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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

Piano lessons: One to one or group of 6

18 replies

Creole · 12/12/2008 21:24

My DS is currently learning to play the piano in a group of 6. But I'm beginning to think that he may not be getting that much out of it.

he's constantly telling me he gets bored because he's made to do the same songs over and over again and basically left to get on with it.

My son is very musical (as told by his music teacher at school) and I don't have to encourage him to practise, he does this all my himself. His guitar teacher is very happy with him and has moved him up to a higher class.
However, the teacher at this group tells me my DS has concentration problems and he'll struggle with one to one lessons.
I have never had any problems with his music at school. Infact the music teachers love him and couldn't praise him enough.

What do you think would be best for a very musical child that gets distracted easily?

I am not a pushy parent, but I can see he's got a talent for music and I would like to encourage that.

OP posts:
Original poster
Creole · 12/12/2008 21:25

He's in year 3

OP posts:
IdrisTheDragon · 12/12/2008 21:27

I can't quite work out how you could have group lessons for the piano and it be effective. I'd say if you could manage it, individual lessons could well be better for your DS

AMIStletoekiss · 12/12/2008 21:32

If you can afford it, one to one lessons would be better, I'm not sure how 6 children can possibly learn to play piano in one group . I also don't see how a child who is easily distracted would be worse off with a teacher's full attention... surely that would keep him focussed?

Original poster
Creole · 12/12/2008 21:38

It was the worse thing I did mentioning it to the teacher, but thisn is exactly what he says. I think he is against one to one or something.

I did the group thing to gauge my DS's interest, and I can see that this is his thing. he has picked it up so quickly. they are made to learn half the song, but in the first week he played the whole song (by just listening to me huming it), which I think the teacher didn't like.

OP posts:
Califraukincense · 12/12/2008 21:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Creole · 12/12/2008 21:41

Oh, in the group of 6, they all have their own piano or keyboard - it's a music school.

OP posts:
EachPeachPearMum · 12/12/2008 21:41

I cannot imagine anyone learning piano other than one-to-one!
I'm sure he would progress more quickly than in a group lesson.

Original poster
Creole · 12/12/2008 21:46

The school is actually quite successful, a lot of kids have gone on to take their various grade exams, so I think it does work. But I don't think it's for my DS.

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AMIStletoekiss · 12/12/2008 21:47

My DS had violin lessons in a group of three for a while, which worked Ok, but he progressed much faster once he moved to individual lessons. It sounds like the teacher maybe loses good pupils from the group quite often and doesn't like it, but that's often the way it goes - as you say, you start off with a group lesson to see how much interest and ability they have.

If he's easily distracted, it must be very boring for him to be left while the teacher pays attention to the others in the group - specially if he's picking it up quickly and having to tread water till the others get to the same level.

Original poster
Creole · 12/12/2008 21:50

That is exactly the case...

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AMIStletoekiss · 12/12/2008 21:56

Then I would definitely go for the individual lessons - it will also probably help his overall concentration. There's nothing quite like finding you are good at something, and get even better when you work at it, to teach children to concentrate for longer periods.

StephanieByng · 12/12/2008 22:39

I would never go for group piano lessons. False economy IMO. Pay for one to one if you can and he will come along so much faster, and it will also keep his interest more as the lesson can go at his pace.

stillenacht · 12/12/2008 22:44

It can work well if the teacher arranges groups into levels of ability. Some children prefer not being on a one to one basis ime too. I teach both individual and small group (up to 4)

stillenacht · 12/12/2008 22:44

keyboard not piano tho (i teach piano as individual sessions)

snorkle · 13/12/2008 11:06

ds started out with group cello lessons with a similar sized group. The teacher made no secret of the fact that it was really for them to have a taster of the instrument & that the pace was determined by the group, not the individuals. Ds was told not to practise as he was getting ahead. It's a different setup for you perhaps as his group was only set to exist for a couple of terms to give children an idea of whether they wanted to learn the instrument rather than for grades etc, but the difference in progress between that and individual lessons was huge (as was the cost).

Squitch · 31/12/2008 20:51

I teach the piano and have never given group lessons, however I did have group violin lessons when I first started to play that. I think a lot of schools especially give group lessons to begin with as it helps to see who actually wants to learn to play an instrument as opposed to whose parents want them to play an instrument, if you see what I mean. I would definately say one to one lessons in your case

piscesmoon · 31/12/2008 20:59

I would say one to one.

twentypence · 12/01/2009 05:50

Those group lessons are very good at weeding out those that need one to one tuition. They are the bored ones!

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