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Tuned in | IndyStar.com

Tuned in | IndyStar.com
Amber Swift  |  by www.indystar.com. All rights reserved. 23.01 | 6:42

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If your child is interested in music, here are some tips from parents and local instructors on choosing an instrument and a teacher: Consider a child's attention span.

As a general rule, children 5 and younger should practice 10 to 15 minutes and then take a break. Lessons should last an average of 30 minutes for elementary-age students. A child is more likely to perform best on an instrument he chooses, rather than one the parent chooses.

Keep it fun. Remember, children have lots of interests and activities. Music is just one.

When looking for a teacher, ask for references and ask to sit in on a lesson or purchase one lesson as a trial. Interview the teacher as if you were hiring him or her for any job. Remember that your child will act differently if you are present during the lesson.

If you're not sure your child will stay with an instrument, rent one. Paige's Music, (317) 842-2102, Florek's Violins (317) 898-1336, and Musicians Repair Sales, (317) 635-6274, are among stores that offer rentals ($17 to $70 a month, depending on instrument).

He takes a 30-minute lesson once a week, and he practices 10 to 15 minutes daily.

At age 7, he's performed his first recital and already knows more music theory than his mother, Patti Hammerle, 38.

Adam, a Brownsburg Elementary first-grader, is among a growing number of youngsters enrolling in formal music lessons at an early age. Some instructors teach children as young as 4; others prefer to wait until the children can read.

Some instructors say that, because more children are attending preschool -- and thereby being introduced to music in class -- they are interested in music lessons at an earlier age.

The decision usually falls to parents, many of whom view music as an alternative to sports or other extra-curricular interests.
Adam has tried every sport that his big brother, Matthew, 9, has played, but his passion is music, said Patti Hammerle, who played clarinet in Indiana University's Marching Hundred.

Like many parents, Hammerle knows first-hand that the benefits of music extend beyond pure enjoyment.
"Parents know that music carries our culture forward. If you want your child to be culturally literate, then you want him to study or listen to music," said Michael Blakeslee of the National Association for Music Education in Reston, Va.

"Music isn't a magic pill, but there are a variety of studies that show how music supports a child's development," said Blakeslee.
Some of those benefits include socialization, cooperation and mental agility, said Blakeslee. Other studies suggest that music helps children focus on the structure of sounds, an important aspect in language development, Blakeslee said.

The challenge comes when parents set their expectations too high, hoping for instant results, Blakeslee said. The teaching method needs to match the child's age, interest and maturity, he said:
"Even when you hold an infant, sing to him and rock him gently, you are being a music teacher."
Adam started his music lessons as soon as he expressed interest.

When he was a year old, he attended Kindermusik, an international program for parents and children.

"We're keeping the instruments available to him, and we're trying not to push too hard," Patti Hammerle said.
Adam's second-story bedroom shows the depth of his interest -- a new drum set joins several other instruments, including a banjo with a broken string, a guitar that he bought for $20, a keyboard, an accordion, a violin and a dulcimer.

Eventually, he'd like to learn the electric guitar, but for now, he's content with piano lessons.
Choosing an instrument can be tricky. In the majority of public schools, students can add band as an elective in sixth grade.

Craig Middle School band director Steve Meurer demonstrates the various instruments to elementary students and encourages them to try them out before making a choice.
"We also give them a music aptitude test, which helps us steer them toward the instrument that might be the best choice for their pitch and rhythm," he said.
Music lessons at any age are an investment in time and money.

Marv and Deanna Thornsberry of New Palestine pay $18 for each of their three sons to take a private half-hour lesson once a week. They chose instructors by asking friends for recommendations.
Hunter, 12, plays drums; Tanner, 11, plays electric guitar; and Connor, 8, plays bass.

The boys are partial to classic rock 'n' roll -- an interest that started after they watched the movie "The School of Rock," about a wannabe rock star who turns a prep-school class into a rock band.
"They laughed when I bought a Deep Purple album until they realized the song 'Smoke on the Water' was straight from the movie," said Marv Thornsberry. Now, the boys practice together so often that they've started making public appearances.

"They're all three 'A' students, and I believe music has helped them keep their grades up, and most of all I think it's helped boost their confidence," their dad said.
Call Star reporter T.J.

Banes at (317) 444-6815.

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Keywords: Patti Hammerle
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