You've Got Questions? We've Got Answers!

FAQ'S

HOW DO I REGISTER FOR LESSONS?

It’s easy – just send us an email or give us a call to have available lesson dates/times forwarded!

You can also drop by our school during regular business hours to register in person.

CAN I COME FOR A TOUR OF THE SCHOOL?

Our studios run full time with lessons Monday - Friday from 3:00 - 9:00pm and Saturday's from 9:00am - 2:00pm.

We are happy to schedule an appointment to come view our facility, however times are limited due to regularly scheduled lessons.

WHERE IS THE SCHOOL LOCATED?

Whitby School of Music moved in the summer of 2019 to our wonderful NEW location at 420 Green Street, Suite 208. Our entrance is off Ontario Street. We are just east of Brock Street, across from FreshCo and behind Kim's Nails. We have lots of parking in this quiet residential neighbourhood. Drop by for a visit!

HOW OLD SHOULD MY CHILD BE FOR MUSIC LESSONS?

The age a child begins music lessons depends on what instrument they are interested in. At Whitby School of Music we offer lessons for children as young as 4 in piano and violin.

By age 4 children may begin piano or violin lessons. Children interested in guitar lessons may begin when they are 6 years old and students wishing to begin Drum, Clarinet, Trumpet or Saxophone lessons should be at least 8 years old.

Formal vocal lessons are not reccomended until the child is at least 8 years old, as straining the voice too early can result in damage. For more information regarding this, many online articles outline why children should wait to begin vocal lessons until they are closer to puberty age.

WHAT TRAINING DO TEACHERS AT WSM HAVE?

Teacher training and on-going education is extremely important to Whitby School of Music.

Each teacher on faculty is a music specialist, holding a Certificate, Diploma and/or Degree in music. Many are also advanced musicians working towards their Associate Diploma in music performance or pedagogy.

All teachers are trained at Whitby School of Music and at the One Eye Publications teacher training facility throughout the year, participate in full-day teacher training seminars twice each school year and attend workshops and seminars on various teaching topics yearly.

HOW LONG ARE LESSONS?

A music lesson is 30-minutes long once a week for most beginners or young students. When a student first starts lessons they are acquiring basic skills and therefore is sufficient time in the 30-minute lesson to review what was assigned the previous week and to further develop the skills and add new concepts.

Too long a lesson or lessons that take place more than once a week to begin can cause boredom and frustration in the student.

When a student reaches RCM or CC Grade 4-5 level the lesson time is increased to 45-minutes to ensure all requirements are covered. At the RCM or CC Grade 6-10 level, the lesson time is generally 1 hour long. Lesson times are increased because the pieces become longer and the concepts are more complex.

At Whitby School of Music the teacher will advise you when a longer lesson is necessary.

DOES MY CHILD NEED AN INSTRUMENT TO PRACTICE ON AT HOME?

Yes, in order to succeed, the child will need to practice on a daily basis at home.

Upon registration we are happy to recommend stores located near Whitby that sell and rent appropriate instruments.

WILL MUSIC LESSONS BE FUN?

Yes, all music lessons can be fun for the student if they practice at home on a regular basis.

Students who tend to enjoy lessons the most are those who dedicate a few minutes each day to practice assigned music, as they are able to progress quickly through their method books and are able to accomplish more.

HOW OFTEN WILL MY CHILD NEED TO PRACTICE?

Beginning students should aim for 10 – 20 minutes each day. As they progress, practice time will need to be increased.
We recommend aiming to practice at least a little bit everyday, as it is more effective than trying to “cram” it into one evening.

Read more in this article: How to Help Your Child Practice