This past Tuesday marked the 8th of 15 group class meetings for the fall semester of the ’16-’17 school year.  It’s hard to believe how fast the weeks are flying by!  If you’ve been regularly attending group classes – thank you!  We know how hard it can be to make the time to come on a weekday evening.  If you haven’t been coming thus far – start now! Group classes provide a unique and invaluable complement to weekly private lessons.  Here are just a few of the ways that groups benefit your child:

1. The progress they are making in home practice and private lessons gets to be seen by their peers.  It feels good when your hard work gets noticed, and group classes provide the perfect environment for progress to be noticed and praised.
2. Likewise, they get to see their peers’ progress.  This is a two-way street.  It’s important for children to learn to be able to identify and praise hard work and developed ability in others.  Simultaneously, seeing others making progress can really motivate children to work hard and see their own progress themselves.
3. They get stretched beyond their comfort zone.  Home practice is absolutely necessary.  But at home, we can all get in the habit of doing what is comfortable and easy, because things that are comfortable and easy make us feel good.  They make us feel safe.  In group class, we all get stretched a little bit beyond what we’re comfortable with, but in a safe environment.  And there some real growth can happen!
4. They develop friendships.  Making music together is a uniquely powerful bonding experience, and one that all children deserve the opportunity to enjoy.  When we practice together, we are able to produce something that is “greater than the sum of its parts” in the music we produce.  And in doing that, we produce memories that can last a lifetime.
5. They learn to play in an ensemble.  Although we can all aspire to, the reality is that most students won’t go on to be the next Itzhak Perlman or Hilary Hahn.  Most us us will do far more playing in groups of various kinds than giving solo recitals.  Therefore, it is important that we all develop the kind of awareness and skills required to actually play well in a group.

So, if you’ve been thinking about coming to group classes, but haven’t committed to doing so yet this school year, it’s never too late to begin!  Come join us on Tuesday nights.  Classes meet from 5:30-8:50 p.m. for all levels of advancement.  Ask your teacher for more information!