One of the disadvantages of taking piano lessons is that the student has little, if any, interaction with other kids. In band or orchestra the student has private lessons and may prepare solo repertoire, but then he shares his talent with others in a band or orchestra rehearsal and performance. To make music more fun for the piano student, group lessons are a great idea.
There are many options when getting the kids together for a group lesson. In Suzuki training, group lessons are encouraged once each month. During the lesson, theory, history, ear training and more are taught through games. It is such a wonderful way to get the kids away from sitting at the piano and interacting with other kids. It is also a way of reinforcing skills taught during lessons in a playful setting.
Generally, I chose a topic and create a game to teach the concept. Games such as rhythmic bingo, melodic relays, brief composer lessons, or games in keeping a steady beat are used in a 45 minute lesson. Each lesson also includes performance. Each student plays a piece that is, for the most part, polished. In doing so, kids get used to performing which takes the fear to a minimum. The student also gets to hear other pieces that may inspire him to play. It is a great way to become familiar with different types of music. The young children aspire to play as well as the advanced and the advanced student appreciates from whence he came when hearing the little ones perform.
Parents attend the groups as well. I sometimes ask the parents to join in as helpers, or as participants. They love being included and it gives the kids the message that music is a family supported activity. How wonderful it is to see the kids laughing, playing, and enjoying music. Nothing stuffy about it!
Group lessons build comradery. Friendships grow between students and parents through group lessons. Not only do kids get the message that music is a family activity but they find others that share their interest in a safe, loving environment.
Games are a great way to learn. So….. play games with kids. The kids will learn and the adults will get the chance to feel young again.
Thanks for this post. I agree with your first statement: One of the disadvantages of taking piano lessons is that the student has little, if any, interaction with other kids. True. We have remarkably similar experiences and observations on that matter. That is why I, as their piano teacher, always look forward to learning and adopting more and more creative and innovative piano teachers resources online to get the latest trends and techniques in teaching music and piano. Your suggestion on making music more fun for the piano students through group lessons and cooperative learning are great ideas that I can personally use in my classroom. Establishing camaraderie among our students is a great tool to motivate them and boost their self-confidence and self-esteem – heightening their social skills. Keep on sharing gainful and useful tips in teaching piano and continue to inspire more and more music teachers out there – like me! All the best! Til your next posts.
Thank you so much for the nice note. I’ll check out your site as well. That’s what I love about blogging is learning and sharing with others. I hope you’ll add me to your blog roll.
I agree with you totally. I am a Music teacher from Kenya – Africa. we had a Music camp last year & a concert that followed there after. It was really nice to see how the students enjoyed interracting with each other. There was tight competition & at the end of it all we had the best concert ever.
Pls send me suggestions & ideas of making Group lessons fun.
Regards.
Mophat
Wow! Very exciting to get a friend in Kenya! I am so excited to hear from you. I would love to hear about what you do with kids. Any videos you could share?
Thank you for your comments; I do love the group lesson scene. The kids build their music abilities and their friendships. Both are so important. Hope to hear from you again.
S. Frack