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Are ALL Music Studios the Same?

Compare these features and you decide.

Compare these features & options	GTR Music Studio	Home based teacher/Other
• Qualified full-time professional teachers and musicians.	Yes	No
• Private lessons with a curriculum customized to the student's learning style and pace (instead of “everyone must do it the same way”)	Yes	?
• More than one instructor for most instruments allowing for the best fit & scheduling choices.	Yes	No
• Wide variety of styles offered including rock, blues, classical, folk, country, jazz & more.	Yes	?
• Music theory & college prep.	Yes	No
• Mentor high school students for Senior Project.	Yes	?
• Ability to schedule two or more students in different lessons at the same time saving valuable driving time.	Yes	No
• Group instruction for beginner guitar.	Yes	?
• Music program for ages 8 and up.	Yes	?
• Comfortable Waiting area.	Yes	Living Room or ?
• Warm-up room available.	Yes	No

Common Questions and Answers

Questions: My daughter enjoys playing but she has difficulty making herself practice and she is easily

distracted. What can I do to help?

Answer: The best thing to do for your child is to create an environment where practicing is easy to arrange:

TV is definitely out if effective practicing is to be accomplished. Control the TV so it does not tempt your daughter to neglect her music.
Practice should be done at a regularly scheduled time. Try to keep it at the same time every day. It is best to choose a time of day when things are relatively quiet and when there is not a lot of other activity going on.
Encourage your child to practice. No need to nag; however, friendly but persistent reminders can actually be quite supportive. Set up an attitude where your daughter can feel free to practice even when you might prefer "peace and quiet".
Make it your responsibility to see that your child practices. Parents can use firm resolve to insist on what they know is best for their child's musical training. And that resolve should be maintained regardless of the frequency, length and volume of the resistance.

Questions: How long does it take to learn an instrument?

Answer: There is no set answer of how long it takes to learn an instrument. With regular practice a basic level

of playing can be accomplished in a few months. Most of our students take lessons on a long term basis

because they want to be constantly improving and they find the lessons enjoyable.

Questions: I don't have any musical background or ability; can I still help my child practice?
Answer: Yes. Even if you don't have a musical background you can ask the teacher for advice on how to help

your child practice. By simply monitoring that they are doing exercises a certain number of times per day

the student will progress. Many parents occasionally sit in on their child's music lesson to get an idea of

the proper way a song should sound or how the student should be positioning their hands.

Questions: HOW YOUNG IS TOO YOUNG - What is the right age to start?
Answer: Adults can start any instrument at any time. Their success is based on how willing an adult is to

commit to practicing. We teach many beginner students in their 60's and 70's.

For children , starting at the right age is a key element to the success of their lessons. Some people will tell

you “the sooner the better” but this attitude can actually backfire and be a negative. If a child is put into

lessons too soon they may feel overwhelmed and frustrated and want to stop lessons. The last thing you

want to do is turn a child off music just because they had one unpleasant experience which could have

been prevented. Sometimes if the child waits a year to start lessons their progress can be much faster.

Children who are older than the suggested earliest starting age usually do very well. The following are

guidelines we have found to be successful in determining how young a child can start taking music lessons.

Guitar - Acoustic, Electric and Bass: 8 years old is the earliest we recommend for guitar lessons. Guitar

playing requires a fair amount of pressure on the fingertips from pressing on the strings. Children under 8

generally have small hands and may find playing uncomfortable. Bass guitar students generally are 10

years old and older.

Music Education and Higher SAT Scores

In addition to the pure joy of making music, training in music and the other arts prepares your child for life in many other ways. According to the College Entrance Examination Board, students with a four or more years of music study scored 34 points higher than their peers on verbal Scholastic Aptitude Tests (SAT) and 18 points higher on math SATs.

The U.S. Department of Labor issued a report in 1991 urging schools to teach certain skills to students to prepare them for the future workplace. The skills they recommended (working in teams, communication, self-esteem, creative thinking, imagination, and invention) are exactly those learned in music programs.
Studying music increases the satisfaction students derive from music by sharpening sensitivity, raising their level of appreciation, and expanding their musical horizons.

Click here to read testimonials from our students.