Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions expressed are my own.
-By: RNYD
I love music! I love listening to, playing, and talking about music. While most kids were arguing who was the best shortstop in NY, I was fighting with my buddies over which album was better “Back in Black” or “Blizzard of Ozz”. Music is a huge part of my family’s lives, and it played a major part in my family history. My Grandfather was a working musician during the depression, and my father was in the Regimental Band at The Citadel. Personally, I have been a musician for 34 years. RNYM and I (along with the rest of my family) take introducing our kids to great music seriously. Our kids have never watched TV over dinner, but they have listened to everything from The Beatles and Bobby Darin to Rush and Charles Mingus. I want my children to be exposed to great music like I was my whole life.
The only time my passion for music was challenged was when I was taking music lessons. I struggled with music lesson because we never studied anything I wanted to play. I had a succession of books with different colored covers, with largely unfamiliar melodies. Practicing was a chore. As an adult, I practice what I want to learn, but I recognize that there are things I need to understand to make myself a well-rounded player.
When RNYM and I were discussing music education for our kids, I said that I was going to be picky. I knew that I wanted a teacher with a personality that meshed well with our children. I wanted a school that believed you can hook a child by teaching them what they wanted to play, and structuring lessons around what the child is passionate about. When the teacher got to a lesson that might not be inherently “cool”, they could explain the value, give an example, and build a rapport of trust with my kids. That is what I needed, and what I know so many active/failed musicians needed.
I was quite nervous walking up to New City School of Music. I had always heard great things about them, but I knew how important a first impression can make on a child’s idea of lessons. Would Aidan think of it as homework, or an adventure? We met with his teacher Jared. He is a really nice guy, and got along great with Aidan. He talked to Aidan, not at him. Initially, he worked on naming the strings, and the basics of holding a guitar. Aidan has been playing my guitars and basses for years, but this was more formalized (and not just throwing on a distortion pedal and cranking the amp to 10).
Jared’s easy demeanor allowed him to bring Aidan’s attention back when his mind started to wander. He controlled the lesson well without Aidan ever realizing that’s what was going on. They were just having fun making music. In the first lesson, Aidan learned two chords, and learned how to count whole notes, half notes and quarter notes. Aidan really enjoyed it, and I enjoyed it. It was a huge relief to see the quality of both Jared’s musical ability, and his teaching style. Aidan told me he was looking forward to “jamming with Jared again”. That was exactly what I wanted to hear…he was looking forward to making music with his teacher!!
After the lesson I had the opportunity to speak with the owner Sam. I could immediately tell that Sam’s passion was sharing music with children. I was about to tell him what I was looking for in education for Aidan, and he said “kids want to play AC/DC, so we get them excited with what they want to play, and work the education around things that get them excited”. I was so excited to hear that my personal philosophy and that of school are the same. I had not looked at their website prior to our lesson because I want a clear unfiltered view when I walked into the lesson. The website is clear, and delivers their message and mission statement well. I trust that New City School of Music is and will continue to be an excellent launching point for your child’s music education.
For information or to schedule a FREE TRIAL lesson contact New City School of Music 12 North Main Street New City, NY 10956 845-499-2137 www.NewCityMusicSchool.com Email: office@newcitymusicschool.com
