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Instrument Buying Guide:
When considering a music instrument for your child's study, here's the golden rule: Invest in the highest quality instrument you can afford, and keep it in tune. These factors make a crucial difference in your child’s music education. Anyone forced to practice and perform on an instrument made of inferior materials, that impedes proper technique, or that will not hold its tune, will not progress well, is likely to grow weary of the experience, and may want to quit lessons.
Click any link below for details:
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At what age can a child begin piano lessons?
Usually, the minimum age to start successful piano lessons is 4 or 5 years old, but we only take a few of those applicants. Ages six and up are recommended. Starting piano lessons at the same time as starting kindergarten can be overwhelming to many children, whose reading and listening skills will be better developed the following year, at age 6. Also, unlike other instruments, there is no such thing as a scaled-down piano for smaller children.
What type of piano or keyboard should we get?
Pianos are the most complex and varied instrument, so I recommend reading this detailed guide on my blog.
Where can I buy a piano or keyboard?
More details are available on my blog
Here is a short list, in alphabetical order:
- Hoggetowne Music
- Forte Piano
- Lipham Music
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At what age can a child begin guitar lessons?
At the Kaley School, we generally don't teach guitar until at least ages 7-9, due to the guitar's steep learning curve and the technical proficiency it demands. A student who can already read music well has a good advantage and might excel sooner at guitar.
What type of guitar should we get?
Consider the age/size of the student, and what style guitar she wants to learn:
- Ukelele (nylon strings) -- the smallest guitar, ideal for young children, has fewer strings, very lightweight.
- Classical guitar (nylon strings) -- comes in smaller sizes, quieter sound, good for many styles of songs but ideal for classical, Flamenco.
- Acoustic guitar (steel-string) -- good for beginners, builds strength and theory knowledge, can accommodate many styles of songs esp. rock, blues, country.
- Electric guitar (steel strings, amp, cord needed) -- many sizes and shapes, ideal for rock, jazz, country.
What accessories does a guitar student need?
Strap, foot pedal, music stand, guitar case, electric tuner (with metronome), picks (depending on style), extra strings
Where can I buy/rent and service a lesson-quality guitar?
Please note, any guitar bought at a toy store is NOT sufficient for lessons. Please visit these local merchants, all of whom have an excellent selection and knowledgeable staff to assist you (in alphabetical order):
- Hoggetowne Music
- Lipham Music
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At what age can a child begin drum lessons?
At the Kaley School, we like students to be at least 6-8 years old to start drum lessons. Drums may seem simple, but learning to read and execute percussion rhythms is very detailed and requires good concentration and memory skills.
What kind of drums/equipment do I need to buy?
All beginner students can start with merely a practice pad and a few pairs of sticks. Once they learn the rudiments of technique and rhythm, they can expand to specific drum types, like parts of a set (snare, tom, kick) and build up to owning/playing a full drum set (including cymbals), and/or explore world drums like congas, steel drums, djembe, etc.
Where can I buy/rent and service lesson-quality drums and equipment?
Please note, drums purchased from a toy store are NOT sufficient for lessons. Please visit these local merchants, all of whom have an excellent selection and knowledgeable staff to assist you (in alphabetical order):
- Hoggetowne Music
- Lipham Music
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At what age can a child begin violin lessons?
Using the Suzuki method, children can start at age 3 or 4. They'll learn to listen closely to recordings and their teacher's performance of the music and to mimic these sounds, while learning proper technique. As they progress, they'll learn to read and interpret the notes from a page. Please note, starting a child this young on violin REQUIRES parental interaction in lessons AND practice.
What kind of violin do I need?
I strongly discourage buying a violin on Ebay or otherwise sight unseen. While there are well-meaning people selling decent violins for various reasons on online auction sites, there are many poorly-made or damaged violins being sold in these auctions. Furthermore, a violin is particularly personal instrument which needs to be fitted size-wise AND soundwise to the owner. A decent violin is not an expensive instrument, so cutting corners on the quality just does not make sense. I also can not recommend any violin sold at a department store or a large chain music store. I can only recommend buying from one of our excellent local music stores, for five good reasons: I know that the staff is highly knowledgeable about this delicate instrument; they know how to fit your child for a violin (there are 7 sizes); and they will service/repair the violin. And, buying from a local store gives you the opportunity to choose a rental or trade-up option as your child grows-- definintely your best economical choice. Last but not least, it's important that we support our loyal and convenient local merchants, or we'll lose them and the stellar service they provide.
Where can I buy/rent and service a lesson-quality violin?
(in alphabetical order):
- Gainesville Violins
- Great Southern Music
- Scott Jackson, master violin building and repair: State Rd 241 S, Alachua, FL 32615; Phone: (386) 462-5063
- The Violin Shop: 14706 NW Avenue, Alachua, FL 32615; Telephone: 386-462-5063
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At what age can a child begin clarinet lessons?
Ages 8 and up is ideal, due to the complex fingerings and focused breath control needed to learn this instrument.
What kind of instrument/equipment do we need to buy?
- Required: Bb clarinet, mouthpiece*, ligature, reeds, swab, cork grease, music stand, metronome, tuner. (*It is extremely important to invest in a good mouthpiece for the beginner. Mouthpieces furnished with beginning instruments are not always ideal. A poorly designed or damaged mouthpiece can defeat every effort to play well.)
- Optional: clarinet stand, neck strap, thumb rest or cushion, mouthpiece pad, reed case, auxiliary clarinets (soprano or bass instruments, A clarinet).
Where can I buy/rent and service a lesson-quality clarinet instrument?
(in alphabetical order):
- Great Southern Music
- Hoggetowne Music
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