice or oboe lessons at Brunner Studios get priority registration for fall lesson times.  Schedules are tight during the school year, so start lessons now to get a jump on those prime-time slots. 

 

New piano, voice and lesson times available starting June 14 are as follows:

Mondays-  all day availability

Tuesday- 10:00- 1:00-  come to a lesson before hitting the pool in the afternoon

Wednesday- 5:15-8:30- have a lesson after a day of fun filled activities

Thursday- 10:00-2:00- take a break from the heat of the day

Friday- all day availability

 

Monday and Fridays are now available due to higher than anticipated demand for lessons.

 

Please contact Brunner Studios about setting up your lessons today!

heather@brunnerstudios.com

A Few Fine Sounds

Posted on by Heather Brunner

A few of my students have decided to let their out of town families member hear their recital pieces and we have put those up on the website under Student Performances.

 

With A Yo-Ho-Ho

Red Rock Rag

Folk Song Mix-Up

Festival Marrakesh

Monster Truck March

Saber Dance

 

These are our current selections.