By: Susan Flinn

Let’s Just Get Right To It:
If your child hates music lessons…
If they complain about practicing…
If they’re still stuck on the same song after 6 weeks…
If they’re not progressing and you’ve tried changing teachers, methods, or instruments…
There’s a good chance it’s not the teacher.
It’s not the scheduling.
It’s not the motivation or the reward chart.
It’s not because they need more performing… or less performing… or more private attention…
It’s because they can’t read music.
No, really. That’s it. That’s the blog.
(Okay fine, keep reading…)

What We Actually Mean by "Reading Music"
Let’s clear this up first:
“Reading music” does not mean identifying notes one by one.
It’s not calling out “C… E… G…” like a game of Bingo.
Real music reading is fluent.
It’s instinctive.
It’s the ability to look at the page and know what to do—rhythm, notes, fingerings, expression—all in one glance.

It’s not that different from reading a book. Imagine if your child had to sound out every single word, look up vocabulary mid-sentence, and read in a monotone. They wouldn’t enjoy books, and you’d probably be wondering what’s wrong with their reading program. Music is no different. If your child is struggling with music, it’s likely because they’re still “sounding out the letters” instead of truly reading the language.

Why This Matters
When a child can’t read music fluently:

• They get frustrated
• They feel stuck
• They rely on someone to play the song for them first
• They don’t feel ownership of what they’re doing
• They don’t grow—and worse, they think they’re the problem

This is exactly when parents start looking for “a better fit,” “a more motivating teacher,” or even switch instruments entirely—when really, the issue isn’t the person or the piano. It’s the reading foundation.

So... What Should Be Happening in Lessons?
From the very first lesson, students should be:

• Looking at the music on the page
• Learning how to figure it out for themselves
• Being shown how to read, not just what to play
• Moving through lots of music—not just repeating one song over and over until it's "perfect"

Repetition is great for building technique, memorization, and performance skills—but it will never build fluent sight-reading. And if you want your child to really thrive in music long-term, reading is the key.

How We Do Things Differently (and Why It Works)
Our program isn’t fancy or flashy.
We don’t hand out prizes or perform sticker math.
We don’t hype up one “recital song” for three months straight.
We just teach kids to read—and because of that, they fly.

Many of our students move through their method books at twice or three times the rate of private lessons. Not because we’re rushing, but because they’ve learned to actually understand what they’re doing. They open their books, start playing confidently, and know how to correct themselves.

We’ve seen some students finish seven books of the Faber Piano Adventures series in just 12 weeks—with great technique, musicality, and expression.

And the best part? They’re not dependent on us. They’ll be able to sit down at any piano, with any music, and figure it out for themselves. That’s independence. That’s real musicianship. That’s a life skill.

When a Student Can Read Music...

• They can play any piece, not just the one their teacher assigned
• They can easily transition to other instruments
• They don’t need to rely on YouTube or “someone to show them”
• They progress faster and with more joy
• They build confidence, self-direction, and long-term motivation

​(And they stop whining about practice. Mostly.)

So, If Lessons Aren’t Working...Ask yourself:
“Can my child read music fluently?”
Not just name notes.
Not just follow finger numbers.
Can they actually read and understand the music?

If the answer is no—or you’re not sure—it might be time to rethink the structure of your current lessons.

Want to Learn More?
We’ve built our entire program around helping students become confident, independent music readers. If you'd like to learn more about how our approach works (and how it can actually fit into your family's life), check out our website. No gimmicks. No pressure. Just better readers, and happier musicians.

By: Susan Flinn

Seriously. Music lessons usually require just 30 to 60 minutes a week. Most teachers are even happy to be flexible with rescheduling if it means keeping a student engaged. You’re telling us there’s zero wiggle room in your schedule for that?

Let’s be real for a sec...

🕒 “We just need a break.” Totally fair. We get it. You're juggling everything under the sun, and the thought of one more weekly commitment makes your brain short-circuit. But be honest—is the real issue that your kid is overbooked... or that you’re just tired of managing logistics?
(We say this with love. We’ve been there. Also, we’ve eaten dinner in the car. Many times.)

🎼 "But music isn’t going anywhere." True. Music will always be there. But musical progress isn’t frozen in time—it’s more like a balloon slowly deflating. Every time a student stops, it takes weeks (sometimes months) of review to get back to where they were.

Meanwhile, the students who stay in lessons year-round? They’re not just coasting—they’re leveling up. They’re gaining confidence, momentum, and all those juicy brain-boosting benefits that come with consistent practice and long-term commitment. And yes, they’re also doing sports. The best students do both.

🎯 Music teaches something sports can't (and vice versa). Music teaches kids how to focus without the crowd, how to self-motivate, how to be their own coach, judge, and cheerleader. It’s not adrenaline-fueled—it’s growth over time. And sticking with it during the “busy seasons” is where the real lessons happen: time management, commitment, consistency, and creative thinking.

Let’s be honest: quitting music every time a new season starts is like starting a new Netflix series every week and never finishing one. Fun? Sure. But not exactly character-building.

💸 Meanwhile, back in music teacher land...For those of us who do this for a living, spring and summer dropouts are no small thing. Whether we’re solo teachers, home-based studios, or full-service music schools, we rely on consistency to keep things running. When families disappear for months and “promise to return,” it creates gaps—not just in schedules, but in sustainability.

It’s not just a personal rant—it’s a real issue in our industry. Most music teachers won’t say it out loud (because we genuinely care about your kids), but the message we often get is: “We want you to be here when it’s convenient for us, but we don’t want to keep you afloat in the meantime.” 🤔

💡But hey, we’ve got a crazy solution: You don’t have to pick one. In fact, the students who thrive the most are the ones who learn to balance multiple commitments—and they do it with grace. Want your child to really stand out? Teach them how to stick with music even when life gets busy.

At our studio, we offer flexible options that work around seasonal sports schedules, including occasional make-ups and alternate time slots. We want to help you make it work—because we believe music doesn’t have to be the thing that gets cut.

Want to learn how to make music lessons fit your family’s life—year-round?
Visit our website to read more and see how we help busy families stay musically inspired, no matter the season:
🎵 WE MAKE MUSIC WORK!