Group classes can be tricky at times but there are numerous positives in offering group classes to your students. Offering group classes allow for a higher hourly rate and for your students to get to know each other. Here are six group class ideas that was inspired by Philip Johnston's "The Dynamic Studio":
1) Note Reading/Rhythm Camps
Group camps for note reading and rhythm are the perfect way to help student develop their basic music reading. Camps are an easy step towards classes in a way that camps are usually limited to only a few classes. In your camps, your students can get to know each other by playing games together. It's a win-win! Wendy Stevens has books of rhythms that are to be tapped out by cups. Multiple students can join together to tap out the rhythms. Click here to see her Rhythm Cup Explorations.
2) Performance Camps
A week or two before each recital our studio does a recital workshop for students to perform their recital pieces in front of other students. It is the perfect way to get those pre-recital jitters out of the way and it helps students realize that they may not be as ready as they thought they were for the recital. Click here to see more information about our recital workshops.
3) Music Ensemble Classes
Music ensemble is a fun class that teaches kids how to work together and listen to each other's playing. Students can play duet, trio, or even quartet music. As an another extra, you can have your music ensemble group perform at your recitals! We have a fun piano trio on our store that involves a student encouraging the audience to clap along. Click here to see the music.
4) Scales Classes
Who has ever heard their student say that they love scales? No one? Well your students are going to start enjoying scales in your scales classes. You can start competitions to see who can play a scale the fastest, play the most scales, or play the scale with the most octaves from memory.
5) Young Musicians Classes
You can offer classes for kids who don't currently take lessons ages 3-6. You can offer the classes during the summer and the kids can play music games and learn the basic concepts of music. One major reason on why these classes would be most beneficial to your studio is that those kids in the classes may take private lessons from you. Plus, if they start they will already have basic knowledge of music.
6) Sight-Reading Club
You can teach students in a group setting of sight-reading tips and have your students complete various sight-reading challenges. You can also have students compete to finish the most challenges for prizes. Invite those students to sight-read new music at your next recital for some variation.