New Year, New Teaching Strategies: Embracing the Group Piano Model

As we welcome a new year, it’s the perfect time to reflect on teaching practices and consider innovative ways to grow your music studio. Group piano teaching is not just a trend—it’s a powerful teaching model that offers both educational and financial benefits. If you’ve been thinking about transitioning from traditional private lessons to group teaching, this is the year to make it happen!

Here’s how you can confidently embrace the group piano model and set your studio up for success:

1. Start with a Clear Vision

Define your goals for transitioning to group lessons. Are you looking to increase your income, reach more students, or create a collaborative learning environment? Do you want to teach everyone in groups or just a particular age-group/level? Are there skills and concepts that are often missing from your 1-on-1 lessons that you think will be nurtured better in a group environment? Having a clear purpose will guide your decisions and help you stay focused during the transition.

2. Understand the Benefits of Group Lessons

Group piano teaching offers unique advantages, such as:

• Peer Learning: Students learn from one another, fostering a collaborative setting.
• Efficiency: You can teach multiple students simultaneously, maximizing your teaching hours.
• Engagement: Group activities like improvisation, games, and ensemble playing keep lessons fun and dynamic.
• Learner-centred Approaches: The most impactful group teaching happens in a spiral where skills and concepts are constantly reinforced and consolidated. This is actually the way that students learn best and we can ensure that our group classes reach every diverse learner.

By shifting your mindset to focus on these benefits, you’ll see how group teaching enriches both students’ experiences and your studio’s offerings.

3. Design an Engaging Curriculum

Group teaching requires a structured, well-thought-out curriculum that balances individual progress with group activities. Look for resources that include:

• Interactive materials, that allow for different depths of understanding and access. With concepts for example, provide for students at the 'identify' stage the 'apply' stage or the 'create' stage of understanding, based around one concept.
• Ensemble opportunities. Even within differentiated materials, can students play together?
• Step-by-step lesson plans. What are the learning objectives for the lesson and how will you structure the lesson to achieve and evidence them?
• Differentiation/adaptive practice to reach all learners individually, yet keep everyone learning and playing together
• Progress markers and evidence for how to demonstrate these have been met

KeyNotes offers a comprehensive curriculum specifically designed for group piano teaching, making this step easier for you.

4. Prepare Your Space

Optimize your teaching space to accommodate multiple students. Consider:

• Arranging keyboards or pianos to allow for interaction and clear sightlines.
• Adapting the space you have to best suit groups, which might include space to move and to learn away from the pianos.

5. Communicate with Parents

Parents may be unfamiliar with group piano lessons, so it’s essential to highlight their benefits. Explain how group classes:

• Build confidence through peer support.
• Encourage creativity and teamwork.
• Are learner-centred, focusing on musicality and creativity.

Host an open house or demo class to showcase what group lessons look like in action. You can use our free Piano Party resources to hold such an event. Click here to access.

6. Start Small

If transitioning entirely feels overwhelming, start with a pilot group class. Choose a day and time for a small group of students and use it as a learning experience to refine your teaching approach.

7. Leverage the Power of KeyNotes

The KeyNotes program was designed to make group piano teaching accessible and effective. With lesson plans, teacher training, and ongoing support, KeyNotes takes the guesswork out of creating successful group classes.

Make 2025 Your Year of Growth

Transitioning to group piano teaching is an investment in your studio’s future. By offering engaging, dynamic group lessons, you’ll attract new students, retain current ones, and create a studio environment that stands out.

Ready to take the next step? Explore how KeyNotes can support your journey. From curriculum to marketing guidance, we’re here to help you succeed.

Download our teacher information brochure here to learn more and start your transition today!