When it comes to taking group piano classes or private piano lessons, have you ever wondered which the better choice is?

Today, I want to share with you my personal opinion on the pros and cons of each path so you can make an informed decision.

Let’s start with class piano.

The immediate, obvious benefit of class piano is having a peer group. When we’re alone not all of us can stay motivated to do whatever it is that needs to get done. It’s hard to see the value (yet) of developing skill at something unless we can compare ourselves to others.

So the greatest benefit a group piano class can give you is one of accountability. The pressure of not wanting to be the one holding the class back is usually enough to make the average student want to put the work in every day. That’s why mastermind groups and team sports are such powerful social incentives.

And let’s face it, the piano is the loneliest instrument you could ever choose to want to play. Unless you have a rock solid self-discipline it’s hard to keep going without other people to relate to. If you don’t have a strong internal compass, private piano lessons are going to be a tough sell for you.

As a side note, I have to admit that I was always jealous of violinists and other instrumentalists. Having the orchestra as a creative and collaborative outlet is a luxury that pianists usually can’t count on.

Now… the negatives.

Learning is not a one-size-fits-all model! If you don’t fit into the “average” standard of the group you are placed in, you’ll always stick out like a sore thumb. For example, if you’re always ahead of the curve you’ll have to wait for the rest of the class to catch up each time.

But what’s worse is if you’re the one struggling. Do you really want to be the black sheep that’s always playing catch-up? This could be potentially even more detrimental for a younger student since they are more likely to identify with their peers and haven’t developed the backbone of an adult yet. Cue the feelings of shame and embarrassment.

Unrealistic comparisons and expectations can lead to traumatic experiences.

Another thing to keep in mind is the size of the class. Did you know that the larger the group, the less likely each member will be accountable to each other? In Robert Cialdini’s book “Influence,” he talks about this rule as being the law of numbers. I’d encourage you to read that chapter in more detail. The short of it is that people are more likely to be responsible when they are fewer in number than when they are in a big group. So if you happen to have 40 or more piano classmates… good luck.

Onto private piano lessons.

The biggest advantage (provided you have the right teacher for you) has to do with choice. You can choose to progress effortlessly. Or you can work out of your comfort zone. You’ll become better at your strengths while addressing your weaknesses, all at your own pace. Most importantly, you can choose the type of music you want to play (I hope).

Of course there are many private teachers who don’t give students this option. Many of my transfer students were playing music that they weren’t interested in at all, some of them for a FEW YEARS. Talk about having their curiosity and passion ground into the dirt! In my studio I let my piano students choose all their own music. As a teacher I have a hard time understanding why you would take that freedom away from them.

Now, the hardest part of private lessons is self-accountability. In my experience, adult students struggle the most and have a difficult time being consistent. An important lesson I try to hammer home for them is that they have to be responsible for their own actions. Mommy and Daddy won’t be there to make you practice. What I desperately try to communicate is they have to both create rewards and self-punishments for themselves.

No consequences = no results.

No rewards = miserable experience.

No system in place = a waste of time.

Younger students who have the benefit of a solid support system (parents, environment + teacher) don’t have to bear the responsibility of doing it all on their own. If the right structure and incentives are in place, they will practice.

Of course you can try giving ALL the responsibility to your kid. Let me know how that one goes…

In conclusion, I don’t have anything against group lessons but in my opinion they lose their benefits quickly. If you want to use them as a quick, short-term boost, go for it. Whatever gets you start.

Yes, private piano lessons are definitely more challenging and most of the responsibility will fall on you. But do you really want to have to depend on other people for motivation?

I say rise to the challenge. It’s worth it. Because that’s what life is all about, isn’t it?

Happy practicing.

“But I played so well at home.”

So goes the story of many pianists who don’t understand the difference between practice and performance. But once you understand what that difference is, all you need to do is employ the right strategies to be as successful in performance as you are in practice.

In my opinion, the biggest difference between practice and performance is control.

There’s nothing glamorous or fancy about real practice. Imagine Leonel Messi or Roger Federer. You can bet their practice is (or has been) focusing on one single move for hours at a time until they completely master it.

Think of practice as the distortion of reality by drilling a specific move until it’s “automatic.” In practice you can repeat a certain move ad nauseam. Can you imagine calling a timeout during a game to practice a move for 30 minutes before resuming? It’s like watching a DVD at home compared to watching a movie at the theater (get it?).

In short, practice is structured, methodically rehearsed and habit-building.

Performance, on the other hand, is another beast altogether. If you practice the right way things can randomly (frustratingly) go down the gutter.

Back to this idea of control. A saying in football is that the best team is the one who manages their time the best. Think about that.

Manage your time because you can’t control your outcome.

For the 2015 season, there was no NBA team that scored higher than a 50% in terms of field goal percentage (shots made). That means they miss half their shots! Every NBA team! Do you think that applies to their practice? Of course not, that number’s usually 100% if not 200%.

And don’t forget luck.

If you look at the most pivotal moments in professional sports, sometimes it comes down to pure dumb luck. The ball literally bounced their way.

So knowing what you know now, how do you practice for performance?

It’s simple, really. Practice performing.

What does a team do when they want to simulate the game experience? They scrimmage. But remember that scrimmages are a very small percentage of their practice. It could be 5% or 10%.
If you scrimmage too much, you will lose the valuable skills and knowledge you gained through practice. So make sure your run-throughs (performances/scrimmages) are just to evaluate where you’re at.

Here’s a formula that will help: 10 practices = 1 successful scrimmage. 10 scrimmages = 1 successful performance. So that’s 100 practices and 10 scrimmages just to get 1 good performance.

Now all that’s left is for you to execute.

Happy practicing!

When it comes to having a successful piano recital performance no one can deny the importance of consistent practice and performance rehearsal. But there’s one thing you can do that doesn’t even require a piano to enhance your success.

Bow.

That’s right, a simple bow.

It’s funny to think it can all basically depend on looking at the ground. So let’s dig deeper and you’ll understand that this one thing makes all the difference in the world.

Many concert artists have said that performance starts before you even play a single note, that it starts the moment you set foot on stage.

The moment the audience sees you.

So, everything you do before you even sit at the piano affects your piano performance (a.k.a. “stage presence”).

In the book “The Creative Habit” the author talks about “keystone” habits. This single “master” habit lays the foundation from which all other actions, plans, and strategies lead to success.

One single habit. One starting point.

So think about your bow, the way you walk to the stage, and even your posture as keystone habits. Rehearse them until it’s completely automatic, completely natural. This will be your secret weapon against nervousness.

And nobody will know but you.

In my last “How to Make Piano Practice Automatic” post I talked about making practice into a habit. So when your pre-performance routine is a habit, it becomes something familiar and something to depend on for when your nerves get the best of you.

And the opposite is also true. If you don’t feel confident when you bow (i.e. you haven’t rehearsed it enough), it can create negative momentum that spirals into a poor performance.

Also, give some serious thought to starting a keystone habit for yourself first thing in the morning. That one thing you do as soon as you wake up will set the tone for the entire day. It could be something as simple as making a cup of coffee or a quick mantra.

Do it every morning and you’ll see a difference in your day.

So what else can you do before playing that first note on the piano? Do you have a specific routine for your day?

Sharing is caring, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

As always, happy practicing!