There are a handful of choices you have when it comes to learning violin. There is a big focus on private instruction and self taught methods. In the minds of most, group lessons seem to be a middle road with little to distinguish them as a good option in comparison. In this article, you'll learn about the little known benefits of these lessons.
For most, group lessons sound something like the following. They are cheaper than private lessons, but the feedback is not as direct, immediate, or personalized. They allow less freedom, but more structure than teaching yourself. They also tend to be more expensive than the self-taught route.
Do group violin lessons offer nothing else? On the surface, that's an accurate assessment, but there are other benefits that are harder to see or understand.
Group violin lessons aid with playing motivation. One of the reasons is what I call constructive humiliation. It is embarrassing for most to play poorly in front of people, especially if they've been playing poorly for a long time. That's a terrible feeling, and your attempts to avoid that feeling lead to you advancing more quickly. There is also a more positive energy that comes from peer pressure. Many people are competitive. You can be driven to new levels of skill by having people around to compare to and push yourself to exceed. Depending on if you're playing with the group or just practicing, there can also be a sense of pride in being part of it.
Whenever you're around others with similar interests, it reinforces in your mind why you like something. It makes that interest and your goal for that interest seem more real or reachable. This helps to fend off the loss of drive many musicians have to deal with.
You form connections inside of groups. Having friends there makes the experience more enjoyable. When you see those friends outside of the group, violin playing will seem to extend to other areas of your life. That will spur you to focus more on playing and improving, even if you aren't conscious of it. Practice sessions are unlikely to be missed, as a result. It feels like you're letting friends down if you don't practice. If you ever feel like you can't do it and want to quit, the friends can provide moral support. Even if they don't, you might feel awkward hanging around them if you give up. The bottom line is that you're far less likely to quit.
It isn't just fun and friendship that you'll reap from the connections you make in these groups. A bond is formed between members of the group, even if you never get to know them that well. If you see them down the line, you'll likely feel like talking to them, just as you would if you saw someone you went to high school with. Some of the people in the group might make it big as violinists or musicians. Knowing those sort of people can open doors for you in your own musical career. Without connections, anyone will tell you that it's hard to join groups, sign record deals, and the like.
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