Dear Teachers,

I could use some advice if you please. I've been teaching private piano for several years and last year I started teaching a preschool music program at a nearby church. As a result, many parents of the preschoolers are requesting lessons for next fall just as parents from last year signed up their children this last fall. The problem with this is that I already teach 30 private students so I have little room in my schedule for 4 - 5 more. I'm considering teaching group lessons for these little newbies in my home. What do you think?

I would really appreciate any feed back. Is there a particular group piano curriculum out there that is a favorite? What type of keyboards are suitable and affordable for group lessons? How do I determine tuition (I'm considering 19 week semesters)with a week long music camp in the summer). And most importantly, am I crazy to even consider such a venture.

Love to hear from you.

There are several early childhood programs out there, but very few that incorporate keyboard activities. The ones that do are:

Yamaha Music Course ( www.yamaha.com )
Harmony Road ( www.harmonyroadmusic.com )
Music For Young Children ( www.myc.com)

As a piano teacher, I prefer an early childhood course that includes keyboard activities, as this will transition nicely to private piano lessons later on. I teach the Harmony Road program and prefer it over the other programs. If you'd like more info, just PM me.

Musikgarten is another early childhood program that includes keyboard activities.

www.musikgarten.com

I can't help with the problem but I want to commend you on attempting an association with the church. I have come to think that churches should be growing their own musicians. Most churches are in dire need, but have missed the opportunity to start their own programs. I think they were asleep at the switch and did not realize how much basic music education has vanished from the public school systems.

Expanded church programs have the potential to fill the church's need for music, the community's need for music education, and the piano teacher's need for income.

That's my theory, anyway.

Perhaps the megachurches with their resources are already doing something along these lines, I don't know much about this phenomenon.

I did a cursory search and didn't find anything too relevant, so I'm "necrobumping" this thread.

I am a teacher considering offering an adult group course. Possible catered to "retirees". Has anybody done this? Is there a usual method? How long does it last? How often would you meet? Any information would be helpful, as I'm just in the "hey! I have an idea!" stage.

This is my current situation: I am teaching lessons in a music store to a variety of ages/levels. Currently, teaching is the ONLY gig I have. As such, in this economy, I am doing my best to put together an "a little from column A, a little from column B" approach. Not only for immediate income, but also to increase overall number of students.

Again, any info./opinion at all would be appreciated. Thanks.

An intriguing idea. My hunch is that such a group course may be more difficult for adults than with kids, simply because adults tend to have widely different musical backgrounds (some have had lessons as a child, some already know how to read music and other theory issues, some have played other instruments, etc.) The more varied their backgrounds, the harder it's going to be for you to meet their individual needs in a group lesson.

One scenario I can envision where it might work well is to go to a retirement home or assisted living community (especially those that have a commons room with a piano) and get permission to start a group and post flyers there. You might be more likely to attract a core group of people eager to give it a try and/or who think it would be a fun group project. I'm guessing it would be easier to start up a group in that kind of context than, say, advertising in the community.