Music teacher and performing artist Janet Feld has an encouraging concept of the role music plays in life. For her, music has many purposes and brings extra quality of life to people of all backgrounds and ages.
She focuses on music—and encourages everyone else to do so as well—and the reason is encapsulated in her straightforward comment: “Everyone I know who plays music is happier.”
She explains the benefits for all. It delivers early brain-building oomph to tiny tots and lifelong neurological health to older folks.
“There is nothing better for brain development and nurturing brain plasticity than playing music,” Feld explained. “Whether playing an instrument or participating in a general music class in school, it triggers a rockin', neuron-firing dance party in our brains…stimulates traffic between the two hemispheres…and nurtures cell regeneration.”
“One of the ways I like to think of playing music is as an Alzheimer's prevention program,” she added.
Music has benefits that are increasingly more difficult to find elsewhere in today’s world, where seniors often live isolated lives.
“For the social aspect, taking classes can be great because then you're hanging out with like-minded souls,” she said. “Lots of people in my classes at The Passim School of Music over the years have made friends with each other and, from time to time, get together to practice and/or jam.” In addition to these in-person lessons in Cambridge, Massachusetts, she offers online classes at her website, Janetsplanetmusic.com.
“My oldest student at the moment is 74, and she just started playing the guitar last year,” Feld explained. “She's also started writing songs and is having a blast.”
While there are clear benefits for seniors, there’s even stronger data supporting immersing kids in music as soon as possible. But…how young is TOO young for music lessons?
“I've taught guitar and piano to kids as young as three years old,” she said. “Their parents weren't sure if they were old enough, but I agreed to teach them because the kids had been begging their parents.” For less-interested kids whose parents want to expose them to music nonetheless, Feld suggests waiting until age five or six.
“It's a good idea for parents to hire teachers for one lesson to make sure the teacher's style is a good fit before committing to a series of lessons,” she continued. “It's best for the child if the experience is fun and engaging. You want a teacher who assumes that if their students don't understand something, it's because they haven't demonstrated or explained it in a way that's best for the student.”
Even before formal lessons begin, parents can do a lot to prepare their children for a lifetime love of music.
“Starting when their kids are babies, it's great to attend programs like Kindermusik or Music Together because these classes nurture children's natural sense of rhythm and melody,” Feld advised. “These classes are not only fun, but they also prepare children really well to begin lessons down the line.”
What about instrument choice? Should they learn to play Feld’s primary instrument – guitar– or is there something else more appropriate for young kids?
“Any instrument is great for a beginner, as long as it's one the person is interested in,” Feld assured. “I teach guitar and piano and get my students playing a song at their first lesson. It's slow and awkward, but they come away from the experience knowing it's possible for them to learn.”
Feld has been playing music herself throughout her entire life. It wasn’t until she had her first experience teaching kids—at a summer camp—that she decided it had to be her life’s vocation.
“The first time I met with a group of kids to sing, I felt like I'd come home,” she reminisced.
“Having taught private lessons and general music to people of all ages since the 1980s, I know that the only thing that has to be true in order to learn is that you WANT to,” she explained. Even if a person believes they do not have talent – or have other “limiting beliefs” – they can still become adept. “My main mission is to help people over those negative belief hurdles so they can get to the fun zone as soon as possible,” Feld said.
One of Feld’s “fun zones” is onstage, where she has performed for decades.
“I've been a performing solo artist since the mid-1980s, and at various times over the decades been in groups,” she said. “Being an artist is the foundation of who I am as a person, and teaching music completes the creative circle for me. I perform in clubs, coffeehouses and festivals, nationally and internationally.” Currently, she’s part of a trio called The Secret Sauce, featuring bandmates Esther Friedman and Jackie Damsky.
She teaches private lessons four nights a week, which leaves “plenty of space” for her “artist work.” That work even includes authoring a music education book (“Practicing Safe Music”) and mentoring other teaching artists. She said both give her “music teacher tribe” a “chance to steal from my toolbox and learn from my epic fails.”
She continued, “This past year has been the most creative of my life, and that's saying a lot because I've had a very creative life.”
And that is EXACTLY what music is about.
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