Summer Time Music Lessons

Many parents and students want to know what to do about summer time music lessons. Schools are out, vacations are planned, and summer camp activities are all lined up. So where do the piano lessons, violin lessons, or guitar lessons fit into this mix? Should music lessons continue, or is it ok to pause lessons for summer break until a more normal routine can be re-established?

While there is no uniform recommendation or practice and Lessons Unlimited does not require summer semester lessons from our returning students, for practical purposes we strongly recommend some music lessons during the summer to keep skills sharp and a student on track for academic progress during the regular academic year. Summer music lessons are designed to stave off academic skill loss.

Independently conducted studies from John Hopkins and National Summer Learning Association have both confirmed an adverse academic trend in US students dubbed “Summer Slide.” It refers to academic degradation in students who do not engage in educational activities during the summer. Students lose significant knowledge and reasoning proficiencies as a result of the summer academic hiatus. The studies have shown that it can take anywhere between 4-6 weeks of re-teaching before a student reaches their previously achieved academic levels.

We know that the summer is a more dynamic period for most families, and creating a rigid lesson schedule that fits everyone’s schedules is substantially harder to do in the summer. To help accommodate our students and their families, we offer more flexible options for summer music lessons. Our instructors and students or student’s parents can work more closely together to establish a custom summer music lesson schedule that best fits all involved. During the summer time,  we are open to a flex lesson schedule. You might choose to space lessons out a bit to accommodate travel plans, or may simply choose to have a block of lessons at the beginning or end of the summer semesters. Either way, we want to help. Figure out your summer plans, and let us know. We would love to help coordinate a custom summer semester for you to keep a rusty mind at bay.