Thursday, January 1, 2009

What's Better: Group or Private Piano Lessons

By Georgia Reader

Students may train in keyboard skills by private lessons with an instructor or by participating in a class with other students. Most parents are unable to decide which type of piano lesson format to take for their child. The two types of venues are both effective, and we will show how a parent can decide.

Group lessons are basically designed for younger children ages 3 to 6 and likely includes other activities such as playing rhythm instruments, singing, movement, and some keyboard activity. Very young children like fun interactive activities because group keyboard lessons for the very young do not emphasize keyboard playing. Older children will get more time at the keyboard, but there are still other activities such as learning rhythm and singing during the lesson session.

Some children may discover that taking private lessons too stressful as it demands their constant attention and concentration. Not all teachers are understanding or accommodating for young children so some children may not look forward to the lessons and feel pressured to achieve. Younger children cannot always stay interested and listen to what the teacher is communicating and sometimes their hands are just too small to play piano pieces.

Some classroom lesson sessions and a few private instructors may require that parents attend the lesson with the child. The reason is that the parent can study their child's behavior during the learning process, and possibly learn some music themselves if they don't have any musical training. By observing lessons, a parent will be able to help their child if they do not understand and need help.

Students should keep taking the lessons if they are learning and liking the instrument. It does not matter if it is a group or private setting, as long as the teacher works well with children and is adept at helping them learn a musical piece then all is well. Teachers that offer stickers give some students some motivation to get the piece practiced after class is over.

Children that attend group lessons with others may not learn as much as they could in a one-to-one lesson situation. Young students tend to be distracted by other children and their attention will be focused away from the class, so if they have private lessons the teacher can help them focus on the learning. Parent attendance will help both types of lessons, and they can see if the classes or lessons are really effective and that their child is learning.

Does your child have friends that are taking music classes or private lessons? You can talk to the parents and the other young children to see if they enjoy the classes and are learning anything about music. An excellent idea would be to take the prospective student to a classroom session, then have a sample assessment or private lesson with a qualified piano instructor.

Remember that the child should look forward to the lessons. It's not a good thing to make them attend the lessons like something they have to do, as they will grow to resent it. Parents should take note and maybe realize that the child may be too young for lessons and as they get older, they may change their minds. - 16459

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