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MUSICAL INSTRUCTION
Welcome to the music department at the Waterford Academy of Music & Arts. We offer musical instrument instruction primarily to children, but have also made the majority of our programmes available to adults as well.
Children’s Courses – Our music programmes for children are strongly goal oriented, and encourage the students to work towards concert performances and where appropriate, towards examinations. The lessons themselves are structured and follow a progression from absolute beginner through to advanced. Our students are taught in a gentle and fun way where a great deal of effort has been made to make the lessons enjoyable and nurturing.
Lessons are offered in both one-to-one and group formats. In the group setting, students are grouped by age and skill level. Most of our music courses start from age 8 years and up, with the exception of ukulele and piano which are available from age 5 upwards.
Adult Courses - We aim to give those students, who perhaps feel they have waited too long to begin learning a musical instrument, the chance to learn from scratch in a fun and non-judgmental way. Also, for those who wish to take their playing to a professional level, our pledge is to provide on-going tuition by qualified full-time professional musicians.
Benefits of Learning Music
Playing a Musical Instrument Makes You Smarter: Recent research suggests early musical training helps develop brain areas involved in language and reasoning. Exposure to music also benefits a child's reading age, IQ, and special intelligence. Adults can benefit from learning to play an instrument too because it helps the mind to be alert and remain active eventually helping to sharpen the memory.
Music Students Do Better In School: Many studies have been conducted on the effects of music to the brain which have clearly indicated that children who are exposed to music, or those who play an instrument, do better in school than those who don't.
It Teaches Discipline: Learning to play an instrument is like learning to speak another language and it can be challenging at times. One of the qualities musicians possess is discipline. You have to be disciplined in order to master playing your instrument. You have to set time each day to practice, practice and practice some more. Through music study, students learn the value of sustained effort to achieve excellence and the concrete rewards of hard work.
Craftsmanship: Students of music learn craftsmanship as they study how details are put together painstakingly and what constitutes good, as opposed to mediocre, work. These standards, when applied to a student's own work, demand a new level of excellence and require students to stretch their inner resources.
Teamwork: Music study enhances teamwork skills and discipline. In order for a group of musicians to sound good, all players must work together harmoniously towards a single goal, the performance, and must commit to learning music, attending rehearsals, and practicing.
Self-Confidence: Music performance teaches young people to conquer fear and to take risks. A little anxiety is a good thing, and something that will occur often in life. Dealing with it early and often makes it less of a problem later. Risk-taking is essential if a child is to fully develop his or her potential. Music contributes to mental health and can help prevent risky behavior such as teenage drug abuse.
Self-Expression: Music provides children with a means of self-expression. Everyone needs to be in touch at some time in his life with his core, with what she is and what she feels. Self-esteem is a by-product of this self-expression.
Reduces Stress: In order to play and practice a musical instrumental you have to learn to focus your mind, and concentrate completely on what you are doing. When you do this all your other worries are left behind you for the duration. Regular practice therefore results in regular shots of stress relief.
Creative Thinking: When learning a new instrument there is a great development of creative thinking as music entails not only logical thinking, but the use of intuition and spontaneity helping develop decision-making skills and enhanced abilities to problem solving.
Fun: There’s great satisfaction to be gained from playing a musical instrument, not only in the music itself, but also from the social pleasure of sharing music with other musicians and an audience.
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