5 New Skills You Can Learn from a Music Teacher

Music is an important part of our lives in many ways. Think about your favorite song. I bet along with it comes one of your favorite memories. Music can transport us to places we’ve been, places we’re longing to go, or be the creative outlet to places we never thought possible. So, imagine if your job was to teach music and help people find these creative outlets that they may have never knew they needed. Pretty neat, huh? Places like Sloan School of Music offers private lessons so you can finally learn to play that guitar you’ve been talking about for the last few years. But did you know that beyond learning notes and pitches and keys, we can learn many life skills from our music teacher? It’s true! Here are 5 new skills you can learn alongside learning to play your instrument. 1. Patience. Oh, patience is a virtue, right? How many times did you have to start over on that new piece you are learning to play? How many times did you just get it wrong? It happens. You’re learning something brand new, so it is not going to be perfect right away. Now think about your teacher, sitting there, hearing the wrong note over and over again for a half hour. Sitting there completely still just waiting for that moment you get it right. And then celebrating with you when you finally do! Music teachers know patience like no other teacher. Partly because they themselves have been the student, playing a piece wrong for what seems like eternity before finally getting it just right. Finding that patience to work through a problem is as much as part of everyday life as it is music. 2. Time Management Most lessons are short, half hour sessions. Between them is usually just a few minutes to prepare for the next student. Music teachers are masters at making the most of the time spent with their student and delegating what needs done in the student’s own time. Teaching their students how to block practice time is also teaching them how to block time in other areas of their lives. A student is not going to progress by only playing when they are with the teacher. They need to practice outside of the classroom. Teachers can help set up a schedule that works for the student to get everyday practice in order to better themselves. This skill is transferable to any other chore in life that they need to accomplish. Teaching time management skills sets a student up for success. 3. Goal Setting A good music teacher can help you set attainable goals, a skill that can transfer into any aspect of your life. If you are working on a new skill on the piano, setting small, attainable goals can help keep your confidence level up so you are able to actually meet your goal. If you set a big, unrealistic goal from the get-go, you are more likely to get frustrated and quit instead of working through it. Think back to being a child and having a sticker chart. When you reached a certain milestone, you got a sticker. Now think about what a sense of accomplishment you had once you reached your goal. You probably even got a small prize. It’s the same concept. You may not get a prize, but you do learn the valuable skill of setting attainable goals. 4. Perseverance Along with goal setting is perseverance. The ability to continue through something hard and come out for the better. Each new skill can take time to learn and understand, but if you push hard enough and practice long enough, you will eventually get it. Isn’t that true in all aspects of life? If you just keep pushing and keep going, you are eventually going to get through anything that is thrown at you. More than likely you are also going to get good at it. 5. Creativity There is so much creativity in music. You are taught to appreciate the art and the creativity of the composer, but you can also be taught to be the composer and to record your own music. Additionally, the art of improvisation when you skip a note or forget a section yet seamlessly keep going is a great skill to have in life. Maybe you aren’t going to write your own music one day, but you can channel your creativity into other aspects of the arts – writing, drawing, woodworking, or building. Channeling your creativity can help you lead a healthier, more well-balanced lifestyle. Having an outlet for everyday stress can usually come from doing something creative. Music is surely a great outlet for stress, whether you are playing it or simply just listening to your favorite band. Music teachers teach so much more than just music. They help create life skills that you can use day-to-day to help you combat whatever is thrown at you.