#6 Before You Start Group Piano, Ask This One Question
When thinking about starting groups many teachers get caught up in the “How will I do this?” question but what they should really be asking themselves is
What is important to me musically and professionally?
In other words, what do you want for your students and yourself from adding groups to your teaching?
And that’s where the principle of “Beginning with the end in mind” made famous by Stephen Covey in his book “Habits of Highly Effective People” comes into play.
Adding groups to your studio can be one of the most powerful ways to teach music but choosing the right format, one that gives both you and your students what you want is key.
In this episode we share how our single level curriculum has enabled us to keep students long term in groups sharing footage of a group of teens who started in groups at 4 or 5 and how they are best of friends - still learning in groups.
Enjoy a peek into our world with real-life examples of groups in action.
See the lasting friendships, performance skills, and strong musical skills students can achieve almost effortlessly in groups.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
(00:00) How thinking about your ultimate goals or learning outcomes is the best place to start
(01:30) Our now teenage students share what they love about groups
(03:30) Our Ultimate Goals - give students musical like skills
(05:20) How the soft outcomes of learning with others - peer motivation and long-term friendships
(09:10) Differences between private & group lessons
(10:40) The staggering differences between novice and expert group piano teachers
(15:10) Live group lesson in action - watch how the lesson flows
If you’ve ever wondered how teachers run group piano lessons that are structured, musical, and engaging — without chaos, this episode will open your eyes to what’s possible.
Resources
🎥 Free Training Video:
How to Run Professional Group Piano Classes (Without Chaos or Compromise)
In this free video, Gillian walks you through what great group piano teaching actually looks like - including the 5 key ingredients that anchor a group piano lesson to keep students engaged and progressing.
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