Over the next few weeks, I’m going to be sending you a daily email.

It will contain something that I want to share with you about group lessons. 

This could include:

How to make group lessons work for your studio

The reasons many studios have failed at implementing a group program How to get great results for your students

An interesting story about group lessons

If you don’t want to hear about group lessons, or you just don’t like getting emails… please feel free to unsubscribe by clicking here.

Today, I want to tell you about my student Rachel - one of my perfectionistic students.

She began with me when she was just 7 years old (she’s in high school now).

When she began, I worked with her one-on-one. Traditional piano lessons.

However, in 2011, I gave an ultimatum to everyone in my studio.

All students in method books must move to group lessons.

This included Rachel.

Her mom was a bit skeptical at first… but she noticed that Rachel seemed to be doing just fine in the program.

They remained in my studio, though her mom occasionally expressed reservations about the group format.

It wasn’t until I scheduled a special lesson with Rachel that her mom saw the power of group in Rachel’s playing.

Here’s what happened:

Rachel came in for a special 1-on-1 lesson to help her get ready for a recital.

When I see students one-on-one, I require parents to sit in with me and the student.

During this lesson, Rachel was not herself.

If I asked her to do something challenging… if she was confused… or if she needed moral support… she would turn around and look at her mom.

Her mom was amused at first, but then she realized something was off.

She said to me: “This is unusual for Rachel! I don’t remember the last time she was this insecure about her playing!”

I had noticed it too… but I knew what it was.

I said to her mom: “It’s the 1-on-1. It’s so much more pressure for the student!”

I continued: “In the group, she has the opportunity to work independently. She chooses when I listen to her. Not only does this teach students critical thinking skills… it helps them relax. It is a much healthier environment. This is especially for someone like Rachel who is a bit of a perfectionist!”

In that moment… Rachel’s mom got it. She saw what I had known for a long time.

The value of lessons isn’t just “time spent with the teacher”... it’s the quality of the learning during that time. It’s about teaching a child the process.

It’s about creating the best environment for learning that you can!

This is why I created Successful Group Lessons.

I want to show you how to transform the “Rachel”-types in your studio.

The students who are insecure… or needy… or perfectionistic…

They need to be shown how to be independent.

A huge component of Successful Group Lessons is how to get better educational outcomes for your students using the power of the group environment.

Registration for the “holiday” class of SGL opens on November 23rd (mark your calendar!)

I have some special surprises in store for the studios who go through the class with me this time.

Look forward to working with you!

Very best,
Daniel

PS> Do you have a question about Successful Group Lessons or group lessons in general? Respond to this email now… I’ll be collecting questions and answering them in a special Q&A later this month!