Music Lessons in Calgary can vary in cost. It really depends on a few important factors.

Where do you want to take lessons? Do you need an instrument or books? And what kind of music teacher are you looking for?

Let’s look at each of these factors in more depth.

Cost Factors Affecting Music Lessons in Calgary

Instrument:

An instrument is key when starting music lessons. Students can’t get the feel of learning, progressing and the enjoyment of playing music without one. Some beginners will rent or purchase a used or new instrument.

Renting is an inexpensive way to start your music lessons. Buying an instrument can vary between under to over $1000, depending on the features you are looking for and the quality of your musical instrument.

As for music books, they are very necessary for practice. A good music teacher can help you with books depending on your musical level.

At Imagine Music, we have many students that have purchased music books in the past and will continue to use these same books in their current music lessons.

Most beginner students will purchase new books to start. On average, most students will need new books at the beginning of the music year.

The Music Lessons:

Another factor to consider is where you want to take your music lessons. Imagine Music Inc offers all three streams of delivery: online, in-home and studio lessons.

In-home means that the lessons are in your home with the teacher coming to you. They are usually higher in cost but are extremely convenient.

Studio lessons mean you are going to the teacher’s home or a brick and mortar establishment. The rate per lesson is usually less than in-home lessons.

Finally, online lessons can vary depending on the experience and qualifications of the teacher. These lesson rates are usually comparable to studio lesson rates.

The Music Teacher:

Are you a beginner or advanced player? Or do you want to learn for fun or take a music exam? Your experience, needs and ability will determine how much experience you need in a music teacher.

Parents and students are looking for an experienced teacher as these teachers will know how to handle certain situations and have a clearer direction of how to reach student goals. They are also more accomplished musicians and may have an extensive teaching background.

Other parents and students are cautious about their musical investment and start with a music teacher with less teaching experience as their rates are usually lower. Some of these teachers can also have extensive performing experience but may be new to teaching music and may have challenges when problems arise.

In the end, it really comes down to affordability.

Whether you are looking for online lessons, in-home or studio lessons, Imagine Music can help guide you through the process. We have different music lessons options for every type of music student. We also have other teachers, all with varying experience levels, musical teaching styles, education and performance. For over 25 years, Imagine Music has been teaching and mentoring lifelong skills through the love of playing music. Contact us today and begin your musical journey.

Playing music a student loves is a great first step to inspiring students to enjoy music. Discovering new songs and sheet music though apps like Musicnotes, Apple Music, Spotify and YouTube are a great way to find new artists, styles or spinoffs of well-known pieces. These apps are an endless song resource for all levels of musical ability. When listening to artists the student enjoys, unconsciously they are training their ear to hear inflections, interpretations and phrasing that are pleasing to them. It inspires students to recreate these sounds though their instrument and therefore, learn this new piece.

A good teacher will introduce new pieces from their vast knowledge of repertoire. When paired with the knowledge of the student’s strengths, they will suggest pieces that they feel the student would be interested in. These pieces may introduce new techniques or different music styles. This new piece may not be popular or well known but, it may introduce students to new sounds, rhythms or ideas that they might not have done before. After mastering this piece, the student can enjoy this accomplishment. The end effect is inspiring for the student. I find many students will play their new completed pieces repetitively as they are so happy with how it sounds and the feeling of satisfaction it gives them when they play it!

Parents also share this same feeling of satisfaction but in a different way through the accomplishments of their kids. As students progress and become more advanced, I find parents excitedly suggest pieces for their kids to play. Listening and sharing your love of music with each other is another way to inspire students. The list of music requests can get bigger and harder especially as students become more experienced musicians. Many students love to play songs that make their family happy. Best of all, families reap the benefits of hearing great live music in their own home. These are often the shared memories that are remembered the most!

Inspiring students to enjoy music can come from many sources and influences in a student’s life. Students who are actively discovering music and playing new pieces are constantly moving forward into the next levels of their music development.

It’s here, the lazy days of summer! A time for doing other activities that you love to do. After all summer is short!

So how do you keep your fingers limber and your mind, musically sharp!

Here’s a few summer music tips I use to keep #thinkingmusic :

Summer is the perfect time to learn that new song you always wanted to play. Just pick away at it slowly a few lines at a time. Then in your lessons in the fall, you can go for it!
Play around on the BLUES. Learn the basic 12 bar blues form and improvise using the blues scale. No notes are needed, just play by ear.
Have a summer only song . . . nothing too long . . .maybe something easier than what you usually play.
Pick up a “how to play” YouTube tip on your instrument and implement it. Make sure it’s at your level and then have fun with it.