Group lessons resumed as well this week. Most students take two lessons per week, including a 30 minute private lesson and a 30-40 minute group lesson. The group lessons provide extra time for me to teach music theory, sight reading, ensemble work, performance and ear training. Piano students really benefit from getting to know and work with other students from an early age. It becomes more of a social activity, helps form friendships within the studio, as well as providing a great learning opportunity.
Most of my group lessons are small, anywhere from 2-4 students, and include students of about the same age and level. But one of my groups this year has 9 students. It is a mixture of 3 older students and 6 younger, including two sets of older/younger siblings, and involves each group being able to work independently on written or computer assignments while I teach the other group. We tried this out a few times last year and I was really pleased with the results. It is a unique situation where all the kids get along, the older kids set a great example and are nice to the younger kids, and the younger students are mature enough to work independently.
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