When considering music instruction for your child you might be familiar with a violin or piano, but perhaps wonder about Kodaly or Suzuki. The many options available can be confusing and challenging to sort through. This guide is designed to help remove the mystery and to provide experienced guidance for enriching your child's life with music.

Brief Overview.
(Benefits. Talent. Realistic Expectations. Potential Accomplishment. When to Start. Costs, commitment. What it "isn't". Trends - political, social, economic, technological.)

Types of Programs.
(Factors: age; commitment; attention; learning style; family dynamics; cost; interest)
(Schools - public, private, commercial, conservatory type. Private lessons. Dalcroze. Kindermusik. Kodaly. Music for Young Children. Suzuki. Orff. Gifted. Fine Arts - magnet. Music for Young Children. Yamaha. RCM/AMEB/AssocB exam "curriculum")
Music programs: Calgary area. Las Vegas area. Toronto area.

(Piano & Keyboards. Strings. Winds. Brass. Guitar. Percussion. Voice. Choir. Band. Orchestra. Jazz. Fiddle. Pop.)

Choosing an Instrument to Learn
(Descriptions. Idiosyncracies. Popularity. Opportunities. )

Purchasing / Renting an Instrument
(Sources. Price ranges. Sizes. Quality. Electronic keyboards - touch sensitive, # of octaves. Pipe organs.)
(Sheet music sources)
(Care and maintenance of instruments. Insurance.)

Early Childhood
(How old to start? Programs)
Dalcroze. Kindermusik. Kodaly. Music for Young Children. Suzuki. Orff.

Lessons
(Group. Private. ) (theory, aural skills, history and literature)

Finding, Choosing a Teacher
(Where to look. What to look for, to ask. Arranging Lessons. Performing. Exams. Festivals and competitions. Accompanists. master classes.)
(Monitoring- for abuse. for rapport, motivation, response, learning style, connection to life. Ethics, expectations. What to do if need to change. working with other teachers . . .)
(Style. Willingness to accommodate student's musical interests. Goal include "enjoyment"? Whole child vs just music skill.)

School Music Programs (and University)
(Public Schools. Fine Arts Schools. Arts-based systems. Private Schools. Special - Menuhin, Interlochen.)
(Classroom vs music specialist teachers). (examples of programs)
(University. Conservatory. Artist Teachers. Choosing school.) (Teachers) (Music Teachers Online Community)
(Marching bands.)
(Ethics - students performing in professional venues, undercutting or displacing professionals)
(Professional Development - ongoing for artist performers, teachers)
Toronto area music programs.
Choosing a Music School

Music Examinations, Festivals and Competitions
Music Examinations. Festivals & Competitions.

Summer Programs
(Why. What's Available. Information. Deadlines, auditions. Teachers. )
Article by Teacher/Parent Margot Jewell : The Joys of Summer Music Making

Community Opportunities
Community Choirs. Church Choirs. Community Orchestras. Barbershop, Sweet Adelines. Musical Theatre. Children and Youth Choirs. Junior and Youth Orchestras. Community Bands.

Supporting Music Study
(Scheduling. Practicing skills, commuting. Environment. How can help. Motivation, frustration. Peer support, relevance to life. "I want to quit!" Music in the home, family -- attitude, how fits into day to day life. Stereo equipment and recordings. Live concerts. Opportunities for young people. We live in an apartment. Gifted - what to do. Disabilities - what to do. Resources available - local, online. Scholarships, bursaries. )
(Stages - adolescence, etc.)

Careers in / with Music
(Soloist. Chamber Musician. Orchestra. Choral. Opera. Speciality groups - baroque, 20th & 21st C. Music Theatre. Composer, Arranger. Conductor. Teacher. Church. Pop.
(Community Musicians) (Retail, merchandising.) (Music Therapy)
(Skills needed. Emotional maturity. Technical. Musical. Communication / language. Marketing. Financial. Physical health - Stamina. Imagination, innovation, flexibility. Team Skills. Leadership. Quick Study / change. Image building. Technology skills. Graphics. Stage skills. Organization / time management. Improvisation. Avant Garde techniques)
(TRENDS - political. social. economic. marketplace. school boards. technology. corporate and government support. audiences. Effects of recordings, internet, synthesizers.)
(AF of M)
Choosing a Music School

Music as Artform, Aesthetics, Entertainment, Culture, Life
(Style periods. Composers. Performers. Discography. Concerts. Videos. Television and Radio programs. Organizations. How to build a library - Rick Philips. Books. Web Sites. Effects of music - mood, health, advertising, movies, intelligence?, academic performance, brain development.)

Resources (public access)
(Online. Associations. Organizations. Financial.)
(EAL "encyclopedia" . . .)
Toronto area music programs.

Updated November 23, 2000
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