Music lessons, group or private?

[mommyoffive]

Which do you do?  

 

Are group lessons still a good way to learn? 

 

Are certain instruments better for a group lesson than others?

[Pegasus]

IMHO, group lessons are fine for exposure, just-for-fun purposes.  I prefer individual lessons for serious skill building and attention to the avoidance of picking up bad form/habits.

 

DD16 has individual lessons for both violin and mandolin.  She did a group class for mountain dulcimer just for fun.

[luuknam]

I think it also depends on the kid and on the budget. Some kids get more motivated by being around other kids doing the same, I think. And it's usually significantly cheaper to do a group lesson. But, you're stuck going at the pace of the (low) average kids in the group, and won't get as much individual attention. So, in general, I'd opt for individual instruction and add in an orchestra or something when the kid has had enough lessons to make that work.

 

FWIW, I had group violin lessons when I was 8yo, and the pace was seriously too slow and caused some bad habits in teaching me to skate by (no point in practicing when it just makes the next lessons more boring).

[Bluegoat]

It depends on things like the goals, the level, and the age of the kids.

 

More serious students will probably need individual lesson at some point.  But a group introduction might be great for many people before making a further commitment.

 

And group lessons can be really fun for some instruments.

 

But with small kids, group lessons can I think have some real advantages in terms of teaching methods and motivation. 

[catz]

Agreed with everyone else.  Depends on age of child, instrument, budget, motivation, goals.  I do think a 2-3 month group class can help someone decide if their child is really ready for private lessons.  I probably wouldn't do JUST group lessons for more than a year. 

 

I LOVED group style kinder musik classes until my kids were about 5 and that was a perfect lead in to private lessons.

 

 

 

[Bluegoat]

Agreed with everyone else.  Depends on age of child, instrument, budget, motivation, goals.  I do think a 2-3 month group class can help someone decide if their child is really ready for private lessons.  I probably wouldn't do JUST group lessons for more than a year. 

 

I LOVED group style kinder musik classes until my kids were about 5 and that was a perfect lead in to private lessons.

 

My girls did a group lesson from about age 5 to 7 or 8.  It was in some ways ike Kindermusic in that it very much used earlier childhood education methods, but it went further - the kids learned some piano, music reading, they sang together and did rythym ensemble, played games, and so on.  It seemed to work as well or better than a lot of the individualized piano lessons I've seen directed to that age group.  In part it was the fun aspect, but also the integration of the different elements that the group made possible.

[Sara in AZ]

Both! I think private is the best for developing a strong foundation of skills. But there are lots of benefits to group, for example you can teach theory skills in a way that is more fun and saves time in the private lesson. The pre college program I taught at for years combined both...weekly private lessons with weekly or every other week group classes.

[Terabith]

My girls did Musikgarten early childhood classes that transitioned into a really amazing, in depth, three year group piano program. Those kids were highly sought after by private piano teachers because of the foundation the program laid.

 

That said, it didn't work well for my youngest, and she only completed two years.

[mommyoffive]

My girls did Musikgarten early childhood classes that transitioned into a really amazing, in depth, three year group piano program. Those kids were highly sought after by private piano teachers because of the foundation the program laid.

 

That said, it didn't work well for my youngest, and she only completed two years.

 

Was the group piano through Musikgarten?

[mommyoffive]

Both! I think private is the best for developing a strong foundation of skills. But there are lots of benefits to group, for example you can teach theory skills in a way that is more fun and saves time in the private lesson. The pre college program I taught at for years combined both...weekly private lessons with weekly or every other week group classes.

 

See this is something that I know nothing about.  Thank you for that point.

 

I was just searching for something else and ran across a place that does group lessons for 4 months, once a week, a 45 min class for $24 if you are resident and $48 if you are not.

 

Plus you could rent a instrument through them for $10 for the whole year. 

 

I was wondering if it was something that was of worth or not.

[G5052]

For exploring music, I think that group lessons are fine. At a certain point you need private lessons though.

 

I played the violin through my childhood and into college. Having group lessons in grade school was fine, but I really didn't advance until I got one-on-one instruction.

 

In graduate school I needed a break from my dissertation, so I took group voice. That was really fun, and I learned a lot. I can see though that I would have gone further with one-on-one, but for that time and place it was great.

[Sara in AZ]

See this is something that I know nothing about. Thank you for that point.

 

I was just searching for something else and ran across a place that does group lessons for 4 months, once a week, a 45 min class for $24 if you are resident and $48 if you are not.

 

Plus you could rent a instrument through them for $10 for the whole year.

 

I was wondering if it was something that was of worth or not.

I was teaching at a University program at that time. If you are near a university you might look into it. It's becoming a more common model for university music departments to have a program like ours where childen in the community are taught by a mix of faculty and piano pedagogy students.

[mommyoffive]

I was teaching at a University program at that time. If you are near a university you might look into it. It's becoming a more common model for university music departments to have a program like ours where childen in the community are taught by a mix of faculty and piano pedagogy students.

 

I do actually.  I have contacted them over and over never heard back.  

[Sara in AZ]

That's unfortunate! I'm sorry. Maybe you can find something similar in the community. Many private teachers will offer group classes in addition to the individual lesson. My kids take private string lessons but go to a bi monthly Suzuki group class. One on one time with a teacher is invaluable, but the opportunity to be with peers and have fun making music with others is also important.

[catz]

That's unfortunate! I'm sorry. Maybe you can find something similar in the community. Many private teachers will offer group classes in addition to the individual lesson. My kids take private string lessons but go to a bi monthly Suzuki group class. One on one time with a teacher is invaluable, but the opportunity to be with peers and have fun making music with others is also important.

 

We've had a great experience with Suzuki programs too and the mix of group/private opportunities.  My Suzuki violin DD does private, group, and orchestra. 

 

But if you have a younger child with NO music exposure, a group experience can be a fabulous low pressure lead in to a private lesson experience if the interest is there.  My kids started private lessons early in a Suzuki program.  But their early child hood group experience before that definitely help bridge the way.

 

Also if you're starting with a younger child, unless you have a teacher that is experienced with starting young kids, I think a group class targeted to that age range is probably better. 

 

Edited August 5, 2016 by WoolySocks

[Terabith]

Was the group piano through Musikgarten?

Yes.  It's a Musikgarten piano program.  The first year, they learn to play by ear the songs that they have been singing and moving and playing rhythm instruments to since infancy, while doing some early theory games.  Then during the second year they start learning to play these songs while reading music, along with doing improve, reading new music, scales, etc.  It's really ingenious. 

 

The pressure to keep up with the other kids actually really is encouraging for practice, etc.  However, that was my youngest's downfall.  She is a perfectionist with a low frustration tolerance, and she was too stressed about "keeping up."  However, for the majority of the kids, the constant performance opportunities and peer pressure are a real boon at the 6-9 year age. 

Edited August 5, 2016 by Terabith

[mommyoffive]

That's unfortunate! I'm sorry. Maybe you can find something similar in the community. Many private teachers will offer group classes in addition to the individual lesson. My kids take private string lessons but go to a bi monthly Suzuki group class. One on one time with a teacher is invaluable, but the opportunity to be with peers and have fun making music with others is also important.

 

 

I will look for sure.  

 

You motivated me to try and contact the University program again.