When learning a musical instrument, are taking private lessons worth it?

Question

Why should I take private lessons when I can learn the same thing in band, or online, like YouTube, for free?

Answer 1

Taking private lessons allows for you to have 1:1, customized instruction for your performance. So much of developing as a musician depends on personal strengths and weaknesses. It is often hard to find those things in our own performance, and having another trained set of ears to guide you along the way is invaluable to becoming a quality musician.

Answer 2

It depends on your goals. If you want to learn for your own enjoyment, there are lots of free resources to use to learn to play an instrument at a basic skill level. The problem with self-teaching is that you can very easily develop bad habits, and once those are learned it's very hard to break them.

If you want to learn with the goal of performing or having a career in music, then lessons are absolutely necessary. An expert teacher can help you learn an instrument in a methodical way that helps you in technique, interpretation and theory.

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

The answer to this is: It depends. While you can learn to play an instrument in band, or by using YouTube or other online platforms for little or no money, you create gaps in your knowledge of the instrument because you are relying on the student (yourself), rather than an experienced teacher to show you how to play. An experienced teacher can show you the finer points of playing your instrument and the secrets to make playing easier. 

Back to the answer: It depends. It depends on what you want to do with the instrument. If you want play by yourself and use music as a stress relief, a hobby, or just want to get together with some good friends, for fun, then learning to play on your own might be the perfect solution. But, if you are considering music as a profession, a side hustle, or find that playing on your own isn’t giving you the desired results, then taking lessons from an experienced teacher is the way to get the most out of your time and reach your goals.

 

While private lessons cost more than learning on your own, the takeaways are well worth it.

1. You are in a one-on-one format where the teacher is focusing exclusively on the student.
2. Lesson plans are tailored specifically to the student.
3. Personal and instant feedback from an experienced teacher.
4. Accountability: Your teacher will know if you have been practicing or not, so if you don't practice, your teacher will let you know. This fosters a sense of discipline, in and out of the learning environment.
5. Tips and tricks from and expert on your instrument.
6. Creating a student/mentor relationship.
7. Private Lessons boost confidence. Personalized lessons provide the student with a sense of identity, boosting confidence and self-awareness.
8. Faster growth in the student’s skills and talent.
9. Lessons can be done in-person or online giving the student more flexibility.
10. There is a better chance of getting a scholarship or being accepted into a music school.

Lastly, as the student grows up, they can eventually become an experienced teacher. This is because the student, if they are paying attention, can learn how to teach by their teacher’s example. Teaching is a great way to continue to improve on your instrument, as you have to learn to communicate what you have learned to your students, making you a better player as well as teacher. Thus, the cycle has been completed.