I have heard that a child needs to be at least 7 years old before beginning piano lessons. Why do you recommend starting them younger than that? You heard right for typical private lessons. Our administrative/teaching staff at ECM has over 75 years of combined teaching experience, and we all agree that private lessons are just too structured for a preschooler's attention span. We recommend beginning private lessons when a child is at least in second grade. Most experienced piano teachers agree, with some teachers requiring 8 year olds and beyond. We have found that preschooler private piano lessons usually end in tearful despair. A child then grows up to feel that performing music at the piano is too hard and unobtainable.
Yet, two of the most important windows for learning have closed by age 6 and 7. These are ear training and natural rhythm. By involving your child in early music stimulation, these abilities are enhanced during a vital time of their development. Your child's brain is still wiring also, to approximately age 6/7. When a child plays the piano and sings, both hemispheres of the brain are engaged and the wiring that takes place remains for the rest of their life. The results are higher academic grades especially in the areas of math, reading and science. Our graduation bios prove the success of our program.
Our students love coming to music class. Group dynamics and positive peer pressure encourages piano performance on a weekly basis, as well as performing skills on stage in musicals and at the piano.
We believe that a child will bloom to what is expected of them if rewarded and praised! That is the approach we apply to our classes. It works!
I want my child to learn to play the piano, but I wonder if private lessons aren't better than group. What do you advise? The group dynamics of our ECM program enables a preschool child to have a blast in music class while learning quietly slips in the back door. Our ECM program includes singing, movement, fun activities, all types of rhythm instruments, ear training… and parents! Its a process that works. Our graduates perform five keys at the piano (three major and two minor) transpose and compose original songs. They are able to learn all those skills, as well as wonderful performing skills… and typically graduate under 8 years old. Compare that to what a child learns in private sessions and you'll be astounded. Early Childhood Music group piano classes work… and the younger they start the better!
I would really like to try a class to see if my child would enjoy it. Is that possible? We totally understand your desire to observe a class. When we first began ECM, we gave the opportunity for families to try a class, but disbanded that idea. There are several reasons, but two of the main ones were:
- Our classes are usually fully booked. There is frequently no room for visitors.
- Frequently, a visiting child would do things that distracted the paying students. We decided to protect our paying students from unnecessary distractions.
With all that said, we will let YOU, the parent, observe a class. (We ask that you do NOT bring children in with you. We don't want to be in a situation to tell a precious child that he/she cannot participate.) Please call the office to set an appointment to visit one of our classes. We welcome you.
I understand that part of your program is on-going and part has sessions. Can you explain? Our program from babies up to age five is on-going requiring a one-month advance termination notice. (Written notice, with a signature must be submitted before the first day of your last month.) Our on-going program, helps keep your administrative/tuition costs down. You do not have to constantly re-enroll for each new curriculum, saving you administrative fees that other schools may have built-into their sessions.
Our Kids 'n Keys classes are four month sessions, as it takes four months to complete each book set. We have found that the parent's commitment to the session enables the child to successfully complete the level at a happy, joyful Performance Party. You then have the opportunity to re-up for the next level without an application fee (unless you take time off between sessions).
I noticed that your program goes up to age eight years. I have an eight-year old. Can he begin your program now or is he too old? Our program accepts applications for children for Early Childhood Music up to age 8 or 9 years. Special needs children may enroll to age 12 years.
Okay, I want to enroll. Where do I begin? Call or email to request availability information for your specific class times. After you have secured your space, the next step is the Partner Workshop, which is only held once per month. Once you have attended this vital orientation meeting, you are ready to start classes. Once your start date is set, if in the middle of a month, your tuition will be prorated for the number of weeks left in the month. You will be able to get your materials at the Partner Workshop and are set to begin!
Your program contains Christian music… do we have to be Christian to be enrolled? You are correct, Early Childhood Music is a Christian program, but, it is not like Sunday School. We have at least one worship song in each class, and sing songs about Jesus, especially at Christmas. However, not all of our partners are Christian, but are of diverse religious beliefs. But they like the benefit of this program for their children, and are excited about being a part of it. You do not have to be Christian to be in our program.
I live on another continent and would love to teach your program. Do you franchise? Thank you for your interest. We have schools on several different continents and in many locations in the USA.
We invite you to open a curriculum school. A curriculum school uses our ECM curriculum but your school has many more freedoms than a franchised school would entail. In a franchise you would have to rent a facility that meets OUR criteria, set up the classes exactly as WE demand. Then it would be our job to "police" your school, to monitor to make sure that you follow every detailed specific that we set. We decided against franchising because, we are in the business of making joyful music instead of policing rigid restrictions.
So, in a curriculum school, you open your school as YOU desire, set YOUR hours, YOUR fees and establish YOUR structures. Your students purchase our curriculum for their classes. But we are available to train/consult you to help you structure your school, if you need or desire it. We will train you to teach our program, and have teaching manuals for every curriculum.
We are preparing on-line training sessions as well as training seminars to train you to teach our program in your area.
