by Sean Stone-Ashe
For students who want to achieve great things in music, private music lessons are the number one resource to help ensure these accomplishments. Music is a discipline in which students all have such unique needs, and every student needs individualized instruction and feedback to quickly master the challenges presented to them.
This blog will discuss the chief benefits of private music lessons, and provide context to better understand the
importance of private instruction.
1. Individual Attention / Contest Readiness
Many young music students take classes in their school band, orchestra, guitar or choir programs. This is a fantastic part of a school’s education, and provides students with a sound daily routine that incorporates music.
However, even for students in advanced music classes in school, it can be tough to grow as a musician as quickly as they are capable of due to the size of these classes. If a student is able to play the music for class well enough to blend into the ensemble sound, they may never get pushed enough to grow as a musician.
Then, when events like a Solo & Ensemble contest or an important audition comes up, these students may not have received the specific feedback and practice necessary to be fully prepared.
If a student has been receiving one-on-one instruction on their music, they will have a tremendous leg up over the competition and be much more likely to do well in these competitive environments.
2. Individual Attention / Contest Readiness
If a student has a good private teacher, chances are they will not only learn more but have a better time during instruction. When I first took private lessons, I was shocked at how fast the time went during the lesson. After all, it was a “class” like any other, and those are always long and boring!
As a teacher, I have heard this same feedback – particularly from teenagers who have spent a long time
experiencing large classes where it is difficult to stay engaged. The time truly does go by more quickly because you are learning and having fun at the same time. Music is a fun activity, and when you are working one-on-one with an instructor, it can feel like you are just having recreational time together
Students in private lessons also spend their lesson time actively doing music activities a higher percentage of the time and spend less time listening to instruction, announcements or lecturing. This naturally makes the lesson a more enjoyable experience.
3. Adult Approval
Even if they don’t admit it, most children crave the approval of adults. They want to feel seen and respected by authority figures (especially people other than their parents), and private lessons naturally set children up to receive this experience.
Students who take private lessons benefit from this time spent with an adult as their teacher will undoubtedly model functioning adult behaviors and respectful conversations, and provide insights from an adult perspective.
Hopefully, through private music lessons, students will also receive a few important life lessons and learn about adulthood from a trustworthy and upstanding source.
