Why are group piano lessons better than private one-on-one lessons?
A parent’s first thought might be, “Private one-on-one lessons are better because my child will work directly with the teacher at their own pace.” Fact of the matter is…kids want to hang out with their friends. Most piano students that practice alone and play alone tend to lose interest and stop piano lessons.
Adults can also benefit from lessons in a group setting. We all enjoy participating in stimulating activities that we share with our friends.
Group lessons are better for most students because:
Ensemble - students can collaborate and play songs together. The sense of teamwork they get provides a place to belong. Playing in ensemble helps students develop a sense of steady rhythm and avails the opportunity for improvisation.
Performance - at the end of class students can play for each other, encourage each other’s progress and learn different styles of music.
More time - a private lessons for most students is only 30 minutes but a group lesson is usually 60 minutes. 30 minutes is not enough time to teach a comprehensive music program. In the group setting students can work together on fundamentals and have more teacher supervised time to practice new material.
Camaraderie - positive peer pressure motivates students to try harder and work together.
Independence - instead of being spoon fed by a hovering teacher, students work on their own. They progress at a self-guided pace supervised by an encouraging teacher.
Accountability - when students know the group is relying on them, they are more likely to push themselves to practice regularly and keep on task.
We are all different in so many ways. Some students may prefer and work better in a one-on-one private lesson with the teacher. Most students will develop music skills faster and have a more rewarding experience in group lessons. Plus, group lessons are less expensive, give students more time with the teacher and don’t compromise a quality music experience.
-Words of music teaching wisdom brought to you from Mrs. S’