Find the right fit with after-school activities

Author: Sue Hoffman

When parents sign their children up for after-school activities, hopes are high for their enjoyment and achievement.

“As a parent, we want the best for our children,” said Lynn B. Johnson, director of marketing and communications for The Music Settlement at University Circle in Cleveland. “So many of our dreams are what we feel we were denied. Sometimes we forget our children are little people who have ideas and dreams of their own.”

The mother of two children, Johnson said she took piano and voice lessons growing up, but moved on to guitar and ukulele as an adult and loves to play them.

“I think I practiced my guitar more as an adult than I did taking piano lessons,” she reflected. However, her musical background was “time well spent,” she said. “I feel I’m a lot more effective at the ukulele,” an instrument she performs at assisted living facilities and University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center.

What does a parent do if a child continually drags his feet to the lesson, without sufficient practice? “Sit down with a child and talk about it,” Johnson said. Ask children what instrument they would like to play. Or perhaps they would prefer to study voice or dance. “It may not fulfill your own dreams but they will be much happier and practice more.”

Some parents may decide it’s time to move on to other activities. At the same time, many children are moving from other activities to music, Johnson said.

For children with an interest in music, options abound at The Music Settlement, including private and group lessons for a variety of instruments, and Suzuki lessons parents can attend with their children.

The School of Rock, with locations in Highland Heights, Rocky River and Strongsville, offers a different approach, according to co-owner Mike Norehad. “We’re a performance-based music school,” he said.

At the School of Rock, all students have a 45-minute lesson and participate in a three-hour rehearsal on a weekly basis. “They apply what they learn in the lesson to playing music with other kids. It only takes a couple of lessons to start getting involved in the band. Some are beginners and only play one or two chords in a song. They join in and quickly learn.”

Performances take place every three or four months in venues that include the Beachland Ballroom and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, both in Cleveland.

“You have to work at your instrument,” Norehad said. “Otherwise, you’re not able to keep up.” Students gain experience in being onstage. “It helps give kids confidence and musicianship.”

Like instrumental music study, dance lessons appeal to a variety of interests. Turning Pointe, which opened last June in Solon, has classes for ages 3 on up to adults and will include fitness classes starting in December.

“Every student learns differently,” said owner Katie Brent. “Our job as instructors is to figure out what works best for each student. Not everyone is going to be amazing. But if the effort is there, the kids will usually progress forward.” Some students have a passion for dance, take eight hours of classes each week and practice at home, she said. Others are looking to have fun once a week. The studio offers classes at a “recreational level” as well as those with a more competitive atmosphere.

A fad today is to learn hip hop, she said. “It’s a controversial style of dance for some parents. Sometimes what they want is not what the kids want. Our classes are skill-oriented and age appropriate.” For students under 9, hip hop is only offered with jazz.

Download File