What To Know About Online Music Lessons for Kids

Looking for a great gift for your music-loving child? Consider enrolling them in a music class. Music is wonderful for children as it's not only fun to listen to and play but also enhances imagination, communication, and cognitive development. 

Unfortunately, with budget cuts affecting many school music programs across the nation, it can be challenging to find in-person music training. 

Thankfully, online music lessons have emerged as a popular, accessible alternative to face-to-face lessons with local teachers. They’re convenient for parents and students, leveraging technology to be able to participate from anywhere! 

Interested in learning more about online music lessons for your child? Below, we’ll look at everything to know before setting up online lessons, including their benefits and how to make them fun and safe. 

Why kids should learn about music

There's a significant correlation between music and child development, making it a necessity for kids. Music can improve cognitive functioning — as your child listens to songs, they engage the parts of the brain associated with memory, emotional response, and attention. It also accelerates language acquisition in the early years and boosts kids' academic achievement when they're school-ready. 

Additionally, learning music can also help younger students manage their emotions and stress. And, those who are interested in taking up an instrument might also see improvements in their fine motor skills and coordination.

While learning music may sometimes feel like an uphill battle, it's a worthwhile one. Introducing your child to challenging tasks early on can help them develop a sense of achievement and boost motivation at an early age. 

Are online music lessons a good idea for children?

It's normal to be unsure about online music lessons for kids, especially if the concept is new to you. But there's nothing to be skeptical about if you choose the right platform. Take time to do your research — if you want them to learn violin, search for the best online violin lessons for kids and compare them against each other to find the best fit. 

With learning platforms like Trala, you can rest assured that your child's music education is in the right hands. We tailor our online lessons to each individual student, providing them with suitable materials and teaching methods. As they grow, they learn more complex concepts and techniques, allowing them to develop their musical skills. 

For example, your child's first lessons may involve foundational concepts like holding their instrument and posture. As they progress in their musical journey, they may be introduced to concepts like music theory and reading music. 

Younger Trala students embrace and receive opportunities for developing independence in owning their lesson experience. Our students will learn technical skills beyond the typical expectations for a young student, like tuning and marking the music, allowing them to move forward more quickly in their musical journey. 

How online learning platforms make music lessons fun for kids

According to child development experts, a child's attention span is two to five minutes times their age. This means a six-year-old will have an attention span of roughly 12 to 30 minutes. 

But this isn't set in stone: With interest and motivation, a child's attention span can be longer. This is why online learning platforms consistently make efforts to make music lessons fun for kids — the more fun they are, the more engaged the child will be. 

Let’s look at a few strategies instructors use in online music lessons to keep kids active, motivated, and interested.

Interactive teaching methods

Think back to your time as a student. You might remember the times you were moving around, playing, and interacting with teachers and students more than you remember all the times you sat down reading or copying notes from the board. This is because the brain processes interactive activities better. 

Online music lessons use interactive methods like games and animations to make learning enjoyable. The more enjoyable a lesson is, the easier it'll be to hold your child's attention and commit what they learn to memory. 

At Trala, we employ the Trala teaching method — we customize our music instruction to meet the unique needs of every individual student. Kids enjoy lively one-on-one sessions with expert teachers who adapt lessons to each one's needs. They also get access to group classes, recitals, and other community-focused events to supplement the one-on-one lessons with their teachers. 

Children's music preferences

Great teachers understand that musical tastes evolve with age. As such, reliable teaching platforms use kids' favorite songs and music genres to keep them interested. 

Teenager-focused music lessons may include genres like rap, pop, and rock, while music classes with a younger audience include theme tunes from popular TV shows and nursery rhymes. 

Visual and audio aids

Kids have different cognitive capabilities than adults — so they require teaching methods that speak to their abilities. Online learning platforms make music classes more effective by using visual and audio aids versus relying solely on theory. This makes lessons more appealing and understandable for kids. 

Personalized lessons

Like adults, kids have varying learning preferences. So, high-quality online learning platforms customize music classes to meet different children's needs. 

At Trala, our instructors adapt to any situation. They'll assess the most effective teaching strategy for your child and personalize their lessons to help them learn in the way that works best for them. Further, students can try different teachers if they’d like, so they can find the one they are most comfortable with to create a positive learning environment. With Trala's diverse group of teachers, the right one for each student is available.

Exploring the importance of safety in online learning environments

It's normal for any parent to be concerned about online lessons. You can protect your child by choosing a reliable platform and controlling what your child has access to. Here are just a few ways that reputable online music lesson services like Trala focus on keeping your child safe.

Secure platforms

Online music platforms implement various measures to ensure their sessions are private and secure. Many have secure sign-in processes, which require strong passwords and sometimes two-factor authentication to prevent unauthorized access. This prevents unvetted, unauthorized parties from interacting with your child. 

At Trala, we do this and more to ensure student safety. We pair all our students with experienced, high-quality teachers, and even more, only match younger learners with instructors specializing in elementary, middle, or high-school-aged student instruction. They've undergone extensive training on how to ensure student comfort and safety, so you can rest assured your child will be in the right hands.

Age-appropriate content

Reputable online music platforms also protect kids by moderating and filtering content to ensure a safe learning environment. Typically, teachers assess the learning resources offered and songs used during practice for age-appropriateness to prevent students from learning things they shouldn't. 

Safe online interactions

Online music schools can only ensure safety on their platforms. So, you need to know how to protect your child beyond the learning platform. You can ensure safe online interactions during music lessons by:

• Implementing parental controls: Manage the sites and type of content your child can interact with when they have access to their computer or phone. 
• Educating children: Let your child know not to share personal information with strangers and encourage them to report uncomfortable situations. Alternatively, you can protect your child by choosing a highly regarded platform like Trala. We go above and beyond to ensure students' safety by vetting all our teachers, so you never have to worry about such situations. 
• Supervising sessions: Periodically check in on your child during lessons to ensure they remain focused on learning. 
• Communicating with instructors: If you have specific concerns or preferences not addressed by your chosen platform, speak with your child's music teacher. 

The role of parents in online music education

There's no single right age to start music lessons —  some kids start learning as early as preschool. So, parents play significant roles in ensuring their kids access effective and safe online music classes. Here are a few ways parents can take proactive roles in their child’s online music education.

Choosing the right program

Asking a child to choose their own music program is akin to taking on a huge client at work without prior training — it's more than likely you'll mess up. It's up to parents to assess different platforms and select the most suitable ones for their children. Core factors to consider when choosing a program include:

• Safety: Your child's safety needs to be your priority. Ensure you choose a platform with measures in place to protect your child. 
• Features: Look for features like structured video lessons and one-on-one instruction from qualified teachers to help improve your child's skills. 
• Cost: Find a balance between high-quality instruction and affordable pricing. 
• Customer reviews: Read testimonials on each potential platform's site or on third-party review sites to learn what other parents have to say. Only settle on a program with positive reviews on teacher engagement and lesson effectiveness. 

Trala is a fantastic option for online music learning for children (and all ages). We stand out from other programs because safety is our top priority — we ensure your child's safety by providing a secure platform and making sure they only access age-appropriate content. 

Our students also get access to the free Trala app, which helps them during individual practice lessons by providing free, all-ages, sheet music and instant feedback on rhythm and pitch. 

Monitoring progress

You can get involved in your child's learning by regularly monitoring their progress and supporting practice sessions at home. Monitor your child's progress by sitting in on some private lessons or group classes and discussing their milestones with their music teachers. Typically, you can show support by:

• Creating a designated practice space at home, free from distractions 
• Working with your child to set achievable goals
• Helping them establish a consistent practice routine
• Sitting in on practice sessions and offering positive feedback
• Celebrating milestones

Engaging in the learning process

You can actively engage in your child's education by attending some lessons with them. This helps you understand what they're learning so you can offer better support during individual practice sessions. 

Another way to engage is to explore music together — create playlists of your child's favorite songs and attend recitals and concerts together. This can foster a greater appreciation for music. 

Create a strong musical foundation for your child with Trala

Music is a universal language spoken by people of all ages. As such, it's never too early to introduce your child to music lessons. Online music classes like Trala have made learning more accessible, as your child can progress in their musical journey from anywhere. 

Trala takes a personalized approach to music education by creating custom learning plans geared toward helping students achieve their individual goals. With us, your child will receive one-on-one live instruction from great teachers and practice support from the Trala app. Whether you're looking for a music program for your teenager, younger child, or yourself, Trala has the expertise and resources to support you. 

Ready to help your child take the first step in their musical journey? Start with Trala today!