Reasons to Love Your In-Home Lessons

Photo credit: woodleywonderworks

At Winterhalter Music we exclusively offer in-home music lessons. Over the years, many people have tried to talk me into teaching out of my home or at a studio space instead. While having students come to me to take lessons on my grand piano would certainly be more convenient for me, I am very dedicated to teaching in-home lessons because I honestly feel that lessons taught in-home are the best for our students and their families. Here’s why:

1. Parents Save Time

    Instead of sitting in rush-hour traffic after school trying to get your kids to lessons, you can relax at home and continue your normal activities- making dinner, helping with homework, etc.

When I was growing up, my mom would drive me to piano and oboe lessons at my teacher’s house or studio. There wasn’t enough time for her to go home and return or run an errand during my lesson; instead, she usually waited in the car with a book. I know she would have loved the convenience of having the lesson right at home, which is one reason we offer in-home lessons.

Also, when my sister took lessons, she had to wait while I took my lesson and I had to wait while she took hers. For our families with multiple family members that take lessons, not having to wait around is wonderful.

2. Kids and Parents are Comfortable

    Students feel most comfortable in their home and feel at ease taking their lesson there. Parents feel comfortable as well because they can hear exactly what’s going on in the lesson. They can hear their child’s progress from week to week, month to month, year to year. How great is it to hear your child master a difficult piece and play it in their lesson all while you’re in the next room preparing dinner?

In addition our students learn and practice on the same instrument and in the same environment. This makes it more likely that they’ll remember what they’ve learned. The consistency makes setting up a great practice routine easier too.

3. Parents Stay Involved

    Not only do you hear and see what’s happening, it’s also much easier to get an update on your child’s progress before the teacher leaves. The next student won’t be waiting in the wings, so your teacher can take their time talking to you about how everything is going- what’s going well, what your son or daughter can spend more time working on, how their practice habits are, and so on. Students whose parents are involved do much better in their lessons. These students progress more rapidly, get frustrated less often, and generally have a lot more fun.

While I’m a big promoter of musical or arts involvement in any capacity I do think that in-home lessons are the best. From my perspective as a teacher, the drive between each house gives me a short break and allows me to reset my mind, so I’ll be sharp for my next lesson. If I taught at a studio or out of my home, I’d likely have all of my lessons back to back and my mind wouldn’t have any chance to recuperate between students.

Now I want to hear from you. What do you like the best about having lessons in your home? If you didn’t have lessons in your home, what would you have liked about having in-home lessons rather than in-studio lessons? Leave a comment below.

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Thanks!

Cassie