Notable Beginnings

For information on MusikGarten classes for babies-preschoolers, please see Amy’s page at http://www.musikgartenlouisville.com/Classes.html.  There is also information on registration there.

Notable Beginnings Music School offers individual weekly 30- or 60-minute lessons with patient, experienced teachers in a comfortable, nurturing environment. Since all instruction is one-on-one, each student is assured of the highest level of attention and personalized instruction. Parents are welcome – and encouraged! – to observe lessons at any time.

When students choose to play a musical instrument, it can be a confusing and frustrating experience if they try to learn on their own or even as part of a large class at school. During individual lessons, we focus on students’ strengths and help them learn correct technique and the skills they need in order to improve.

We love working with absolute beginners, no matter if they are school-aged or adults. Our teachers will patiently explain:

• The correct way to assemble the instrument (if brass or woodwind)
• How to hold or use the instrument properly in order to minimize the chance for future repetitive stress injuries
• How to produce a good tone
• How to sit or stand with optimum balance and form for the best sound and comfort

Students will learn to read music gradually – they will play a note, and then learn to identify it on the page, and then play a song using just that note. Other notes are added one by one at a comfortable pace. Before long, a student will begin to read music fluently and play recognizable songs.

We also work with many students who started in other programs but have become frustrated with either their own lack of progress or the slow pace of other students. With continuing musicians, we ensure that all of the basic techniques and skills are at the appropriate level, and then we progress at the student’s own pace. Usually, these students are amazed at how quickly we can work through problem areas together. This is often just what they need to become motivated again.

Individual lessons on different instruments require different levels of physical and intellectual maturity. As music educators with a great deal of experience working with beginners, we have found that starting a child on formal study when they are too young can cause frustration and foster a dislike for music study. Once a student decides to quit an activity, they rarely want to return. We do understand that there are a few children who may be ready at a younger age, and some may not be ready until a few years after their peers are, but the majority of children are ready for each instrument at a certain age. We have established the following age minimums for each area:

• Age 3: Suzuki Violin or Cello
• Age 5: Piano, Traditional Strings
• Age 7: Guitar,  Voice
• Age 9: Brass, Woodwinds

We adhere to these age minimums because we are not willing to risk the possibility of turning a child off to music by starting a child before they are ready.

We also work with students on specific projects, such as audition preparation and solos for music festivals. Our students have successfully auditioned into:

• First chairs and leadership positions in their school music groups
• Youth Performing Arts School
• Louisville Youth Band
• Louisville Youth Orchestra
• All-County, All-District and All-State Bands and Orchestras
• University Honor Bands
• Governor’s School for the Arts
• Sewanee Summer Music Festival
• The prestigious, international Interlochen Academy Summer Program
• University Music Schools (including University of Louisville and University of Kentucky) on substantial music scholarships

Since 2002, more than 95% of our students who participated in the Kentucky Music Educators Association Solo and Ensemble festival earned the highest rating.