Five Reasons Why Private Music Lessons Work

When it comes to extracurricular activities, music lessons are a great choice. Not only will enrolling your child in music lessons prepare them to join their school’s marching band or orchestra when the time is right, but music lessons have been proven to help some students perform better on standardized tests. Whether your child is already enrolled in a band class at school or not, private lessons make sense for a variety of reasons. From getting better at their instrument to diving into music theory, here are five reasons why private music lessons work.

Getting Better at Their Instrument

If your child is enrolled in a band or orchestra at school and doesn’t seem to be improving at their instrument, it might be because they aren’t getting the personalized attention they deserve. Just like some students learn better in smaller class sizes or during one-on-one tutoring sessions, the same can be said for learning music. In order to improve at their instrument, your child should surround themselves with players who are better than them. Taking private music lessons is the absolute best way to accomplish this. Your child’s private music teacher will help them get better at their instrument through exercises that teach particular techniques, and songs that use those techniques so your child understands how to apply them.

Staying Motivated

In most cases, it’s easier for a child to stay motivated when they’re enrolled in private music lessons. This benefit is especially applicable to students who have been performing for more than a few years and may be in a “rut”, so to speak. Once a child is out of the beginner stage of playing and learning their instrument, they may not know what to do next. Fortunately, private music instructors are knowledgeable about different music styles and genres, and can help your child decide what to pursue next. Sometimes all a student needs is order and routine in order to remain stimulated and interested in their instrument. At the end of the day, it’s always easier to find motivation when you know someone is holding you accountable.

Diving Into Music Theory

Some parents who transition their child from group lessons to private music lessons notice that their child’s new teacher spends more time on music theory. While this is entirely dependent on the teachers you choose, music theory does make up a good portion of most private lessons. In private music lessons, your child will have the opportunity to learn how chords work together, get better at sight reading and, once they become more advanced at their instrument, they may even have the chance to compose music. Plus, just because your child is enrolled in private music lessons doesn’t mean they can’t still play in a group- many private studios have bands your child can join. If they don’t, speak with your child’s music teacher about any additional opportunities they may know about.

Minimizing Frustration

Remember how there was always that one kid in math class who could never solve the equation on the board, and the rest of the class had to sit around and wait until he or she could figure it out? Sometimes, the same thing can happen in a group lesson setting. While group music lessons have plenty of benefits and will definitely help your child improve their social skills, they aren’t the best idea if you want your child to make the most of every single second of their lesson time. Though frustration can make some students more determined, it discourages most. Every child deserves the opportunity to enjoy their instrument and not be frustrated with the learning process, and enrolling your child in private music lessons can help.

Setting Your Child Up for Success

At the end of the day, private music lessons will help set your child up for success in music. With a private music instructor, your child will learn the fundamentals of playing at a much quicker rate. Once that foundation is built, your child can keep learning, playing, and succeeding. Some parents enroll their child in group lessons for the first year or so. Once their child moves past the beginner level, they transition them into private music lessons. This way, their child can take advantage of the specialized one-on-one attention. Plus, once your child is strong in instrumental skills, he or she can focus more on their ensemble skills and prepare themselves to join a band or orchestra at school.

Regardless of why you choose private lessons, finding the right music instructor is key. Check out our guide on How to Choose a Music Teacher, and enroll your child in lessons at Music & Arts’ The Lesson Studio today! Our teachers are committed to exceptional music education and create customized lesson plans that are built to fit all levels, ages, and genres of music.