Play With Us to Play Better at School
Playing an instrument in a school setting is how many children are introduced to music. This makes sense because most schools require music class at the elementary level. In fact, 92% to 97% of public elementary schools offer music instruction (source). But what does that have to do with music lessons? Once a student discovers their interest in playing an instrument, they can further develop their skills by taking lessons with us.
The Why
Private music lessons act as a high-powered supplement to school band and orchestra programs by providing the individualized technical training that large ensembles often cannot offer. While a school conductor must focus on the group’s collective sound and performance readiness, a private teacher focuses solely on the student’s personal growth.
BTB is a great choice for supplemental lessons because of our individualized lesson plans. Our school specializes in expanding music education to allow everyone to participate in the musical realm, including students with special needs. This means we have to create unique lesson plans to meet every student’s needs since many of our students have unique styles of learning. Our teachers use a variety of great music curriculum resources to customize each lesson experience and maximize each student’s accessibility to learning music.
Students in school ensembles can benefit from taking lessons with us for several reasons, but we will focus on three:
- Taking Accountability: Most public schools offer small group lessons for their students, but no individual lessons for each student. Taking music lessons outside of school will help students take accountability for their personal progress and keep them from getting lost in a sea of students.
- Building Confidence: While the school ensemble setting offers students entry to a community of like-minded peers, it can be easy for some students to slip through the cracks. Taking one-on-one lessons forces them to play pieces by themselves, which will boost their confidence when they master a piece. They go back to school knowing they can personally play what their ensemble is tackling.
- Advanced Repertoire: While large groups play pieces that are chosen by directors, private lessons can be a time for students to play music that’s outside the box. They can play pieces that are closer to their individual level while simultaneously discovering preferences for different genres or styles of music.
The How
Many of our students play in their school’s ensembles while taking lessons with us to improve their skills. Here is a little insight into how our teachers help those students in ways that ensemble instruction can struggle with.
- Fixing Technique and Breaking “Bad Habits”: In a large group, minor issues like poor embouchure, incorrect hand positioning, or bad posture can go unnoticed. Our teachers provide instant and specific feedback to correct these before they become ingrained habits.
- Customizing Learning Pace: Students can spend extra time on difficult sections of their school music or accelerate through easier material. This prevents them from feeling “stagnant” or frustrated when the school class moves too slowly or too quickly for them.
- Deeper Musical Understanding: Private teachers often have more time to dive into music theory, sight-reading, and instrument-specific nuances that are frequently glossed over in rehearsals.
- Audition and Solo Preparation: Lessons are ideal for preparing for competitive “chair placements,” solo festivals, and honor band auditions, giving students the specialized coaching needed to stand out. Not to mention that students might feel more comfortable auditioning for solos because of the confidence they have strengthened through their lessons.
Music is a wonderful creative outlet for students to tap into if they are feeling overwhelmed or understimulated in any way. Why not help them become the best musician they can be by giving them access to extracurricular lessons that boost their confidence, maximize their skills, and show them the kind of musician they can become. Click here to see our curriculum and here to meet our teachers. Thanks for reading, and we’ll catch you next week.
As an institution that is a beat above the rest, Breaking the Barrier School of Music provides quality music lessons in a family atmosphere to students of all ages and skillsets. For more articles like these or information on this school, visit https://btbschoolofmusic.com/
