In tough economy, music lessons still have value

As families are looking at their budgets and trying to determine what expenses they can still afford, many say your children's music lessons are not the place to cut back, even in tough times.

Studies show that children who are involved in music do well in other parts of their education, they learn to work as a group and to have confidence to preform in front of others, said Karen Mezich, owner of Lake County Music.

Mezich said that despite the touch economy, enrollment at the school has been growing, mostly, she said, due to word-of-mouth between parents of the benefits music can bring to children's lives.

After 40 years as a music teacher, Betty Haag of the Betty Haag Academy of Violin Studies in Buffalo Grove, said she has never seen an economic situation like this recession, which is forcing many parents to make difficult choices, but that she hopes most parents will still value music education.

“Most parents in our school are struggling, many lost jobs,” she said. “But they feel if they want their children to have music instruction, they will sacrifice as much as they can to do it.”

Haag's school starts educating students as young as 3 years old, and she said she stressed to parents the importance of music to their foundation as well as how much it will help them academically and otherwise later in life.

“I think they feel that if they can't have material things in life because of the economy, children should still have something to hold onto, like music,” she said.

Haag's school offers several scholarships to students whose families are struggling so they can continue taking lessons.

“We find a way for them to continue their music lessons,” she said.

Even with the scholarships, Haag said she hasn't seen as many students coming in this year as in the past, which she said is a sad reflection of the difficult economic situation so many are facing.

Dale Wilson, who opened Des Plaines Music School last year, in the middle of the recession, said he has been pleasantly surprised by the amount of students interested in private lessons.

“The last thing you want to take away from is your kids,” Wilson said. “I would cut back on myself before I would take something away from my kids.”

Although buying an instrument and paying for private lessons can add up, Wilson said the costs are much less expensive then playing some popular sports such as hockey or lacrosse.

Families are also able to rent instruments if they cannot afford to buy them, Wilson said. He added that he has also seen families get together and share instruments to help keep down costs.

Both Wilson and Mezich said that if a family at their school is truly struggling, they will find a way to help them so their students can continue lessons. Mezich said that Lake County Music also offers month-to-month commitment in case a family's discretionary income or financial citation changes.

“This enriches them and helps through throughout their entire lives,” he said. “It's a no-lose situation.”