5 Reasons Why Group Piano Lessons Are more effective Than Private Lessons
Introduction
If you're reading this, I'm going to assume that you're thinking about signing your kid up for piano lessons. That's a smart move! Learning to play the piano, or any other instrument, can be a truly transformative experience. It can help your child develop a new skill, learn to express themselves creatively, and forge meaningful friendships with other kids who love music as much as they do. But there are so many different kinds of piano lessons out there: lessons at home or school, classes in person or online, private instructors versus group classes... which is best? Which program will be the most fun while still teaching them the skills they need? When weighing your options, group lessons should be at the top of your list. Here are a few reasons why group piano lessons are better than private ones.
More Social Time
“Nothing is more fun than spending thirty minutes practicing in a room with my teacher,” said no child ever. Group piano lessons are a great way for kids to make friends and actually have fun at their lessons! It’s crucial that kids are able to create friendships around music, because those bonds are what will keep them interested in playing through the years. Camaraderie is such an important part of any kids’ activity, which is why so many kids end up favoring sports over their piano lessons. Lessons become a chore when kids are torn away from time with their friends to spend that time with their piano teacher.
After having lived through the lockdowns of the pandemic, many kids missed the opportunity to be around other kids their age for an extended period of time. Learning piano in a group environment is a unique way to make music a social activity, rather than the one-on-one experience most kids and parents associate with piano lessons. It gets kids back out in the world and spending time with others.
Learning to play an instrument can be a solo endeavor, but, for almost all professional musicians, creating music is a group activity that feeds their souls and the need for connection with others. Music is meant to be shared; it’s social and collaborative by nature. In a group setting like ours, students learn how to work together as musicians in ways that they wouldn't get from private lessons alone.
The social interaction that comes from group lessons goes beyond just being able to see your friends each week. It presents opportunities for kids to learn from one another, be inspired by the kids that are further along than they are, and be teachers and leaders themselves to kids who are not as far along in their musical journey. It instills a healthy sense of ‘coopetition’ and mutual respect, where kids reach their goals more quickly and are more motivated to succeed because of what they see as possible with other kids right in front of their eyes. After years of teaching private lessons, I can say with confidence that nothing motivates a kid to practice like having other close friends taking lessons as well!
Self-Directed Learning, Experimentation, and Discovery
One of the largest benefits of the group lesson is that, rather than having a teacher looking over their shoulder watching their every move, kids are encouraged to work independently, ask meaningful questions, ask for help when needed, and rely on their own knowledge and skills to advance to the next piece of music.
Many kids (and adults) experience nervousness and anxiety when being observed by their private instructor. I mean… it makes total sense. How do you feel when someone is watching you work on something before you’re ready to present it? This model can create negative feelings around attending their lesson each week, which is exactly what we don’t want. We want kids to feel excited about their lesson and have feelings of pride and accomplishment associated with them.
When kids are given space to work on problems on their own, it not only creates a feeling of independence and self confidence, but it also creates the healthy habit of actively seeking out help when they get stuck.
Because kids are taught how to work through music on their own in group lessons, this method of learning more closely mimics what practice should look like at home. This is a big reason why group lessons aid in…
Solving the Practice Problem
When a kid takes private piano lessons, they are told they need to practice by their teacher and by their parents. What does that amount to? More homework (hooray!). In a group class, though, kids can see their peers practicing their music in real time. Your child will get plenty of encouragement and guidance from other students as well as their teacher—and this will help them develop confidence, trust in their own problem solving abilities, and stay committed to their goals.
Any good music teacher will tell you that they have done their job when the student no longer needs them. In order for this to happen though, a child needs to know what to do when sitting down with a brand new piece of music. They need to know how to get started, how to work through difficult sections, how to play with good rhythm and feeling, and how to stay focussed on the task at hand. The group lesson environment teaches these skills in a way that private lessons just can’t.
Many kids' schedules are so packed that it feels nearly impossible to find the time to practice at home. Since group lessons last longer than typical private lessons, even if there is no additional practice done at home, the kids still get more time at the piano bench in group lessons than they would learning solo. This amounts to more progress over time, with or without practice at home.
More opportunities to play in front of others
For most kids taking piano lessons, every time a recital comes around, it’s a BIG deal. They go from playing for only themselves and their teacher, to playing on stage in front of a room full of strangers. For kids who haven’t flexed their performance muscles through activities like theater or public speaking, this can cause butterflies, sweaty palms, and maybe even tears.
In group lessons, kids are given the opportunity to share their work with others in every class. Not only does this get the students used to playing for others, it also lets them see other kids make progress and, more importantly, make mistakes! The teacher is there to make sure the kids encourage one another, provide helpful feedback, and motivate one another to continue their pursuit of music mastery.
When a student is able to play in front of their peers and learns that they are in a safe, supportive environment, it helps them to feel more comfortable performing for others. Getting the chance to do that each and every week makes it feel more natural, and creates a transferable skill of sharing with others and receiving feedback.
Guilt-free Makeup Lessons
Because group lessons operate like a class, rather than an appointment, it is much easier for us as a music school to allow for makeup lessons.
If your child is not feeling well, or has a big soccer game during their lesson time one week, they can simply hop into another class at our Decatur studio as long as there's a space available. And, because we use a modern app based scheduling system, scheduling a makeup can be done in a matter of minutes on your phone or laptop.
Makeups actually become a great experience for a student, because it allows them to meet a new group of kids that are all at different stages of their musical journeys.
Ok, I’m Convinced - But, How Do I Find a Group Class?
Unfortunately, not everybody has caught on to the benefits of group lessons. Many music schools still operate with private lessons serving as their ‘bread and butter,’ or they offer group lessons, but only through a rock band program that is open to kids at a certain level of proficiency. The great thing about our group lessons is that they are open to kids 6+ who are at any stage in their musical journey. If you live in the Decatur area, we would love to invite you to give group lessons a try with us. You can learn more about us and schedule a risk-free trial lesson with us using the link below.
TLDR
To recap, group piano lessons offer so much more value to students than private lessons because they:
Create a social environment around learning to play the piano that will keep them motivated
Encourage self-directed learning, teach problem solving skills, and train kids to ask for help when they need it
Help kids learn to practice better, and allow for more time at the piano bench with a teacher’s assistance
Allow for regular opportunities to perform for and share their progress with others
Offer greater scheduling flexibility than private lessons
To give group lessons a try, or have your questions answered, use the link below to book a trial lesson or get in touch.