I began playing a musical instrument late in life - in 4th grade, at the ripe old age of 9 - when my public school offered classes. I chose violin, and loved it. My teachers recognized my ability, and supported my decision to become a professional. But when I reached conservatory, what a shock! Most of the other students had begun years younger, in kindergarten or earlier. I had to practice 5 to 7 hours a day to catch up to those 'virtuosos.'

Today, a growing body of research confirms what I sensed: There are neurological benefits to musical training from an early age, when the brain is forming. Research also associates childhood music lessons with higher grades, test scores, and self-esteem. And starting young means children have a better chance at becoming accomplished musicians, if that's where their interests take them.

But not TOO young! Along with being a musician, I am a mother of three (including two teenagers who are pre-professional musicians, and a 6-year-old budding cellist); and I am the director and a teacher at a school that has taught music to hundreds of youngsters of all ages. Here's what practical experience has taught me about launching children happily and successfully into the world of music.

1. ENRICH THE BABIES. Teaching an instrument to a child under 3 is an exercise in frustration. Instead, bring them to hear live music. Give them simple toy instruments, like keyboards - kids love pressing buttons. If you ever played an instrument, dust it off and start playing again, in front of them.

2. THERE IS A MAGIC NUMBER. It's about 3 ½ . For many children, that's the age when they can begin to concentrate long enough for instrument lessons - especially if the instrument is a piano.

3. CAN YOUR PRESCHOOLER FOCUS? If the child can focus on a task like a puzzle or shape sorter for 20 minutes, that child is probably ready. (If he doesn't sit still for more than 20 seconds, don't despair - he'll get there later!)

4. START WITH PIANO LESSONS. Although violins are made in baby sizes, they are extremely difficult for most youngsters under 4 ½. Piano is so much better. The child can sit comfortably. There's a palette in front of them - black and white keys They can concentrate on listening for high and low tones - basic ear training. And there's gratification from the beginning: Press the key and it sounds good!

5. MAKE IT SOCIAL. The best classes for this age are like a great big playgroup, with the instrument as the focus. Children can't wait to see their friends. If there are no classes like this in your area, consider finding another preschooler or two to join your child's beginning lessons.

6. DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Get at least three recommendations from other parents. You and your child should meet the teacher in advance, and tour the facility (whether it's a music school, or the instructor's house.)

7. SEEK RECITALS. Most preschoolers love to perform for family and friends. The children dress up; they shop for a special outfit; they even get new shoes! During or after the recital, there should be a reception (We call it a "party!") The kids will run around, eat cookies and carrots, accept congratulations, and feel great!

8. KEEP THE REWARDS FLYING. Children are very goal-oriented, so hand out a LOT of rewards, stickers and small toys. When your child gets antsy, you can say, "If you can play these three measures, you get a sticker." It works like a miracle!

9. GOT FIVE MINUTES? While lessons require a child to focus for 30 to 45 minutes, set the bar lower for home practice. If she can only put in five minutes, that's great. She'll go longer as she gets older. Consistency is FAR more important than duration.

10. CREATE A ROUTINE. Pick a regular place and time of day for practice.

11. BREAK THE ROUTINE. Some nights, I create an audience of stuffed animals for my 6-year-old. On "backwards" night, she does the measures in reverse. Sometimes she serenades me in the kitchen, while I cook. The wackier, the better.

12. DON'T BUY THE INSTRUMENT. If you have a choice, rent or borrow. Reducing your investment will help you achieve the right, laid-back attitude. When parents buy a new instrument for a beginning class, it's practically a guarantee that the kid will fail. They feel they made this big investment, so their kid had better follow through. That's too much pressure.

13. BE POSITIVE. Always see the bright side. Praise them for trying, and for their improvement. Your approval motivates them to stick with it.

14. GIVE IT FIVE WEEKS. After five sessions, parents and children understand exactly what's required. That's the time to ask yourself:

- Did my child learn something?

- Will he or she practice for at least a few minutes a day?

- Did I do ok? Can I handle the investment of time and energy?

If you answered 'yes' to at least two of these questions, keep going with music lessons. Most of our preschoolers do move on to private lessons. Or, if they're old enough (4 ½ minimum) some switch to a stringed instrument. The piano lessons help enormously when they face the increased complexity of holding and playing a violin, cello or guitar.

But even if your child isn't ready to continue, you have not wasted your investment. Everything they learned in those first five weeks as will still be there when they're mature enough to continue making music, whether in 3 months or 3 years.

© 2008, Susan Pascale, All Rights Reserved.

In general, the best preparation for gaining entrance to music school or conservatory for violin is to hire a top-notch violin teacher, who can guide you through the entire process. Ideally, this teacher should have a history of helping other students gain access to conservatories, and should be prepared to assist with the details, as discussed below.

First, take advantage of the opportunities available to you locally. Participate in youth symphony and school orchestra; take part in local competitions; play for events or in your church or synagogue; volunteer your music to a nursing home or retirement community; look for opportunities to play in groups with your peers.

Use your summers wisely. Attending summer music camps such as Madeline Island Music Camp, Tanglewood, or Interlochen is a great way to focus with great intensity on improving your skills on the violin in the company of some of your most gifted peers from around the world.

Learn the literature. Although you may have started with the Suzuki books, your pre-college musical education should take you through the full tour of materials for auditions, technique, and musical development, from such great works as the Mendelssohn, Brahms, and Tchaikovsky violin concertos to invaluable technical exercises for development of dexterity and tone written by Kreutzer and Rode.

Devote time, practice, and activity towards pursuing violin at the highest level. Take private lessons, practice at home, go to concerts, listen to recordings, watch videos of your favorite performers.

Above all, perform, perform, perform! Learning to perform is vital; while you may initially experience "stage fright," the best way to overcome this is to put yourself out there as often as possible. Look for opportunities to play with orchestras. Many local youth symphonies also have solo competitions, but your school orchestra or a local adult community group can also put you center stage. In addition, if your teacher offers recitals, make sure you play in them. Volunteering your time performing in nursing homes can be very rewarding -- they really love to hear you play!

Conservatories usually require auditions. Sometimes these are in person, and other times you may need to send a tape. There are schools that make the rounds to major cities for auditions, but for other schools you may have to travel. In planning for your audition, make sure you follow the guidelines for each school. Usually, you will need to have at least two pieces in contrasting styles, such as two selections from the romantic and Baroque eras, or selections with contrasting tempos, such as adagio and allegro. Make sure you know your major and minor scales in three octaves and can play them in every key. Many schools list audition "requirements" but you are also sometimes given a blank slate. In this case, I suggest going with the music that you think shows you at your best, rather than choosing difficult material aimed at impressing your listeners.

Also, be prepared to offer a recording of yourself. This recording should, if possible, be made in a recording studio. It is very difficult to make a good home-recording, particularly on violin. They have thousands of dollars of equipment dedicated to capturing your sound.

In addition, find yourself a professional level piano accompanist. He or she is an absolute necessity for auditions and competitions. You may want to work with a few before settling on one that you use repeatedly. I keep a list of trusted, experienced accompanists for my students.

You might also want to consider schools such as Oberlin or Yale, which offer academic programs that confer double degrees such as the BA/BM or BA/MM. This pursuit ensures that, should you choose a path other than a career in music, you also have the college experience to back up your candidacy for opportunities in other fields.