Why Do Some Students Grow Faster Than Others?
After more than 15 years of teaching music, I've watched thousands of students walk through our doors... and I've learned something that might surprise you:
The students who progress the fastest aren't necessarily the ones who practice the most.
Don't get me wrong. Practice helps! I've watched students practice for hours every day and absolutely rocket forward on their instruments.
But I've also watched students make incredible progress by simply showing up week after week, year after year, taking one small step at a time.
I tell my students all the time:
Slow and steady wins the race.
And Yet... Music Isn't a Race!
I realize those two statements sound a little contradictory!
But that's exactly the point. Every student has different goals, different interests, and a different pace of learning. The goal isn't to beat someone else to the finish line, it's to keep moving forward.
Sometimes a student picks up an instrument and takes off immediately. Other times, a student seems to plateau for months before something suddenly clicks and they leap forward. I've seen students struggle with performing until they finally work up the courage to step onstage, and discover a confidence they didn't know they had.
And I've seen students who practiced intensely eventually burn themselves out and stop playing altogether.
That's why I would much rather have a student happily play for 10 minutes a day, or even go through a season when they hardly practice at all, than begin to think of music as another homework assignment they dread doing.
Because we're not trying to create the world's greatest 12-year-old guitarist.
We're trying to create someone who still loves playing guitar when they're 40!
So What Does Help Students Grow?
There isn't one magic formula, but we've noticed a few things over the years.
Consistency matters. Small improvements compound. One lesson doesn't seem like much, but one lesson every week over several years can transform a beginner into a confident musician.
Great teachers matter. Students learn best from people they trust. That's why we believe our teachers should be more than instructors; they should be mentors who know their students, care about what's happening in their lives, celebrate their victories, and encourage them through their struggles.
Goals matter. That's why we emphasize performance so much at Lutherville Music School. Having a performance on the calendar gives students something real to work toward. Nothing motivates practice quite like realizing, “Wait... I'm playing this in front of PEOPLE two weeks from now?! I better put some time in!” A little healthy stage fright can work wonders!
And perhaps most importantly...
Community matters.
When students join bands, attend workshops, perform at Open Mic, go to camp, write songs with friends, and hang around other musicians, something changes.
Music stops being something they're supposed to practice.
It becomes something they do.
Over the years, we've watched students who became part of a musical community grow into confident performers, songwriters, bandmates, and lifelong musicians. We've watched friendships form, bands travel and perform together, and former students take what they learned here into college and beyond.
That's the kind of growth we're after.
So as another school year begins, don't worry about whether your child is progressing as quickly as somebody else.
Instead, ask two questions:
Do they enjoy coming to lessons?
Are they making progress, even if it's one small step at a time?
If the answer to both is yes, they're on the right track.
Keep showing up. Keep making music. Keep having fun.
Slow and steady wins the race!
Fall Is Filling Up!
Speaking of consistency, we've had an incredible summer at LMS!
New students have been joining us throughout the summer, and we're heading into one of our busiest times of the year with enrollment already very strong.
That also means lesson availability is becoming limited, particularly with some of our most popular teachers and after-school time slots.
If you've been thinking about starting lessons, adding another instrument, or getting back into your musical routine for the school year, don't wait too long to reach out. Once a teacher's schedule is full, we may need to start a waiting list until another opening becomes available.
We're thrilled to see so many students making music this fall!Open Mic: September 4th
Want to put that whole “having a performance goal helps you grow” theory to the test?
Our next Open Mic is Friday, September 4th at 7:00 PM!
Open Mic is one of our favorite opportunities for students—and members of the community—to try something new, conquer a little stage fright, and share what they've been working on in a fun, supportive environment.
Beginners and experienced performers are both welcome!
Sign up to perform at Open Mic!Open House + Summer Band Showcase — September 19th!
Come spend the day with the LMS community!
On Saturday, September 19th, we're combining our Open House and Summer Band Showcase for a day of live music and family fun.
We'll have:
- Live performances from our summer bands
- A bouncy house
- Games
- A food truck
- Music
- Plenty of fun for the whole family!
Already an LMS student? You're invited too! In fact, bring your friends and show them what makes this community so special.
And don't forget: our regular referral program is always available. When you refer a new student who stays enrolled for two months, you receive a FREE month of lessons!
No registration is necessary for the Open House. Just come hang out with us!Kids Music Day Is Coming!
LMS is excited to participate in Kids Music Day on October 2nd!
Kids Music Day is a nationwide celebration of the importance of music education for children, and we'll be celebrating with special activities around Kids Music Day week.
We're still putting the finishing touches on the fun, so stay tuned and watch for more details soon!LMS Bands at the Big Wheel Race!
On Saturday, October 3rd, LMS student bands will be performing at the Baltimore Rock & Ride Big Wheel Race, a fundraiser supporting cancer patients and their families.
We love seeing our students take their music beyond the walls of the school—and we're especially proud when they have an opportunity to use their talents to support our community.
We'll share more details as the event gets closer!Save the Date: WinterFest!
Yes... we're already talking about December!
Our annual WinterFest recitals will take place December 10th–13th.
Registration isn't open quite yet, but now is a great time to start talking with your teacher about what you might like to perform.
WinterFest registration will open next month and performance times are first come, first served, so if there's a particular day or time that works best for your family, we recommend signing up as soon as the registration link goes live!
After all, remember what we said about having a goal to work toward?
For now, save the dates: December 10th–13th!Thank you for allowing us to be part of your family's musical journey. Whether progress comes in giant leaps or tiny steps, we're grateful for every opportunity to watch our students grow, not only as musicians, but as confident people, friends, bandmates, and members of a community.
Here's to another fantastic school year!
-Drew
