The Early Starter Program (ESP) has been developed to prepare a young student to study a specific instrument after they have learned the basics of music, rhythm reading, singing and practicing; think of it as a thorough primer course. Fine motor coordination, listening and focusing skills, and critical thinking are a large part of the ESP and crucial in preparing students to begin formal instrument instruction.

Most students under the age of five will spend their first handful of lessons adjusting to their teacher and classroom expectations with games, singing and the basics of music. Their fluency in reading letters and numbers will be assessed and supported as needed. You will see light homework at first, varying from identifying rhythm notes, finding certain keys on a piano, playing basic songs, and also finger numbers for the piano.

Students new to music and our school will be prepared to pick an area of our proprietary curriculum and assessment system, OPUS (Octopus Poly-instrumental Units of Study). A student is expected to pass the Early Starter Program within 12 months (a general guideline, everyone is different!) and will then move into a specific area of study in OPUS. OPUS comprises ten grade levels, each with an accompanying assessment. Graduates of our Early Starter Program may choose piano, strings, or drums as their first instrument.

After a teacher feels that a student is ready, they will administer an Instrument Readiness Assessment which is an informal test to determine a student’s proficiency in various skills that they will need to begin focused instrument instruction. After the student has passed this assessment, they will begin learning one of the three instruments mentioned above (this is determined by the student’s interest as well as input from parents, so have a conversation early on about your expectations so that everyone is on the same page).

The absolute most important aspect of learning any musical instrument is consistent daily practice. For young students, the most important habit to develop first is simply spending a little while at their piano or rhythm instruments and reviewing their homework. Simply attempting their best and adjusting to the concept of having to work at something new is critical to developing a patient and persistent musician. We recommend that a student spend at least 15 minutes a day with their homework or assigned practice, and another 15 minutes listening to music, singing or dancing.

Facilitate success by setting a time each day for practice. At first, it can be just a few minutes, with the goal of increasing as the student progresses. Set a timer and have a “practice space” where the instrument and all of the necessary materials are easily accessible. Practice should be associated with positivity rather than negativity. Instead of an ultimatum (“Practice, or no screen time), try to make it a reward (“Every 20 minutes of practice earns you 20 minutes of screen time”). Talk to your child’s private instructor to form a plan if you have ongoing concerns.

The amount of adult help students need varies by age; very young students may need 15-30 minutes of parents’ daily, hands-on attention. Students should become increasingly independent in their practice over their months and years of study. If your child has trouble making practice part of their daily routine, we recommend starting small and making goals to increase time as your child’s attention span and interest is cultivated.

Encourage your child to listen to music that prominently features an instrument they’re interested in learning after graduating from the ESP. This can be done by simply listening to music in the car or at home, or, taking your child to live music events so they can see first-hand where all of the hard work they are putting in can lead.