What can I expect from a private music lesson?

Have you scheduled your first private music lesson? Have you been tossing up whether or not to take the plunge and get started? Are you hoping to convince your child to learn an instrument?

If you answered yes to any of the above, it’s only natural to feel a little curious about what, exactly, goes on behind the closed doors of a guitar, piano, or violin lesson.

In this article, we are going to lift the veil and give you a quick sneak-peek into how a private music lesson works. Hopefully, this will ease any nerves and give you the confidence to book your first lesson today.

Let’s get started.

What happens in a private music lesson?

Before we jump into the details, it’s important to note that not all music lessons (or music teachers) are equal. Some are more structured, and others are, quite literally, a jam session.

The best private music lessons fall somewhere in between – structure helps students achieve their goals and reach their potential, and creative freedom nurtures passion and bolsters a sense of self-confidence.

Typically, a music lesson is divided into three parts. Let’s break each down.

Part 1: Warm-up and revision

The first portion of a standard music lesson involves warming up and revising what was covered in the previous lesson.

Although the type of warm-up activity performed will depend on the instrument you are learning, most lessons begin with a few scales. This ensures both your body and your mind are in the right ‘space’ to play and learn.

Following your warm-up, your teacher will likely ask you to perform the composition, scale, arpeggio, or song you covered in the previous lesson. This is your time to show off all the hard work and practice you put in at home.

If your teacher is satisfied that you’ve got last lesson’s content under wraps, you’ll move on to the next step.

Part 2: The teacher explains and demonstrates new content

Now, it’s your teachers turn to take the spotlight.

In this portion, your teacher will walk you through new content and outline the aim of the lesson. They will explain it verbally and by demonstrating on their instrument.

Part 3: You work through the new content

The material the teacher has set for your music lesson will most likely be broken down into manageable chunks. You will work through these chunks one at a time. Your teacher should correct any technical errors and provide practical feedback along the way.

Once you feel confident with each section, you’ll be asked to pull the whole thing together.

It’s totally normal to make mistakes in this portion of your music lesson. Remember, you haven’t played this new content before. No good music teacher would expect you to perform it perfectly the first time around.

Finally, to wrap up the lesson, your teacher will set homework or ask you to practise the content covered. And that’s it!

Start your music journey today

Private music lessons are nothing to be afraid of – they are fun and challenging! If you are ready to kick-start your journey, find out more about our music lessons today.