The Power of Choice: Music Lessons at a Music School vs. Private Studios by Donna Maurer

Starting your music lesson journey includes many choices, as does any hobby or profession. One of those choices includes deciding whether to take lessons in a private studio or at a larger music studio. 

The two different paths have unique advantages as well as disadvantages. Understanding them gives an artist the best shot at success depending on their unique needs and goals musically.

​Let's break down each option so you can make the best-educated decision. 

What is the Music Studio Experience?

Going to a music studio versus going to a private studio has some advantages. There are no distractions, and it can instill a sense of discipline. More importantly, music connects us culturally to one another. Exploring these benefits can create an overall feeling of belonging. ​

​Fostering Community and Collaboration

Taking music lessons can be done in a group setting when you go to a studio. You can get the best of both worlds by continuing to take private lessons but not shying away from the chance to meet other students in between sessions. This gives students the chance to learn from one another and share experiences from the different stages they are at in their musical journey.

By exchanging ideas, tips, and even frustrations, students foster that sense of community they may not get in other areas of their lives. ​

Diversity in Instruction, Classes, Events

By going to a studio where there are many students, there will also be various instructors to choose from. In some fields, taking advice and perspective from more than one person can be beneficial and that's certainly the case for an artistic endeavor like music. 

This encourages different explorations of music styles and approaches. It can also explores different learning methods, such as the act of playing musical instruments and a more educational approach to music theory through musicianship and music theory classes. 

Playing music is one thing, but it’s another to understand why we create music and learn the thought process and culture behind it. ​

Larger music studio also has the capabilities to put on larger recital events for the students, more performance opportunities, and even organize life-changing tours to perform in prestigious venues while building community and making music memories with other students.

Taking Advantage of the Facilities and Professional Resources

By going to a music studio, you get to take advantage of the convenience of scheduling sibling lessons at the same time, or even taking lessons for multiple instruments, allowing students to pursue different instruments and musical journeys in one convenient location.

​Music studios also tend to have more advanced and convenient scheduling and payment systems that can be difficult and expensive to incorporate for private studios. 

Another important resource that benefits families comes when a search for a new teacher is needed. Families can rest in the fact that the school has the expertise and experience in searching and interviewing many candidates to find the best teacher for them.

A Private and Tailored Approach

While there are several benefits to being in a professional studio, there are also some positive considerations to think about with a private in-home approach. The great thing about being in-home is you can choose to do in-person visits or even look at taking lessons online. 

When it comes to taking lessons online, it’s important that you do your research so you don’t end up buying a poor program. Reading reviews for online lessons is just as important as getting referrals for studios near you. ​

Policy Implementation

In order for a large music studio to run effectively while being consistent and considerate to all parties, stricter policies are necessary and exceptions are few. 

With private studios, the polices tend to be more personable and there's sometimes more leniency when it comes to implementation and enforcement. For example, lesson cancellation policy tend to be more lenient in private settings compared to music studios because teachers teaching at a music studio are limited in what they can do when the time they've reserved for a student is cancelled. 

Direct Communication on All Aspects of the Lesson Experience

At private studios, communication on all aspects of lessons is done directly with the teacher.
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Some people prefer the direct communication regarding lesson tuition and scheduling with their teacher while some might find these conversations uncomfortable. In any case, this direct communication is more efficient and typically results in a quicker resolution and solution. 

Less Changes

 While kids are extremely resilient and experience different teachers at school every year - some have a more difficult time with change.

Even though it's not a guarantee your private teacher won't move to a different area, decide to become a full-time parent, go back to school, or change careers - a permanent change is less likely compared to lessons in a music studio. 

So if it's important to you to prevent your child from experiencing change, this is an important distinction to note.