By Paul Kwo

Many studios in Alhambra and everywhere offer group piano classes. Actually they offer not only group piano classes, but group voice classes, group violin classes, group drum classes, group guitar classes etc. These are great ways for studios to bring students in to try out an instrument with a lower price point. But are they really good for the clients?

I have from the start refused to offer any group piano classes or any other group instrument class because I feel they actually are not ideal for students. Let's do the math. A student pays $120 to $160 on average for 8 to 10 weeks of classes. Each class is around 45 minutes to 1 hour long and usually have somewhere between 6 to 10 students. Split it up, the average student will get around 6 to 10 minutes of attention from the instructor if they are lucky. But if you factor in teachers starting a class and ending a class as a group, taking out 10 minutes from the equation, and factor in some students have a tendency to grab more of the teacher's attention in a class setting, most students are left with 3 to 7 minutes of actual attention in a group class. So cumulatively over 8 to 10 weeks, a student may get between 24 to 70 minutes of attention. The final verdict: $120 to $160 for 24 to 70 minutes of actual attention.

Certainly there are still things you can learn as a group in these classes. But then it's really not that big of a difference than sitting in front of a computer and searching youtube videos to teach you the same material. After all you are not getting any sort of one on one attention anyways. Furthermore, most students who finishes a group class usually still have to start back at the beginning when they get into private lessons because there inevitably flaws in their techniques. So the $120 to $160 really has done no real advancement in the student's actual studies. Wouldn't it be better to simply spend the $120 to $160 on 4 to 6 30-minutes private one on one lessons instead? It would certainly be way more beneficial and the student will gain so much more with individualized attention. A good teacher can teach much more in 4 30-minutes lesson than a student can learn in 10 group classes.

So here at PopRock Academy Alhambra, instead of offering group instrument classes, we came up with a better alternative for students to begin their exploration of music if they do not want to start at private lessons. We off the Triple Threat Glee Workshop for singers that incorporates dance and acting and the PopRock Jam Sessions for instrumentalists to experience music from the beginning in a collaborative manner.

Our PopRock Jam Sessions allow students with no prior experience to try out various instruments throughout their studies in the class. They also learn to play with other students and watch other beginning students start their instrument. This is a class that compliments private lessons, instead of trying to teach what should be taught in a private lesson settings in a group setting in the name of letting students get their feet wet. We created this workshop so that even if a student is in private lesson, it would still be a class they can and should take. The class teaches students fundamental skills in various instruments as well as ensemble playing skills that private lessons cannot teach.

So instead of replacing private lessons with the lesser group classes, we invite you to come and join us at PopRock Jam Session to begin your musical journey.