How to Group Students in Small Classes
“No, No, and No Way!”
These were my answers on a call yesterday with a piano teacher who asked me how I manage to teach 4 students in a classroom at the same time.
- “Are they all at the exact same level?”
- “Do they play the same songs?”
- “Does everyone practice & stay together?”
While I do group my students as close as possible by age and levels, I never want them to be held to someone else’s standard in their learning. Unlike public schooling, I want each student to progress at their own pace.
How do I select students for small group classes?
6-8 year old children do well together at similar levels. So do 8-10 year old kids. Teenagers don’t want to be in a class with a much younger student who is playing at the same level as they are. It has taken me a few years to figure these things out and find the ideal mixes. Adults prefer to be with adults, not minding so much if their levels are varied. Before I ever add a student to a class, I meet with them ahead of time to assess their skills and personality. It really helps to mix the introverts with extroverts too.
It’s Not about Competition
The value in a classroom setting is learning with and alongside each other, not in creating perceived competition for progress. We can all learn about staccato together without playing the same song. One of my favorite things is to declare one day “staccato day” or “legato day”. It introduces the concept of technique while learning songs.
Do they all play the same songs?
In our first year, there are a lot of songs everyone plays. I rarely, if ever, assign 2 students in the same class the same song. Maybe if it’s a holiday piece, but not otherwise. I supplement with pieces outside of the method books to cater to individual likes or needs, so no one plays the same songs at the same time.
Does everyone practice and thus, stay together?
Nope. No one gets the exact amount of practice time at home each week, and few, if any students are identical in strengths as their classmates. Again, the best learning is all geared to individuals.
