I've been referring lots and lots of young students to group lessons. I don't even interview them, I just refer to a teacher who specializes in group lessons. For those of you who teach youngsters (younger than 6), would you recommend private or group lessons.

I usually get them back in 4 years, so I want them to get the best teaching possible.

Any advice?

It all depends on the teacher's comfort level with young children. Many teachers don't want to work with younger children because it requires a very different approach than with an 8 year old. If that's something you wish to branch out into, then do research on early childhood programs that are available to find out more about how to work with child of this age. If not, then it is probably best as long as the group programs are geared toward that age as well. Otherwise, there wouldn't be much benefit for group vs. private. Group lessons do provide a social connection for kids who are just learning to socialize, so that is a plus.

If you're interested in teaching young children, I can give you more specifics.

I started taking private lessons myself when I was five years old. Never had any group lessons until they put me into a group piano class in college, which they quickly decided was inappropriate But I have given private lessons to kids as young as six, although generally I feel that a kid who starts at seven or eight will quickly catch up to a kid who started at four or five, because of cognitive development stages, so starting a kid very young doesn't necessarily give them a leg up, but it does cost mommy and daddy more money. By age nine or ten, the seven year old and the five year old will be playing equally well (all other things being equal). Some parents do insist on private lessons at such a young age, so I used to tell them that we could do this, but to be aware that the bang for their buck is not as great with a very young child. Of course this doesn't apply to those who live in Lake Woebegone.

I'm certainly not interested in learning. I think it's better to specialize in one or two things, and those are keeping me occupied.

I was hoping to get some advice from someone who teaches both, so that I can be a little more focused when I refer students to the people who specialize in young kids.

I teach both group and private students. Most of my beginning students start in the Harmony Road group program. All students younger than age 8 start in the HR program.

There are only a few group piano programs out there. The ones I recommend (in order) are:

Harmony Road www.harmonyroadmusic.com
Yamaha www.yamaha.com
Music For Young Children (very popular in Canada) www.myc.com
Musikgarten www.musikgarten.org


The Harmony Road and MYC program both originated from the grand-daddy of group piano programs... the Yamaha method.

If you can find the right teacher, I would say private lessons will get them further along.


H1

I think it depends on the temperament of the child, but all things being equal, group lessons at this age would work very well. In a group, there is less focus on the product and more on the process, which is very important for children of this age.

I would agree with Morodiene in that it really depends on the kid. Both of my kids started at 6 with private lessons (with no group lessons beforehand). My daughter could have easily handled private lessons at 5, maybe even 4. My son on the other hand, well, let's just say that any earlier than 6 probably would not have been as productive

I teach privately starting at age 4 1/2.

My first year students also receive group lessons, with lots of performance opportunities there after.

Bingo!

I used to accept students younger than 6 years old, but I stopped doing that, unless it is the younger sibling of a current student. Before I accept a student that young, I'm looking for strong aural skills. I also look for ones who can imitate well--which means they can see, hear, and feel music--innately. They also need to be able to sit still for 30 minutes, which is a miracle by today's standards.

Most 5-year-old students can benefit from group lessons and cooperative learning. Private lessons are for the unique youngsters.