Preparing for a new year in music lessons

We know, we know…it’s coming. September is coming. We know January marks the beginning of a new “year” but growing up, September seems to be an even bigger marking of a “new year.”

And with September comes the beginning of a new school year, the beginning of fall season, the beginning of pumpkin spiced everything…but most importantly, the beginning of another amazing year at TPSMTS – are you excited?!

So now that I have reminded you that September is inevitably coming upon us soon, here are a few tips for preparing for a great start to the year.

How to have a great start to the school year:

• Have fun this summer: Not that you won’t have fun in September! But because of the flexibility that comes with summer lessons/sessions, your summer lessons/sessions can be an opportunity to try new songs, genres, etc. Try a song or piece that you’d never see yourself playing, or try a musical activity that you’d usually shy away from (i.e.: improvising)!
• Know where you’re at: Figure out and know where you are in your books and what it is you’re working on. This helps make it easier for your teacher/therapist to know where to start or begin when preparing for the school year. Thus, you may also want to…
• Know where you want to go: Think about any potential goals and objectives you’d like to work on. Some goals may be measurable in regards to achievement, like for example, playing a certain piece of music from beginning to end! Other goals may not be as measurable but still count as achievements alongside the process, such as expressing yourself through song writing.
• Be authentic: A new school year may mean the same old things to some, or it could mean a brand new school, brand new teachers, brand new everything to others. Whatever the case, this specific tip is to remind you to be yourself, especially during your lessons/sessions with your teacher/therapist. Every student/client of mine is an important person to me and I love when you feel at ease to be your true selves, authentic, real, and present with me.
• Be challenged: A new start to anything wouldn’t really be a “new start” if it did not present any challenges. This tip is an encouragement to keep being challenged, within and in and because of music. At the end of the day, it has little to do with the notes or the fingering, and much more to do with the music and the joy that it brings.

To all our current families, thank you for your continued support, commitment and trust in our team and in the power of music.

To those joining us for the first time this school year, we are thrilled to have you join us this year and we cannot wait to see what’s to come.

PS — There are a few spots still available for music lessons/music therapy for the upcoming school year. These spots are extremely limited, so please get in touch with us today.