Group Piano Lessons?

[Luv Bunnies]

Does anyone have any experience with group piano lessons for their kids? There's a 10 week class starting at our community center in a few weeks. It says the class size is limited to 8 students. My son will be 9 next week and we want to get him started on the piano. We thought the group class might be a good introduction to see if he likes it and how well he adapts to it. Or, will it be a waste of time because he won't get as much individual attention? I'm wondering if it's worth giving the group class a try or should we go directly for private lessons. The description says the kids will need to bring their own headphones so I'm thinking they will each have an electric piano that the teacher can plug into and hear how they're doing. We have a piano at home for him to practice on and DH and I both play so we can help him. Any thoughts?

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I would try it. When I was in college (for music) I had to take piano classes which were essentilly the same thing. We each had our own keyboards etc. It was fun.

 

[vy2cga]

It depends on your child, his attention span, interests and the others in the class. You may want to start with the group lessons as they seem to be for a short time frame and if there seems to be an interest and commitment on his part continue with private lesssons. As As both you & dh can help and you own a piano, he has a great advantage. As he is older, he may well have the focus for an entire class of piano and get bored waiting for his turn to play and learn. DD (6) went to group lessons last year (Sept-May) and a parent of each child in the class attended too. The kids were all about the same age and with no prior classes. I think I was the only parent who also plays. The program is develped for younger kids and had lots of great tools to teach music knowledge. DD did really well as it was piano, singing, rhythm, etc. The kids played games about music while waiting for their turn at the piano. The teacher has a music ed degree and is really committed to teaching and the kids. It was a fantasic experience and she is signed up again this year.

 

[mickeylove2]

Does anyone have any experience with group piano lessons for their kids? There's a 10 week class starting at our community center in a few weeks. It says the class size is limited to 8 students. My son will be 9 next week and we want to get him started on the piano. We thought the group class might be a good introduction to see if he likes it and how well he adapts to it. Or, will it be a waste of time because he won't get as much individual attention? I'm wondering if it's worth giving the group class a try or should we go directly for private lessons. The description says the kids will need to bring their own headphones so I'm thinking they will each have an electric piano that the teacher can plug into and hear how they're doing. We have a piano at home for him to practice on and DH and I both play so we can help him. Any thoughts?

how much are the group lessons?? I ask because we pay for private lessons for my DD and unless they were really cheap, I wouldn't even waste the money on a group lesson!

 

[3littleHalls]

My DD did group piano lessons for a year. She was almost 7 when she started. She had just graduated Kindermusik so she could already read some music, but no piano teacher would take on kids younger than 8 in our area. So, the Kindermusik teacher arranged for a piano teacher to teach group lessons until the kids were old enough to move on. There were 5 in a group and it went very well. They had 2 recitals. I would say it moves a little faster than individual lessons so practice is a must.

 

[goofyisinphilly]

Group classes can be great or they can be a real pain. If the class is anything more than 5 children under the age of 10 without adult mentors DON'T DO IT! Bad habits can develop so quickly even with one on one interaction. Be sure to research your instructor and how long they have been teaching in groups. Do not participate in a Suzuki program. Suzuki piano curriculum was written by a person who did not even play the piano. Now that is scary.
All that being said...I love teaching group piano with lots of help from mentors. I taught 3 semesters in an after school program and it was wonderful. Ages 3-10. Don't expect to progress as quickly as you would with private lessons. But it is a good place to get your feet wet.
Also check out Piano Wizard online. They are starting after school group classes in california sometime this year.

 

[las3888]

Well, I am a group violin teacher (as well as teach privately in my home). The group class I teach is suzuki and the park dist also offers group piano. It is an excellent opportunity for young ones to learn. The groups here are not very full...I have taught with usually only 2 kids per group class but I think they have a few more in piano. 8-9 students would be CRAZY.

The way we work our class is that there is about 5-7 minutes of individual time (depending on class size). When the other students are not having individual time, we have stations where the kids rotate and play different musical learning games.

This is geared for students 3.5-6 yrs old. For a 9 year old, I would make sure what age is offered. If it is for younger kids, it might not be a great idea for your 9 y/o. Personally, if you are serious about having DC learn piano and will dedicate yourself and him to it -- this means not caving when DC has a bad period (and they will) where they just don't want to do it anymore, I would just go straight for private lessons.

Good luck!