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An Open Letter to
Conservatory Parents
Dear TSHS Leadership Conservatory
for The Arts Parents:
First, we want to thank you for recognizing the importance of musical
study, as evidenced by your child's participation. We are writing
to share with you some of the ways you can help ensure your child's
success in these musical endeavors. If your child is currently playing
in an ensemble but has never studied his or her particular instrument
with a specialist, I hope you will consider private lessons.
While learning to make music with others is invaluable, private
lessons offer the only real way for a child to learn the mechanics
of the instrument. As their directors, we generally do not have
the time or specialized training to be able to teach students to
play a specific instrument; rather, our focus is to work on developing
the skills necessary for performing in a larger ensemble. We strongly
recommend a private teacher and hope you will get your child started
taking weekly private lessons.
As parents, we may wish to consider some of the less obvious benefits
of private study that do not exclude our child's initial motivations
but could be beyond his or her initial grasp. These might include
"learning to solve problems independently," "learning
to work within timelines to complete projects," "learning
to cope with stress," "learning how to get back on the
horse after we fall off," "learning how to take pride
in an accomplishment," and "learning how to work as a
member of a team".
It should be apparent that all of these items listed begin with
"learning how to…". This is extremely important.
In a private lesson situation, we have the opportunity, as teachers,
to work individually and directly with a student, at their own rate
of progress, with the process of learning. Private teachers act
as a guide to the process of self-discovery through music. If these
are not foreign ideas to us, then we should applaud our child's
desire to seek lessons with a private teacher and support him or
her in that undertaking whole-heartedly. Regular and thoughtful
practice is another essential part of musical study. It is best
to set up a practice routine and then to follow it as strictly as
possible. For example, a half hour session every weeknight just
before dinner could be an easy way to develop a routine. Once you
establish a routine, try not to break it. Discuss with the teacher
how much practice time your child needs. Generally it's a good idea
to set a ballpark estimate of practice time, but bear in mind that,
ultimately, productivity is more important than minutes.
Finally, expose your family to live classical and jazz music whenever
possible. Our community has a professional orchestra and opera company.
Find a concert that features your child's instrument. Hearing a
professional player perform live can be a tremendous inspiration
to young musicians. Often the experience can help open their eyes
to future possibilities as well as motivate them to continue their
own study.
Best wishes to you and your child while discovering the enrichment
of musical study. We have attached a current
list of recommended private instructors that you may consider.
Sincerely,
/s/
Kevin Ford, Director TSHS Leadership Conservatory for The Arts
Robert Barfield, Jazz Director, TSHS Leadership Conservatory for
The Arts
Mike Malgoza, Percussion Director, TSHS Leadership Conservatory
for The Arts
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