FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
At River Heights Music we have had many similar questions come up about music lessons in Winnipeg. Hopefully the following FAQ will answer them for you.
Please feel free to call 487-3664 anytime to ask any question.
Does it matter if I have never had any sort of music experience?
No, we can take you from not knowing anything to achieving your musical goals
What if I am somewhat experienced will you make me start at the beginning?
No. What we try to do with experienced players is pick up from where they are. In some cases it may be necessary to backtrack over bad habits that may have crept in over time or through informal learning.
Are adults harder to teach than kids?
As most know, Kids are like sponges when it comes to new things but they need more monitoring around the issues of practicing and the fine motor skills aspect of playing an instrument. Things like hand and finger placement and arching, posture and issues around relaxing while playing.
Adults usually have clearer goals, a good track record at sticking to things and are the ones actually paying for the lessons. So their self expectations are high. They are adults and so the time to practice or the way they organize and prioritize their time can be an issue.
Do I need an instrument to start lessons?
Yes.
My kid never sticks at anything how can I be sure they will stick at music?
You can’t, but seriously how old is your child, how many things have they started, that was their idea, and then gave up too soon? How short a time is ‘not sticking at it’? Haven’t all of us as adults not stuck at something? How many of us don’t have some piece of exercise equipment that has just become an expensive clothes rack? Taking lessons and renting an instrument has your costs quite low and therefore low risk. If they don’t like it you have merely exposed them to music.
Can I wait till I have all my kids schedules in for their other activities first before I commit to lessons?
Yes you can but why not start the lessons now and when the other schedules come out you can change your time. The times you get to choose from will be the same but you will have 4-6 weeks of lessons already. And who knows the great time you picked up early might still work so you’ll have the best of both worlds
How long will it take before I can play something?
You will be playing ‘something’ the 1st lesson! Having said that, it takes time to be able to play something that sounds ‘complete’. New students can be playing something familiar in as little as a few months. How long it takes to achieve your goals depends on how much time you put in, what instrument you have chosen and how lofty your goals are.
Do you offer group lessons?
No. If we put 5 same age beginner level students in a group and give them one lesson by the next lesson they will be at 5 different levels. So clearly group lessons for musical instruments are ineffective. This is not the same for ensemble groups where players of similar levels learn to play together.
Can we take lessons every other week instead of every week?
At first this might seem like a good idea, but we have tried this in the past and we do not recommend it. If you miss a lesson, it would be an entire month before you saw your teacher again. It is really important that the teacher checks your progress and corrects your form every week. Secondly attending weekly lessons will continue the learning momentum and generate mastering a skill more quickly.
Can I just show up once in a while for a lesson when I feel I need inspiration?
Yes, but because of high enrolment and scheduling issues the casual rate is high and the lesson times available are not the best.
Can a parent ‘sit in’ on a lesson, are they expected to stay away or always be there?
We have an open door policy. It is your choice when to sit in. Some students find it distracting and some work better with Mom or Dad in the room. The teacher will give you some advice on this after they get to know your child.
Do you have a recital?
At this time we do not have one. What we do offer (and we are the only school that does) is a year end recording session. The student plays a piece they are familiar with and it is recorded, engineered and mastered. When needed other instruments are added to the recording and at the last lesson qualifying students are given a copy of the final CD with their and other student pieces.
Can missed lessons be made up?
Yes but they must be made up in the same week as the missed lesson.
What instrument is right for my child or myself?
For some there is the myth that the 1st instrument must be piano. This is patently false. If you choose piano for your child over their objections then it is your choice not theirs. If you let them choose then you will get a clear picture of their commitment level.
What about in home lessons?
Attending lessons in a professional environment means that the teacher and student are free from home distractions (TV's in the next room, door bells and after school friends, siblings, and pets). Students tend to take their music study a little more seriously when they are coming to a lesson, bringing their books and materials to the lessons each week. Also, students gain excitement about the music making process when they are surrounded by other people of all ages engaged in music learning the same or other instruments. Because of this, most of our students come back year after year.
Can we start in the middle of the year?
Yes. We have year-round open enrollment
I don't have any musical background or ability; can I still help my child practice?
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. As well you will be able to tell if your child is playing music or just ‘doodling’ on their instrument.
I’m left handed should I modify my instrument?
No! With some instruments you cannot change them in any way. Instruments like piano, brass, woodwinds, vibraphone etc. cannot be changed or ‘flipped over’. With instruments like guitar, bass, violin etc. they can be flipped over or restrung to suit a left handed person and a drumset can be rearranged as well. As in many things in life; a short cut to make things easier at the start will make things harder at the end.
If you get used to playing a left handed drumset you will have serious trouble if you ever want to ‘sit in’ or if you are ever on a double or triple bill. Besides, the drums are an instrument that requires ambidexterity. Playing a left handed bass or guitar means never being able to play a friends instrument, it means having less selection of instruments to purchase and paying more for your instruments.
I am left handed and have already started on my own doing the “wrong way”, will you still teach me?
Yes of course you just need to be aware that the learning material out there is all aimed at right handed players.
Do you endorse or provide any “Garage Band”, “
Paying money to ‘jam’ is not what I’d consider a good deal. Getting together with friends & playing is what music is all about. Paying money to a 3rd party for that just doesn’t make sense to us. All musicians of the previous generations have gotten together with friends to jam tunes they know and learn from each other. Only recently have retail stores and some music schools decided to cash in on this. To play with other people all you need is friends that play, some spare time and a room.
