Musical Background

More

Parent's Page

This page may help parents and children understand what learning an instrument is about.
Music Tutors, not only those at The Learning Lounge, believe it is essential that the parents of young students become actively involved in all aspects of their child's musical experience from day one. Even a parent who "hasn't got a musical bone in their body". Parents are the key to success and are undoubtedly the greatest teachers of all.
Sometimes a child's results might not be up to a parents or child's expectations. It might be that sometimes our expectations are unrealistic. Most people are totally unaware of what learning an instrument involves. Playing an instrument is an extremely difficult skill to acquire and maintain, but once some progress is made it can be the most rewarding of experiences.
Whether it be physically, academically, artistically or spiritually, we often don't reach our goals due to many things. Lack of exercise, will power, commitment, organisation, initiative, talent, etc are often blamed, but more often than not, we fail because we haven't realized how dedicated and devoted we need to be to achieve good results.
Practicing is the absorption, mastery and maintenance of skills.
Every tutor has their own books, systems, methods and ideas when it comes to teaching and practicing, and your child's specific requirements (if any) should be discussed with the tutor in the first term. This might include participating in school band or other musical groups, doing HSC music, wanting to do music grades and exams, needing structure by working from a book or just wanting to have fun.
The tutor's roll is to see that the skills necessary are developing properly and practice has been done CORRECTLY and regularly from lesson to lesson. Without a parent's supervision at home this is almost always not the case. Taking time to see your child develops the correct methods required for their instrument is essential if they are to succeed. YOU, the parent, must get involved. YOU must build confidence and explain to them that improvement will follow in time. Remember - lessons are an investment of TIME and MONEY. To get a positive return on the investment a student must PRACTICE!
"He/She loves their lessons but just wont practice"
Kids love to sit and watch their teacher play their instrument. Unfortunately, some kids think that sitting in the "Magic Chair" in the teacher's room will make them play better instantly. Most students use their time ineffectively by "noodling" and not focussing on what they need to work on. They have given up practicing the harder parts and are not pushing themselves. Some believe that 10 minutes every couple of days will see results. Many kids think that one large chunk of practice is better than small regular times every day. Not so! Two small sessions a day will give far better results. There is no fatigue, no temptation to stop and less chance of interruptions. The brain is more likely to remember what it did 6 hours ago than what it did a day ago. What ever the reason a student needs focus, support and realistic goals to attain a good level of skill on thir instrument.
Young students (5 - 8 year olds) are more about fun than hard work. Learning an instrument, especially guitar, requires very precise motor skills, listening skills and understanding of the new language that is "Music". These skills are similar to learning to speak, read or write. Expect your child's musical development to be at a similar pace as speaking, reading and writing. The early years are essentially a foundation for building the skills needed to learn how to practice and play. Neither you nor your child should expect too much to soon. They just need to be encouraged and be aware that regular correct practice is essential.
In most cases if you give a child (especially young children) the option to practice or not, they usually opt for not. Real practice in most cases can sometimes be a tedious and boring chore but it is a necessity. If a child receives a parent's attention and guidance setting up a workable practice schedule and keep their child focused it will lead to constructive practice time. Ask your child exactly what they are working on. The best time to ask is straight after their lesson. If you ask them on a regular basis they will often pay more attention in class knowing the questions are coming. Try to understand it yourself. Even better try learning their instrument yourself. Feel free to sign up for a Term's lessons.
If students have a realistic expectation that the first 6 to 12 months are the hardest because skills and routine need to develop then they are more likely to stick with it. Establishing a routine of lessons and practice might require a sacrifice, but more often it just means handling "Spare Time" more efficiently. Less TV, computer or Play station time etc. Make sure they unpack and set up their music and instrument right after every lesson or rehearsal. They are more likely to play if everything is ready to go!!
A good idea to motivate kids is to set up regular "Performances" in the comfort of the family environment. Have a "Concert" every term. This gives them a goal to work towards. Maybe offer a small reward for their efforts. A child that has an incentive will more likely cooperate and prepare for a performance than if they are told they will lose some favourite thing if they don't practice.
The Learning Lounge does not agree in the idea of compulsory performance at concerts . We do have a performance day organized every year where tutors perform and ask their students to play if they so desire, either with their tutor, a backing track or with a friend. It's a great afternoon.
"I don't want to play anymore"
Learning to play an instrument is not necessarily fun, but playing an instrument is! Some times kids quit because they are not passionate about music or they don't like the tutor or they thought it was easy and found it to be the opposite. Maybe their friends think it's uncool or their tutor seems frustrated and disappointed that they don't put in any effort. It could be the honeymoon period has expired and real effort is needed and the tutor wants results. It could be their parents are making them attend. It could be they were only dabbling. What ever the reason parents need to keep an ear or eye open and bring up any concerns they may have with the tutor earlier rather than later. Try and sit in on a lesson and see how they are relating to the tutor. If you want to talk to the tutor but they are always rushing to the next lesson then please leave a message with reception and they will have the tutor contact you. Tutors are ALWAYS approachable when it comes to music.
Every child should be exposed to ALL styles of music. Eventually with time and other forces like siblings, peer group pressure and the media, they will start to develop a taste for a certain type of music, sometimes to the horror of the parent. At an early age you should play all styles of music at home or in the car and see what "clicks". Expose them to music where other instruments feature, not just their instrument.
Remember - Parents are the key to success and are undoubtedly the greatest teachers of all.
I really hope this article helps answer some questions about learning an instrument. If you have ANY questions or concerns about your lessons or progress during your time with The Learning Lounge then do not hesitate to call us.
Mike Gordon PS. We have some helpful articles below on how to successfully practice, how to buy instruments and set them up etc...
What is Practicing?
Why Practice?
When to Practice
how much practice?
Practice without your instrument
seven steps for positive practice
A Guide To Great Home Music Practice
Abstract Background
Just For Laughs!
What's the best thing to play on a guitar?
Solitaire
What's the difference between a musician and a large pizza?
A large pizza can feed a family of four.
What did the drummer get on his IQ test?
Saliva
What is another term for trombone?
A wind-driven, manually operated pitch approximator.
What has 3 legs and an idiot on top of it?
A drum stool.
How can you tell when a singer is at your door?
They have a problem finding the key and don't know when to come in.
What’s the difference between a rock guitarist and a jazz guitarist?
A rock guitarist plays 3 chords in front of thousands of people, and a jazz guitarist plays a thousand chords in front of 3 people.
A guitarist enters the rehearsal space & finds the drummer & bassist in a fist fight. He asks why they're fighting, to which the bassist replies: "He de-tuned my bass". The guitarist asks why that's such a big deal, and the bassist answers: "He won't tell me which string it was"!
Practice does not make perfect - Perfect Practice makes Perfect
"Maestro - I would give up my life to play like that"
"Madam, I DID!"
"It's what you learn AFTER you know it all that counts"
"There is nothing remarkable about it. All one has to do is hit the right keys at the right time and the instrument plays itself "Johann Sebastian Bach
"The music teacher came every week, to bridge the awful gap between Dorothy and Chopin " Unknown
"Don't play the notes. Play the meaning of the notes"
Pablo Casals
"I don't know anything about music. In my line you don't have to." Elvis Presley
"I don't like country music, but I don't mean to denigrate those who do. And for the people who like country music, denigrate means 'put down'." Bob Newhart
A note left for a pianist from his wife:Gone Chopin, (have Liszt), Bach in a Minuet.
If you drop an accordion, a set of bagpipes and a viola off a 20-story building, which one lands first?Who cares?
Son: Mother, I want to grow up and be a rock-n-roll musician.Mother: Now son, you have to pick one or the other. You can't do both.
There were two people walking down the street. One was a musician. The other didn't have any money either.
What's the least-used sentence in the English language?"Isn't that the banjo player's Porsche?
A conductor breaks their leg so a Viola player takes over conducting duties for 5 weeks. The conductor recovers and the Viola player returns to their seat. The viola player next to them asks, 'where have you been?
How do you tell the difference between a viola and a violin? A viola burns longer.
Useful Articles
getting out of a playing rut
10 Ways To Become A Better Guitar Player
Buying an electric guitar amp
general tips for buying a guitar
getting rhythm
how to set up a drum kit
how to stay in time as a drummer
How to practice drums effectively
Colouring in
Kid's Word Searches
Word search #1Word search #2
Word search #3word search #4
Word Search #5Word Search #6
Word Search #7Word Search #8
Word Search #9Word Search#10

📅 Events

The End Of Year Student Concert, Sunday Nov 23rd, was a great success.
Check it out here
⭐ Performance of the Week
• Zac Gordon "What about Me"
✨ Student of the Term is
Jessica Hewitt Enjoy the $50 JB HiFi voucher

📣Announcements

The Annual Student Concert for 2025 on Sunday 23rd November at the Turramurra Masonic Hall went off. What a great day of wonderful performances by all the students. A lot of happy parents!

Testimonials

Here's what some people have to say -
Ali N. 23.02.26Local Guide • 544 reviews • 1417 photosFive stars for the Learning Lounge! highly skilled instructors. It’s been wonderful watching my kids develop a genuine love for music 🥁 and gain so much confidence for years. A huge thank you to the team for being such positive mentors. The best music school in the area. Emily P. 13.02.26 The Learning Lounge has been an incredible experience. My son has absolutely thrived thanks to his teacher, Tim. He brings skill, patience, and genuine enthusiasm that makes every lesson something my son looks forward to.Tim has a way of meeting kids exactly where they are, building their confidence while still challenging them to grow. You can tell he cares deeply about his students and their progress.Beyond the lessons themselves, The Learning Lounge plays an important role in our local community. Creating a space where kids feel supported, inspired, and connected through music. We’re so grateful for the positive impact they’ve had on our son.Highly recommend.
Hi Mike,
I hope you and the family are all ok and surviving in this strange new world.
I just wanted to let you know how amazing we have found the zoom sessions to be. It’s been fantastic to see and hear part of what happens during the lessons and it has given me a huge appreciation of how patient, talented, kind, enthusiastic and professional your music teachers are - especially of course Ivan and Noa. They have been so good to Josh and such great role models for him to look up to. So I wanted to pass on my thanks and best wishes for a nice holiday break and to let you know we are looking forward to next term, possibly even in person!
Thanks from Donna and Josh 3/7/20
Thank you very much, we look forward to seeing you all again on the 1st; and thank you for the extra credit for the referral, not expected, as it’s a given to refer you, you provide a great business. ??
E. Graydon
We have really been impressed with the quality of teaching. Thank you !!
Ally Johnson
Hayden and Liam both love Tim so much. Hayden loves learning from him and is happy to make the trip each week. He is always so up after a lesson. Cheers
Kerryn
Hi Mike and Vanessa, I’ve been meaning to send this email since the end of last term. Thank you so much for seamlessly organising the online lessons. I think they’ve worked so well and Shea has continued to learn through this medium. Also, a very big thank you to Tim, Shea gave up trumpet for two years as he’d had a couple of negative experiences with teachers. However, since he started with Tim he’s been really enjoying the trumpet again. Not sure what magic Tim has worked on him! Shea is planning to play the last post outside our house this Thursday, amazing! Anyway, thanks again Mike and Vanessa, we look forward to next term.
Sinéad and family 20.04.20
I started learning guitar at The Learning Lounge a couple of years ago andI’ve found that its really great if you want to pick up a new instrument,because the teachers are friendly and you get to learn in a relaxedenvironment. The sessions aren't like lessons at school 'cause you get tolearn what you want to learn about, rather than just having to learn whatyour teacher tells you to. So yeah, it’s great. And I’m having fun.
Josee D.
We thank you for providing great teachers, Yuri and Gus. For the past 3 years, Ben has thoroughly enjoyed all his lessons.
Would you please thank Gus for his patience and thoughtful guidance. He made every lesson fun and enriching and we will be forever grateful for his time spent on Ben.
Thank you again, Mike.
Best regardsJudy and Andrew
Hi Mike, What a great event today! Thanks so much for all your organisation and work with the students. Lovely to have such a relaxed environment for them to perform in especially the first timers.Thanks to all the teachers and staff.
Amanda and Thomas
BIG thank you to you both for all the hard work in putting on the concert on Sunday, it was appreciated very much by the Drummond Family! Kind regards,
Trisha, David, Lochi and Ewan
Oh I know, I'm disappointed but in Yr 11 have to let the kid make his own decisions. We have really loved every minute and you guys have been an absolute pleasure to deal with. Professional AND relaxed - like being amongst family. You form a wonderful community around Turramurra which we have been proud to be a part of. And yes you can quote me. Kylie Koch
Our son has been learning trumpet and trombone at The Learning Lounge for 6 years and loves it. He is always energised after his lesson with Tim. Our daughter has just started this year on saxophone and has had a great experience also. I would highly recommend The Learning Lounge for learning any instrument. Kerryn Agnew
With regret, today will be Max Tobin's last lesson with Lorenzo Colombo on Tuesday's, as he commences year 12. After almost 5 years at The Learning Lounge, and more than 4 years with Lorenzo, it is definitely with regret. In year 7 Max had difficulty performing solo, but Lorenzo worked wonders with his technique and confidence, so for year 9 and 10 elective music he was playing solos confidently and never needed prompting to practice!Lorenzo has been outstanding and we recommend him highly.
Thanks so much to all the learning lounge team, being so patient with missed and make up lessons, and always being a cheerful and friendly space.
Dianne Tobin.
Dear Vanessa and Mike
Thanks for all your hard work! We are lucky to have such a great bunch of people and Teachers at the Learning Lounge (big thanks to Dean and Lorenzo). I just wondered if you could also thank Mike Richards for drumming in the ensemble on Sunday, he was awesome.
Kind regards PS Vanessa, wow what a voice!
The Drummonds
My son has been having lessons at The Learning Lounge with Dave Horgan for the past 2 years. He really enjoys his lessons with Dave and says he keeps him interested and engaged. I find that The Learning Lounge has a relaxed yet professional approach. They are up to date with how they teach the kids.The teachers are professional, enthusiastic, down to earth and make it fun while maintaining professional structure. Great place. Thanks Mike and Vanessa
Victoria E.
This is a really cool place. I loved it from the very first moment. The people are cool and extremely nice and friendly. Everything is very well organized and my kids make good progress with their instruments. The Teachers are patient and nice so that learning an instrument is really fun.
Mrs D. Busch
My son has been a student at The Learning Lounge for the past 5 years. Whilst I had reservations initially about his desire to play the guitar my fears were quite unfounded. He absolutely loves coming to his weekly lessons and to hear actual music you can recognize coming from his bedroom is as they say "music to your ears". He may not be the next Jimi Hendrix but he has a fantastic teacher who lets him play whatever he likes. The Learning Lounge is a happy, friendly environment where learning to play is fun, rewarding and worth every penny -
Jaye W.
Vanessa/ Mike, What a great business you run. So many proud kids/ parents and such a relaxed environment for them to shine. I feel very lucky we discovered the Learning Lounge. Nathan has really flourished since starting there about a year ago and Mike Richards has ben wonderful to him. Cheers
Mark
David (Horgan) is definitely the best drummer I've ever come across. He is a very good teacher. He's been teaching me for 2 years and I'm brilliant now too!
Ryan B.
I have 2 daughters who have taken lessons at The Learning Lounge for the past 3 years. We Love the relaxing atmosphere, encouraging Teachers and friendly staff. My daughters love their lessons and have learned a great deal
Sandra T.
The Learning Lounge is a fantastic music studio. They offer many different instruments and the teachers are very friendly and accommodating. What is different about this studio is the style of learning they offer. The staff are working musicians and are up to date with all the latest repertoire which appeals to kids and keeps them interested. My daughter has been doing drums for 2 1/2 years at The Learning Lounge and still absolutely loves it. I highly recommend it.
J. Whiteman (B.A Dip. Ed. Post Grad Dip Prim Mus)
I have two boys learning different instruments. Both boys thoroughly enjoy their classes and admire their teachers greatly. In the 12 months of tuition they play confidently. Everyone associated with The Learning Lounge are cheerful, polite and only too happy to help with any problems.
Cheryl C.
I've been attending The Learning Lounge for 2 years now and I still love it. The Lessons are always interesting and different and my teacher always ensures that I have fun.
Angie C
If you want to learn any musical instrument I highly recommend coming to The Learning Lounge. I have learned a great deal from my teacher "Mike" and am also having fun in the process
Jarrad S
Our 9 year old son has been coming to The Learning Lounge for 18 months. The quality of teaching is to be recommended. Our son has lessons for drumming and is in 2 school bands. He has achieved such high standards that he is already performing drum solos in Band Competitions. He is encouraged and expected to practice. He is praised and enjoys his lessons so much more for it. I thoroughly recommend The Learning Lounge for any instrument. Judging by the quality and dedication of our tutor I am sure that this is the standard for all tutors.
Lee Ann G.

Notice Board

Instrument's for sale, Your Band's Gig Dates, School Musicals, Musician's Wanted – That sort of thing All Students wanting to post a message can click below and email them to admin@thelearninglounge.com.au They will be posted after they are checked for suitable content.
Instrument's for sale, Your Band's Gig Dates, School Musicals, Musician's Wanted – That sort of thing
"Flute (Brand: Temby) RRP $995, selling for $495 onoWorks perfectly, sounds amazing, I just don't play much anymore. I'd love to give it new life and enjoyment. Please contact Nikita Innis on 0406421785 if interested."
One of our students has G.A.S (Guitar Acquisition Syndrome)
Maton Acoustic and Gretsch Electric proud parents of Ukelele!
Our "End of Year Concert" is booked for Sunday 25th November! Get enrolled early as spots are limited.
15/03/10 Want a good quality inexpensive guitar, bass, amplifier, guitar case,drum kit etc.- Call Mike at Reception.
New 2026 Stickers, bags and pens available now!!!!
Please ask for yours from reception.
08/07/21-This year's Student Concert date is set. Get ready for SUNDAY NOVEMBER 21st Turramurra Masonic Hall

Start approx 12.30
25.03.15

We have started our

"STUDENT OF THE TERM"

The winner will win a $50 JB Hi Fi voucher'

Stay tuned for Term 1's winner
11/08/12 The Learning Lounge colouring contest is on.
Win FREE Lessons or a guitar. Entry forms also available at reception
Download Entry Form
Want to get FREE Lessons? Join our Customer Rewards Program now! See Reception for details!
If you'd like to take our very short survey about our website please
Click Here