Private Lesson Information
Should my band student take private lessons? The quick answer is YES!
Private instruction is when a student is able to work one-on-one with a professional musician, the private teacher is able to work more in depth with the student.
Students will get help with developing a more professional tone on the instrument, fundamentals of playing their instrument correctly with better technique and help with a set of goals that will help your student excel on their instrument.
Taking lessons teaches responsibility, goal setting, and commitment to a craft or process. The art of learning to commit and work towards excellence applies far beyond learning to play an instrument.
We strongly encourage our band members to take private lessons on their instrument, as this is a great way to set and achieve measurable goals with a Professional Musician or Specialist on a specific instrument.
Each instrument has special needs, tendencies, and we partner with some of the finest trained professionals in their fields. There is no substitute for taking lessons with an individual who performs or specializes on a specific instrument, and we work to find the best fit for each of our band members.
Many people think that "private lessons" or "tutoring" are only needed for kids who are struggling with their instrument, while it is great for "extra help" as it suggests, those students who are excelling on their instruments benefit equally and usually excel to a whole new level of performance.
Benefits of Private Lessons
Private lesson teachers model a professional sound on their instrument. How do babies learn to talk? By listening to people talk. How do instrumentalists learn to play with a characteristic sound? By hearing a characteristic sound.
Students are able to perform by themselves weekly and get concentrated feedback. In band it is rare for students to perform by themselves and if they do, feedback is usually limited to 10-15 seconds. Performing weekly for a teacher helps them become a more confident and independent player. They also have more time to give feedback, try again and continue to work on a problem until it improves because it is an individual setting.
Students are able to focus on supplemental exercises written specifically for their instrument. These fundamentals are crucial for later development and more advanced playing ability.
Method books written just for their instrument are far superior to band music for developing well-rounded players. Method books, because of their methodical nature, do a much more complete job of covering full range, key signatures. rhythms, duets, alternate fingerings and styles than the curriculum in band class allows.
Region/district band auditions can be approached on an individual level. Teachers can meet a child where they are to begin the region band music and help them develop an individual game plan to prepare them for the audition. This helps students learn how to set goals - long term and weekly goals.
Instructors give students a chance to play a unique solo that they love at a solo contest. Lesson teachers, experts on solos for their instruments, are able to offer students a number of solos that are ideal for their development level. They can also choose solos that work on goal for that student such as focusing on objectives such as extending range, improving articulation, or extreme key signatures. Giving students more options means they are more likely to find a solo with personality and that they enjoy playing.
Private lesson teachers provide a role model for band students that can be a strong motivation for students to continue in band and excel on an individual level. While students move through different classes, grade levels and schools, it is possible they would have the same lesson teacher for 7 or more years. Lesson teachers often have a long term plan for each student's development. Private teachers can guide a students all the way from the first sounds in beginner band through a professional level solo as a senior in high school and they know how to get them from one point to the next.