As any parent or teacher will tell you, extracurricular activities are vital to a child’s growth and development. For children to succeed in life, they need to realize their full potential, not just in the classroom but also on the sports field or in the concert hall.
This explains why after-school music lessons are so popular. After all, decades of scientific research have proven that disciplined and structured musical instruction leads to a higher level of academic, emotional, and cognitive development among young children.
Simply put, kids who take music lessons develop better planning skills and have higher attention to detail, which is beneficial regardless of the path they ultimately pursue in life.
But finding the fight music school isn’t always easy — especially for a busy family on the go. Several factors need to be taken into consideration including:
- Cost
- Location
- Scheduling
- Your child’s age and ability level
- Performance opportunities
- Long-term goals (i.e., is music going to be part of your child’s professional career?)
When trying to find a music school for your child, it’s also important to take into account that your child’s teacher should develop solid relationships — both with your child and you, the parent!
This chemistry can mean many things, from personality, to the technical level and style of the instructor, and even to scheduling — as you’ll want to find a teacher that shares your child’s availability. Many of the best music schools will have a variety of teachers to fit a variety of student needs, and will have proper pairing in mind from day one.
The best music schools will focus on matching students with the right instructor while also providing a safe learning environment. Look for a school with solid safety protocols for students in place, including video cameras in each lesson room, with a live feed to the lobby. This way, parents will be able to view lessons in real time from the lobby.
When you first do a walkthrough of a potential school of music, you want to check the lesson rooms themselves and ensure that each room has an observation window. Don’t be afraid to ask about the instructors’ backgrounds, either. A high-quality school should guarantee that all music teachers have undergone successful police background checks before being allowed to work with any student.
Ask how many adults besides the instructors remain on-site and in the building during lessons. Be sure there will be supervisory staff present during lessons in addition to the music instructors — click here to see an example of a five-point safety model every school should follow.
Finally, you will want to be sure that there is an open-door policy that allows parents or legal guardians to enter the music classrooms at any time during lessons. Keeping your child safe and allowing you to have parental peace of mind are priorities that any music school should understand and provide to families.
Finally, when considering music schools for your child, check to see what awards or accolades the school has. Many schools claim to be high quality but do not have the accolades to prove it. At the Toronto Arts Academy — chosen as Toronto’s best music school every year since 2014 by both the Consumer’s Choice and Top Choice awards — instructors work with busy families and children every day to provide a safe, positive, and successful music learning experience for everyone.
Consider these points, and you’ll be better positioned to choose the perfect Toronto music school for your kids — with the right facilities, safety protocols, instructors, and accolades. This will ensure the best results for your child’s musical education.
