Children have the choice of learning keyboard or piano as a group with several other peers or privately with a piano teacher. It’s often a difficult choice for parents to make, as some don’t know what method is the better choice for their child. Here’s a background on what to expect for group and private lessons for younger children.
Class sessions mostly highlight lively activities for students that are under the age of six that include playing with percussion toys, learning childrens’ songs, dancing and learning short pieces on the piano or keyboard. Some children that are older will be able to spend more class time on the piano, but they also get some skills in rhythm and learning new songs.
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.
Keep in mind that your child must want to be at the lessons. Don’t force them to be there, as they will be much more productive if they look forward to the lessons. As a parent, decide what your intuition tells you: it’s alright to wait until your child is older, like 7 or 8 years old to begin piano lessons.
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