I've done it both ways. Both have pros and cons. I do like private lessons (except for the costs) but sometimes a good group class can push you to work hard. I just took a western swing fiddle group class that got into improv, and seeing everyone take a turn and hearing how they handled it was real interesting.
Private lessons are good for getting to grips with the instrument, I think that group lessons (not too many people though, bout four or five is just nice) are great for learning how to play and listen to other people.
I've been in a number of group music lessons at summer music schools I've attended. I've been fortunate to have mostly instructors and groups that fit for me, and to have been in situations where a lot of picking and choosing was possible.
I think if a group were wrong for me in some way -- e.g., I wasn't at a level of playing reasonably close to the instructor's expectations -- I'd visit others if possible and see about changing. You're not stuck with whatever you try.
I've had some very enriching experiences watching and learning from other students and doing things in a group setting. For example, in Pete Clark's class, one day he had us all pass our bows around the circle and play with everybody else's bow, and the next day, we did the same with our fiddles. Now, that was educational.
Group and private each have their place. Depends on where you're at in your playing, how cohesive and interesting the group is, and of course, the teaching.
I also suspect that some instructors are a great deal better at one over the other.
My experiences have been not so good. God grant me a private lesson so that I might actually not need to strangle the teacher. Being a teacher in my day life, I end up watching how he/she teaches instead of learning what I'm supposed to learn. It may be that I'm a truly terrible student and that I'm projecting my inadequacies on my teachers. Either way, I'll pay for the private lesson, thanks.
I've been learning fiddle in group classes since last September, and it's been a great experience. It's very reassuring at times to hear hat other people just as badly as I do, and since everybody has a different learning style I find I learn from everyone else in the class. Maybe I've lucked out with my teachers and classmates.
do you take groupe fiddle lesons
do you take groupe fiddle lesons
i did this year but didnt like it im doing privits next year
# Posted on May 28th 2006 by fiddle?hockey?
Re: do you take groupe fiddle lesons
I've done it both ways. Both have pros and cons. I do like private lessons (except for the costs) but sometimes a good group class can push you to work hard. I just took a western swing fiddle group class that got into improv, and seeing everyone take a turn and hearing how they handled it was real interesting.
# Posted on May 28th 2006 by nofrets
Re: do you take groupe fiddle lesons
Groupes and privits? T'was brillig and the slithy toves..........
# Posted on May 28th 2006 by dafydd
Re: do you take groupe fiddle lesons
Private lessons are good for getting to grips with the instrument, I think that group lessons (not too many people though, bout four or five is just nice) are great for learning how to play and listen to other people.
Just my two cents,
Galway-Fiddle
# Posted on May 29th 2006 by galway-fiddle
Re: do you take groupe fiddle lesons
I've been in a number of group music lessons at summer music schools I've attended. I've been fortunate to have mostly instructors and groups that fit for me, and to have been in situations where a lot of picking and choosing was possible.
I think if a group were wrong for me in some way -- e.g., I wasn't at a level of playing reasonably close to the instructor's expectations -- I'd visit others if possible and see about changing. You're not stuck with whatever you try.
I've had some very enriching experiences watching and learning from other students and doing things in a group setting. For example, in Pete Clark's class, one day he had us all pass our bows around the circle and play with everybody else's bow, and the next day, we did the same with our fiddles. Now, that was educational.
Group and private each have their place. Depends on where you're at in your playing, how cohesive and interesting the group is, and of course, the teaching.
I also suspect that some instructors are a great deal better at one over the other.
# Posted on May 29th 2006 by cathrynb
Re: do you take groupe fiddle lesons
"I hate group lessons."
--Grouchy Smurf
My experiences have been not so good. God grant me a private lesson so that I might actually not need to strangle the teacher. Being a teacher in my day life, I end up watching how he/she teaches instead of learning what I'm supposed to learn. It may be that I'm a truly terrible student and that I'm projecting my inadequacies on my teachers. Either way, I'll pay for the private lesson, thanks.
# Posted on May 30th 2006 by Meri-pixie
Re: do you take groupe fiddle lesons
Wow, my first post to The Session...
I've been learning fiddle in group classes since last September, and it's been a great experience. It's very reassuring at times to hear hat other people just as badly as I do, and since everybody has a different learning style I find I learn from everyone else in the class. Maybe I've lucked out with my teachers and classmates.
# Posted on June 6th 2006 by rdi