Mastering an instrument takes time and dedication. It takes hours of practice and perseverance. You have to work on your fine motor skills and muscle memory while remembering a wide variety of notes, hand positions, and progressions. If it sounds like a lot, it’s because it is. Luckily, this is where the skills of great teachers come in.
Of course, there is the argument as to whether lessons are really necessary, but for most, well-planned music lessons are invaluable. But the real question is: how many lessons should you or someone you know take per week.
The number of hours to spend on music lessons a week depends on who takes them. They way they learn and what the goals are will determine how much time to invest in your lessons.
Here are a few guidelines to keep in mind.
For a Child
Music lessons can be very stressful. So, when you’re researching lessons for your child, it’s important to keep their age in mind. However, the benefits of sending your child to music lessons really make it worth it.
Learning a new instrument can become stressful when they are expected to practice for long periods of time or do too many things during a lesson. Unnecessary stress will likely cause them to give up; refusing to try again.
Many young children struggle to pay attention when the lessons are longer than 30-45 minutes. The younger they are, the quicker they tend to forget everything they’ve learned during the lesson; making it by far better for your child to work on one song per week until they become self-motivated. There are many things you can also do to help them stay motivated.
By investing in a good music teacher with experience with younger students to keep the lessons fun and interesting, as well as on the shorter side, your child will benefit more.
What's the ideal amount of music lessons?
Two lessons of 30 minutes long every week will be ideal. This will give your child enough time to absorb new information before losing their focus or getting bored.
Are You a Beginner?
When you start out, consistency plays an important role in your development. So make sure you see your music teacher at least once a week. Regular check-ins will keep you focused and motivated, as well as give your teacher the opportunity to fix minor issues like posture or technique before it’s too late.
As a beginner, avoid trying to fit a two-hour session in your schedule. The key to your success will be shorter 20-minute sessions every day. Not only is it ideal for staying more focused, it also gives your body time to rest and improves your endurance.
If you try doing too much too soon, you might end up hurting yourself and feeling discouraged. But as your endurance improves, you will be able to play for longer and stay motivated.
What's the ideal amount of music lessons?
One hour session with your music teacher per week will keep you focused. This will also give you enough time to get the technique down before the next lesson.
Are You Intermediate?
By now you are probably more self-motivated and comfortable with your instrument. But as confident as you may be feeling, you know there is still a lot to learn.
At this stage in your learning process, you will have enough guts to take on the more difficult material. You may take longer in mastering that new material, which means meeting your teacher once every two weeks will give you enough time to practice.
During those two weeks, you will also be able to experiment and play around with different styles or techniques. You can even give it a go at writing a hit song or two – which can greatly benefit to your success.
What's the ideal amount of music lessons?
Meeting with your music teacher once a week is still the best way to improve! But if you find that your time is limited in mastering the new material, change your lessons to once every two weeks.
Are You Advanced?
There is always room for growing and becoming even better than you were.
Even though you’ve learned a lot during the years, there are other styles and variations of music you need to explore. Take Steven Tyler as an example. He's known as a rock and roll star to his fans and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Aerosmith in 2001. But in 2016, he also released his first country album.
What's the ideal amount of music lessons?
Try meeting up for lessons once every two months to keep your skills polished. Every ounce of effort you put in will be rewarded with better songwriting and better performances.
Taking the time for a lesson now and again can sharpen your skills immensely. It can also guide you in finding new and different ways to play your instrument; giving you a great opportunity as an artist.
It All Comes Down to Your Goals
At the end of the day, your success and skills as a musician depends on your goals. You have to ask yourself what you hope to achieve and do with these skills.
When you know what your goals are, putting a plan into action becomes a lot easier. If you’re serious about becoming a musician, your week needs to consist of your lessons and daily practice sessions. It requires time and determination on your part, along with the expert guidance of a music teacher.
The best way to learn an instrument is to work hard and practice every day! If you stay motivated and focused on your goals, you will invest yourself in your music lessons to get the most from it.
About the Author: Julie Adams
I am a mom, a music lover and teacher from Tampa, FL. After completing a Bachelor of Music in Performance Arts, I traveled for several years before returning home where I started offering private piano and singing lessons as extra income. I met my husband in 2009 and 2 years later moved to Dallas where we settled down and I started focusing on vocal training to aspiring singers and performance artists of all age groups. I still enjoy playing the piano very much, and in my spare time you will catch doing some horse riding, drawing, doing some light reading, or just spending quality time with my family.