Simpedia

Heidi M., Canada

Until recently I was only doing private lessons, and now have three shared lesson groups. I am still on a learning curve about shared lessons but I will say that for me the shared lesson setting has brought out the students’ sense of humor in a remarkable way – so the fun part has been easy. I didn’t have to work at it.

Laurie Richards, Nebraska

Here are a few quick suggestions just for keeping everyone involved:

1 – Process some sections from practice pads; include coaches.

2 – Round robins: everyone up to the piano (coaches too), train the traffic flow first, everyone watching while someone else is playing.

3 – Sometimes let students know you will be asking for feedback after another student plays, so they will listen with intent.

4 – For repertoire review, play ‘freeze tag’ – student 1 begins playing a song and stops when you say “freeze!”; student 2 has to pick it up from where student 1 left off (harder than it sounds!).

5 – For new sections taught, especially arrangements, play tic-tac-toe to help them control the events. It’s all of them against you. I use a small white board and draw the tic-tac-toe board. Each student plays the new section. If there are no mistakes, they get to place their X or O; any mistakes, and you get to place yours. Students work as a team.

6 – Have students play duets with one improvising. One student plays an accompaniment piece (Honey Dew, Amazing Grace, and accompaniment arrangement, etc) while the other improvises in an appropriate position on the piano that you tell them.

7 – Two-headed pianist: one student plays RH, another plays LH. I have thought of buying a ginormous t-shirt to put on the two students just for fun, but I haven’t done it yet.

Shared lessons are so much more fun and energizing – for everyone. I HIGHLY recommend them. I believe attrition is MUCH lower for students in shared lessons. It is just more enjoyable, social, and relevant for them.

Heidi M., Canada

In my last shared lesson class I had the other students play some hand percussion (shakers) while the other student played Jackson Blues. They loved it.

Joy O., Alabama

I would say definitely re-watch the video trainings on shared lessons. And go for it! I love my groups.

The videos are found under the Training tab, Module 4. You’ll find about 4 hours of video called “Shared Lessons”. I think the same content is also under Studio Support in the Library.