Music

Register now for music lessons! 

Countryside YMCA has a longstanding history of offering private music lessons across all forms of music. We have two private lesson rooms tucked away downstairs, one with our cherished antique upright piano.

We pride ourselves on offering quality, 1-on-1 lessons. Whether you're a beginner looking to learn how to play or an experienced player who wants to refine their skill, you'll work with your teacher to set and accomplish your goals. Our private lessons run for 30 minutes once per week, and we follow the same registration schedule as regular YMCA programming.

There are lots of notable reasons to take music lessons 

• Music boosts language skills

"Recent studies have indicated that musical training physically develops the part of the left side of the brain known to be involved with processing language and can wire the brain's circuits in specific ways," PBS reports. In addition, studies have shown that learning a musical instrument can also help children learn a second language.

• Music builds self-esteem 

Learning a new skill teaches perseverance and can boost self-esteem in children. For example, music skills build daily and weekly into tangible skills that children can see and hear. Accomplishing something as small as a chord or finishing a two-minute musical piece can boost self-esteem significantly.

• Music improves listening skills.

Listening is a great skill in music that can be exercised and improved. Students not only need to listen to instruction from a teacher, but they also have to listen to themselves play, and as they age and play with others, they need to listen to the ensemble and their part within it.

• Music enhances math skills.

Reading music and keeping time are math-based skills, and early exposure to music can prepare a child to learn math more easily. For example, learning about quarter, half, and whole notes sets children up early to understand fractions. And when a child spends time learning about rhythm, he is learning to count.

• Music builds brain power.

Research shows that the brain of a musician works differently than a non-musician, according to PBS. "There's some good neuroscience research that children involved in music have larger growth of neural activity than people not in music training," says Dr. Eric Rasmussen, chair of the Early Childhood Music Department at the Peabody Preparatory of The Johns Hopkins University. 

• Music is stress relieving.

Children love routine, and daily practicing and regular lessons can help create that structure. Also, the actual act of performing and playing music can relieve stress and provide a calming effect.

• Music inspires creativity

Here in the Arts & Education Department, we are all for kinds of creativity! And music improves children's imagination, which is a valuable skill. 

Still, have questions?  

If you want more information, please get in touch with Arts and Education Coordinator Jaime Spurlock at 923 1424 ext. 226.