While some new students bound in and announce their intent to "play just like (-insert current teen idol here-)", most of the younger children are not as set in their ideas, and so are quite open to learning simple versions of Beethoven's "Ode to Joy", or "Puff the Magic Dragon". Nevertheless, it is important to study what the student wants. California Music Academy provides a wide variety of pieces to capture the students' interests, while students learning folk or popular music are encouraged to bring in their own songbooks to work on in the lesson. The teachers also have an endless supply of well-known songs to bring out.
Music is not just about performing. There are some teachers who still feel it is mandatory for all music students to perform, not accounting for the fact that some children are frightened of playing in front of others. California Music Academy students are encouraged, but not obliged to perform. There are other reasons to learn music than to make the teacher look good.
One very important part of children's success in music is the parents' involvement. Sometimes the role of a parent is nothing more than to ensure time and space for the students to practice at home (add to this a never-ending stream of praise and encouragement). For the younger children, a mother or father who is actually in the lesson makes a big difference, as the student may need some help when practicing at home. For further infornation please see the Parents' Room page.
As used above, the term, "success" refers to the state in which the student is happy and comfortable playing an instrument. The joy is passed on to others (by teaching or by performing), and the skills developed in music (due to having used the creative and technical sides of the brain) are transferable to many other aspects of life.
