What is the best age to start guitar?

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With Up Tempo, kids can start guitar as early as age six. Our younger students use a specialized guitar called a Loog. The Loog Guitar is a three-string guitar with a thinner neck designed for small hands. It is a great way to introduce kids to basic guitar chord shapes to expand on when they start on a six-string guitar. On a six-string guitar, age eight is a good time to start.

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What kind of guitar should I get?

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There are a few things to consider when buying a starter guitar. If your child is under the age of 11, they may benefit from a small-scale guitar. There are plenty of options for a ¾ scale guitar, but we have success with the Mitchell and Yamaha acoustic guitars, and the Squier electric guitars. Choosing between acoustic and electric comes down to personal preference. Acoustic and electric guitars are tuned the same, so students will learn the same material either way. An electric guitar works best with an amplifier. The options can be overwhelming, but there are starter packs available with everything a new student needs. Acoustic guitars can play without and amplification, so they require less set-up when playing or practicing. The strings on an electric guitar are softer and more comfortable to press down on than acoustic strings. We typically recommend going with the option your child is most excited about. You can always contact us with more questions you have!

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Should my child learn classical music?

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Parents often wonder if there is more of an educational benefit to learning classical music. People often view rock and pop music as a fun option with little substance. However, these styles create a connection between the student and the material because they recognize and enjoy it.

The National Arts Standards were created to be used in school to be positive music programs were creating meaningful learning experiences for each student. Even though they designed the standards for school programs, Up Tempo uses a student-centered curriculum that follows the four benchmarks of these standards. Those four benchmark standards are: creating, performing, responding, and connecting.

Students are encouraged and trained in CREATING their music. Improvisation and composition skills will be used to perform and arrange songs learned in lessons.

Not only will students have the opportunity to perform on stage, but students will be PERFORMING music at each lesson, either individually and collaboratively. Actively making music is the key component to understanding music.

Because Up Tempo uses the music of interest to students, it creates an effective way for students to RESPOND to music. By reflecting on the meaning or intention songs, students are connecting to their social/emotional skills needed in every aspect of their lives.

Again, Up Tempo prioritizes a student's CONNECTION to music. The goal of Up Tempo is to create life-long musicians, and that can only happen with connection to the music. We do this by encouraging students having their voice in lessons.

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How much should my child practice?

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Practice is an essential part of a musician's growth. It teaches persistence and builds habits of continuous improvement. However, it is easy to slip into the mindset of practice being a chore. Carl Off, the music education theorist, said it best. "Since the beginning of time, children have not liked to study. They would much rather play, and if you have their interests at heart, you will let them learn while they play; they will find that what they have mastered is child's play."

Our instructors guide students on what they should practice, rather than how long. We give them focused practice techniques to accomplish the material. The most significant step in practice is starting a practice session. If the student knows what to work on, the time spent practicing becomes just a number, and students can often lose track of time when they focus on their goals.

Those habits can be challenging to build, so here are some general practice times for age and ability. The older and more experienced students should dedicate more time to practice. A beginner student under the age of 10 should aim for 10-15 minutes of practice 3-4 times a week. Intermediate students can expect to spend approximately 30 minutes of practice 4-5 times a week.

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How do the in-home lessons work?

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Up Tempo Music Lessons offers in-home lessons in the Sioux Falls and surrounding area. We start with an enrollment lesson in your home to give your child the opportunity to experience lessons first hand. The enrollment lesson also lets us see how they connect with the teaching style and helps us pair them with the right instructor. From there, you will learn about our policies, and we will set up the schedule. Lessons occur weekly on the same day and time each week, and we can be flexible on weeks you need to reschedule. Your instructor will arrive at the scheduled time, give your child their lesson, and be on their way!

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