Pairing students when one has prior experience
Found in: Shared Lessons
Heidi M., Canada
I am about to do a FIS for a family os two children (5 and 6.5 years) and am wondering how well it could go to teach the two as a small group rather than private lessons back to back). The 6.5-year-old already had half a year of traditional lessons and that did not work out. But she still loves the piano. I am concerned that she may be too far ahead of him (including motor skills) and will need more challenge than he does, but on the other hand she could give him that positive peer pressure and help him in his learning. Just wondering what are your thoughts, especially those of you more experienced teachers who had similar kind of situations).
Ian M., Indiana
I’ve done this kind of thing successfully. There may be a difference in attention span as well, but you can address it by doing what they’ll both be doing for the first 15-25 minutes (as appropriate for him) and then give her extra projects (arrangements, etc) in the last part of the lesson.
Vicki L., New Zealand
I have taught a set of non-identical twins for three years now. I can’t imagine teaching them separately, and yet their learning, their styles, and their personalities are so different, and I find this keeps it evolving and they bounce off each other.The other siblings I have are two sisters aged 13 and 20, and that also works really well. I guess it comes down to how they relate, and the support they have.
Leeanne I., Australia
I also teach two sisters in a shared lesson, a year apart in age (ages 9 & 8). Both were having traditional lessons last year and the elder was a book ahead of the younger. I explained at the FIS that SM was going to be very different to their traditional lessons, and they would both have to start from the beginning. Both are at the end of Level 1 now. The younger’s motor skills are not quite up to the elder sister’s, but it hasn’t been an issue. I give them lots of Comp & Improv, which they have never done before. This gives them challenges that are new to both of them.
I also teach parent and child groups, which works well. The parent gives much better support at home and they pay much better attention in class!
Joy O., Alabama
I’m teaching three siblings together, ages 13, 8, and 5, with extra projects for the oldest. It’s working. Another sibling group I’ve split up. The older one progressed, but the younger did not. He didn’t practice and had poor support at home. It does take management.