As an educator who has been teaching for 36+ years, I can give you countless reasons why it is important to continue music study throughout the year.
I have personally seen many a child regress and lose valuable skills when they take a three month hiatus. Students who do not take lessons over the summer have been known to regress in their knowledge of the subject. Sometimes students will even regress by entire skill levels! As we all know, this is like throwing money down the drain. My worst ever experience with this was a boy who had taken lessons from me for about 4 years. This boy was playing at a level 3. He didn’t take any lessons over the summer. In the Fall, when he started up again, I was shocked to find that he had forgotten literally EVERYTHING!
Much to my chagrin, I had to start him back in a beginners book!
While this is an extreme circumstance, it does happen. Ever since I had this experience, I have required summer lessons.
Benefits of Summer Lessons:
- Ongoing lessons mean students will achieve continued progress and success throughout the year.
- Studies have proved beyond a shadow of a doubt, that student’s who study music test higher than those who do not.
- Having lessons throughout the summer will keep the students motivated. Those who do not study over the summer almost always lose interest due to the lack of mental stimulation gained in the weekly lesson.
- Summer study will ensure forward (not backwards) progress.
- Students will not have to spend countless hours regaining lost knowledge.
Summer Programs at Reisinger Conservatory of Music:
- Students are required to take the equivalent of 6 or more lessons during the summer months.(Not counting weeks The studio is closed.)
- Students can continue with their current lesson time, or if they or their instructor wishes, may change to a new lesson time/day for the summer.
- The summer is an ideal time to Upgrade the student’s lessons. Lesson length can be increased by up to 2 hours a week! The longer the lessons, the more material covered, the faster the student increases their skill level! The higher the playing level, the more advanced the student becomes!
- To avoid confusion, the summer lesson tuition remains the same. Unless you increase your lesson length.)
- Instructor schedules are much more flexible in the summer allowing time for needed changes.
- Summer lesson requirements can be completed in any combination of private and/or group lessons. The key is to maintain their progress made thus far.
- Summer lessons always guarantee you a place in the Fall schedule!
Carolyn Reisinger NCTM
Reisinger Conservatory of Music
