Private or Group Lessons, which is right for YOU?

When I was first introduced to the idea of group lessons, it was a hard NO for me. But as I was shown the tools and resources out there to make group lessons successful, my entire perspective changed.

I can't pinpoint exactly why I was so hesitant at the idea of group piano lessons.

Perhaps it was fear...

The fear of losing the close relationship I had with each student and their family.

The fear of managing a room full of high-energy little humans.

The fear of hindering their progress because they would lose the one-on-one instruction with me.

The fear of the unknown.

Thankfully, there are SO MANY WONDERFUL resources out there that convinced me that group piano can be a successful and wonderful experience for both myself and my students.

Why Group Lessons, anyway?

For the Student: A group lesson environment provides a unique experience for piano students. Students have the opportunity to build relationships and learn from their peers as they are immersed in a community with other pianists like them.

Through peer collaboration, student levels of engagement increase as well as opportunities for performing. Remember that performance anxiety that would creep in as recital time rolls around? Group piano gives students back their confidence as they play in front of their peers on a regular basis.

Group piano also tends to be longer in duration than the average private lesson. 45-60 minutes of in-depth learning and repetition of musical concepts increases student comprehension and retention. One of the BEST BENEFITS? When students feel confident about what they have learned, they are more likely to feel optimistic and reassured about practicing their assignments at home!

For the Teacher: Group is also an incredible opportunity for piano teachers. Many teachers feel financial capped out at their current income because they are teaching as many 1:1 private lessons as their schedule and energy will allow them.

Group piano is only one example that gives teachers the option of scaling their piano studio business.

Because group piano rates are cheaper than 1:1 lessons, they are a great option for piano families with tighter budgets--but it certainly doesn't lower your hourly rate! If you only see 4 students within an hour of group instruction (let's say priced at a low $20 per student head), your hourly rate is now $80 per hour!!

Group piano also is a tool that many teachers use to start moving families off of their waitlist and finally into lessons so that they aren't waiting 3 months...6 months...or even a year for lessons with you!

It's no secret that group lessons have benefits for both the student, family, and teacher. I have personally found that expanding my teaching ability to a group of students has challenged me to be a better teacher than when I was only teaching 1:1.

No One Group Approach is the Right Approach

After many hours of study on the subject, it's obvious to me there are many successful approaches to group piano lessons.

There are group lessons that are structured as multi-level, more independent learning, and other group lessons that are an immersive whole body experience, and still others that are somewhere in between. I am not here to argue which approach is best, because that truly depends on you and your own teaching style and goals.

I will however, provide you with the tools to be able to make that decision.

Whole-Body Group Learning: is a learning style that utilizes multiple senses to increase concept retention and engagement. By combining visual, auditory, and movement activities, all students benefit despite their personal learning style. A variety of games and activities are used that cover the same concept or multiple concepts to incorporate clever repetition.

Piano Teaching Success is an organization that is founded on this group teaching style. It has a variety of courses that help piano studio owners feel more confident and excited about teaching in a multi-sensory way.

I have personally completed 2 of their courses, and have had an AMAZING experience with both! Their courses are FULL of incredible content, ideas, and fun strategies to elevate the experience of piano teachers and students across the world.

Multi-Level Group Lessons: is a completely different model for group lessons. Instead of a collaborate approach, this model focus on replicating a structure similar to that of private lessons where students work independently on their pieces with modified teacher instruction. It gives students the autonomy and power to think for themselves and own their education with the guidance of the teacher.

There are many teachers that have adopted this model, but one particular expert in this field has an incredible resource called Successful Group Lessons. I completed this course early in 2023, and found it to be incredibly in-depth and packed with valuable information from logistical setup (equipment needed, useful group teaching techniques, live group observations), marketing templates to make the transition as seamless as possible for your piano families, and how to truly maximize this type of experience for you and your students.

I have personally found that both of these approaches have attractive features that I wished to adopt in my group piano classes, which is why I created my own hybrid approach:

15 minutes of a private review of assignments (headphones required)

15 minutes of a whole-body learning activity

15 minutes of private work on new assignments

5 minutes of wrap-up and notebook dictation

When Group Lessons Isn't A Fit

Some of you may be in the early stages of entertaining the idea...wondering if group piano is the right fit for you and your studio. You may have valid objections running through your head such as:

1.) I don't have enough space to accommodate several instruments and students.

2.) I won't be able to coordinate students at the same level and age for it to work.

3.) I can't even afford several instruments at this time.

4.) I don't want to throw out my entire curriculum and start over with a group-specific curriculum.

5.) There's no way I will convince parents to make the switch.

I know you have these objections--because I did too. And you may think that these objections mean that group piano is not just the right model for you or your students. However, I lean strongly towards the belief that group piano can be the right fit for any teacher, any studio, and any student if you choose the right group model.

And remember...

By being realistic about group size and keyboard placement, you can turn even your smallest space into a successful group piano classroom.

By incorporating a multi-level or hybrid group lesson model, you can

easily group students that are several levels and ages apart so you DON'T have to coordinate students of the exact level and age.

Once you begin to see this as an investment in your piano studio business--a

business that is worthy to be invested in, the financial return

will cover the investment AND profit!

Any method book is adaptable to a group setting.

If you truly believe in the value of group piano, your piano

parents will trust you as the expert and enroll in your vision.

Don't let these fears stop you and your students from having

success from group piano. Your group lessons don't have to be perfect. You don't have to have all of the answers right now.

If you want more information on making your group lessons a success story in your studio, sign up for the group piano email list where you will receive actionable tips and resources for your group classes--and be the first to know when our group piano partnership goes LIVE!

As always, stay tuned!

(pun unapologetically intended)

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