How to Prepare for Your First Music Lesson

How to Prepare for Your First Music Lesson

Congratulations on starting music lessons! Studying music is a deeply rewarding experience that will stretch your creativity, teach you important life skills, and supercharge your brain. But if you’re new to music lessons, your first lesson can be a little intimidating. Never fear! We have a comprehensive guide for how to prepare for your first music lesson.

What To Do Before Your First Music Lesson

Preparing for your first music lesson shouldn’t be stressful, but there are a few simple steps you can take to help you have a great time—and set you up for long-term music success! Try these tips:

Choose the Right Music Teacher

Make sure you find a knowledgeable, supportive music teacher who can guide you through the learning process. Start your search by looking for an instructor with both professional teaching and performance experience; however, you should remember that prestigious credentials don’t necessarily mean that a teacher is the right fit for you. Every music teacher has a different teaching style and personality, so it’s important to find a teacher who fits your learning preferences. Above all, you want to feel comfortable enough around your instructor to make mistakes. That’s how you learn!

Consider the Lesson Location

Do you want to take lessons at your music teacher’s studio, have them travel to you, or try virtual music lessons? There are pros and cons to each lesson type. For example, virtual music lessons allow you to study with teachers from all over the world, without a commute time, so they’re much easier to fit into a busy schedule. However, when you travel to a music teacher’s studio, you can get access to extra resources, as well as building community with other students. Each of these lesson locations are the right choice for certain people, so think carefully about which works for you.

Get Your Instrument

This step may seem like a no-brainer, but you’re going to need an instrument to practice on. Some teachers may have an instrument for you to use during lessons (especially for larger instruments, like piano or drums), but you will still need to buy an instrument to use outside of the studio.

If you’re taking voice lessons, good news! You don’t need to buy an instrument, because your voice is already inside you. For everyone else, you will want to invest in a well-made instrument, as well as any necessary accessories, like reeds for clarinet or rosin for violin. Avoid suspiciously cheap instruments advertised for beginning students. With instruments, you get what you pay for, and because these “beginner instruments” are made so poorly, they are often harder to play. If you get a low-quality instrument, it will make it more difficult for you to see results, and it could even make you so frustrated that you quit.

However, getting a quality instrument doesn’t have to break the bank. Talk to your local music store about cost-effective options. You can often get deals on secondhand instruments that are in great condition, and you can also explore rental and rent-to-own options. If you already have an instrument, have a professional evaluate it and make any necessary repairs before you start lessons.

Check Your Schedule

Music lessons require a significant time commitment. To see improvement, you need to have music lessons regularly (we recommend once per week), and you also need to dedicate time outside of your lessons to practicing. Scheduling your lessons and practice sessions ahead of time makes it easier to build strong musical habits, which will help you get better, faster!

Think About Your Goals

Why do you want to take music lessons? Are you preparing for a specific performance or audition, are you interested in learning a new instrument, or are you just looking to have fun? There’s no wrong reason for taking music lessons, but setting clear goals will make it easier for you to track your progress. Tell your music teacher what you’re hoping to get out of music lessons so they can tailor their curriculum to your needs.

Pick a Song To Work On

Depending on the length of your lesson slot, your skill level, and your instructor’s teaching style, you may or may not play through repertoire during your first lesson. However, it’s great to pick a song you want to work on. Your song selection gives your teacher an idea of your musical interests, and playing through a few phrases helps your teacher gauge your skill level. If you do bring a song to your first lesson, make sure you have sheet music!

Be Open Minded

If you’ve never taken a music lesson before, it can be a little intimidating, but there’s no reason to be nervous! Enter with a positive attitude and be willing to try the exercises and techniques your teacher shares with you. Getting better at music often means stepping out of your comfort zone, so stay open-minded and don’t be afraid to try something new. If there’s ever something that doesn’t work for you, tell your teacher, and they’ll help you find something that does!

Reach Out With Questions

If you have any questions before your music lesson, feel free to ask! Your music teacher will be able to share specific information about how their studio works and offer other recommendations for how to prepare for your first lesson.

What to Expect During Your First Music Lesson

The day is finally here—but what should you expect during your first music lesson? Every teacher works differently, but most music lessons follow the same format:

1. A check-in conversation.  Teachers will start music lessons with a quick check-in to see how practicing is going and whether you have any questions. During your first lesson, your teacher will probably ask you about your musical background and goals so they can personalize their approach to your needs.
2. Getting to know your instrument. If you’re a beginner, your teacher will want to spend a little time talking about your instrument, how it works, and the basics of making sound. For singers, this could look like breathing exercises and discussions about how the vocal cords make sound. For guitar players, your teacher may teach you how to hold the guitar and explain finger placements for basic chords.
3. Technical exercises.  Technical exercises, also known as warm-ups, are key to practicing any instrument! They wake up your body and your mind, and they also help you learn larger concepts, like dynamics, rhythm, articulation, and muscular coordination. There are infinite exercise possibilities, but most are based on the building blocks of music, like scales and arpeggios. Many music teachers also incorporate a little bit of music theory into warm-ups so that you can build skills like reading music and understanding chord progressions.
4. Repertoire.  Your first music lessons may focus entirely on getting to know your instrument and technical exercises—especially if you are a beginner! However, as your skills advance, your teacher will work with you on songs to help you apply technical concepts, develop your musicality, and practice performance skills. Sometimes you’ll be able to choose the repertoire, and sometimes your teacher will assign you pieces that align with your musical goals.
5. Practice suggestions.  At the end of the lesson, your teacher will give you some guidance on how to practice in between lessons. They may assign you specific exercises or just remind you of a few key takeaways. If you have any questions about what happened in the lesson or what you should work on before you see your teacher next, now is the time to ask them!

How to Get the Most Out of Your First Music Lesson

Now that you know what to expect from your teacher, what is expected of you? If you’re positive and respectful, that’s enough! However, you can try these helpful tips to get the most out of your first music lesson:

• Be on time. Make sure you’re on time (or even early)! When you book a lesson, you reserve a specific time slot, and there will often be another student scheduled after you. That means that if you come 10 minutes late for a 30-minute lesson, you will only get 20 minutes of instruction time. Not to mention, rushing in late will make it harder for you to focus on learning.
• Ask questions. Your music teacher is here to help you, so don’t be afraid to ask questions! Learning music involves engaging with difficult concepts and subjective imagery, so you can always ask for clarification. And if you find something particularly interesting and want to learn more, go ahead and ask for more info!
• Develop a growth mindset.  Playing music is complicated, and it takes time and dedication to hone your skills. Don’t expect to walk out of your first lesson playing perfectly. Instead, embrace mistakes. Every slip-up gets you one step closer to achieving your goals.
• Have fun. It may seem obvious, but when you’re working hard to improve, you can lose sight of the most important thing: music is fun. Music lessons can help you relieve stress, express your emotions, and connect with your community. So, don’t put pressure on yourself. Just enjoy the process!

With these tips, you’ll be more than ready for your first lesson. However, this is just the beginning of your musical journey! With more lessons and consistent practicing, you can set yourself up for long-term success.

Crowne Music: The Best Music Lessons in York, PA

At Crowne Music, we are dedicated to your musical progress from your very first lesson! We are York County’s premier music studio, with multiple convenient locations that are fully staffed with supportive, professional teachers.

Crowne Music is proud to offer a variety of fun, engaging options for adults, teens, and kids, including:

• Voice lessons
• Piano lessons
• Violin lessons
• Flute lessons
• Clarinet lessons
• Trumpet lessons
• Guitar lessons
• Drum lessons

Our personalized approach ensures that you have a great first music lesson, and our teachers will help you achieve your goals and see continued growth for years to come!

Plus, when you take lessons with us, your talent doesn’t stay hidden in the music studio. We offer a wide variety of performance opportunities, including studio classes, master classes, and our signature Keystone Opera initiative. At Crowne Music, you can really shine!

Contact us today to schedule your first music lesson!