Cori Belle Piano

As piano teachers, we often choose to teach private lessons because we like the one-on-one relationship with our students. We typically teach out of our homes and have introverted personalities, enjoying the freedom to teach a block of lessons and then take a break to re-charge. This is my preferred approach 😊; however, there are also times when we want to build community in our studio, giving our students opportunities to perform for each other and get to know other pianists “like them.” This can take the form of recitals, holiday or end-of-term piano parties, summer piano camps, monthly workshops, or quarterly group lessons. But what is a teacher to do who isn’t comfortable managing groups of students?

In my late twenties I transitioned from being a private piano teacher to teaching first grade in a public school. While I had worked in Vacation Bible Schools for years and even ran an after-school program at a YMCA for grade-school students, managing kids in a more formal learning environment required me to have an even better grasp on management strategies. Here are some tried-and-true tips that I learned during my teacher training that can help you lead a successful camp/workshop/group lesson, whether you have a group of 4 or 30 students:

Keep your rules short and memorable: Be kind and have fun. 

Explain your rules: Be kind means that we will listen when others are talking, be respectful in what we say, etc.

Explain the consequences for unwanted behavior:

1. Verbal warning
2. [Short] time-out away from activity or must sit with the teacher
3. Talk with parent at the end of camp

Have a plan for getting students’ attention when it gets loud. Choose one of the following or make up your own: 

1. I clap a rhythm and you clap it back; 
2. I say, “Campers, attention please!” and you put your hands in the air and look at me; 
3. I say, “Give me five” and you respond with eyes on me, ears listening, mouth quiet, hands to yourself, heart ready to learn.

Yelling over students’ voices is never effective. If you have verbal instructions, wait until there is a drop in the noise level, and then take advantage of it by calling students to attention. If there is no drop, try recruiting students one at a time by saying “If you hear me, clap once,” then, “If you hear me, clap twice.”

It is best to practice your call-to-attention before you need it, so do it often in the “honeymoon” phase of the first day. Make it a game to see who listens first!

Befriend your tricky kids. You know the ones – the kids who, if given the chance, will act out and pull your whole group quickly into chaos. Know their names, make a point to connect with them early in the day, and keep them close. Assign them a job that gives them positive attention. 

My best management strategy is to get ahead of disruptive behavior by befriending kids, setting clear expectations, and having a plan in place for bringing the group back to attention. With a little forethought and consistent follow-through, you can have a successful and enjoyable time with groups of students!

Need a plan for a 60-minute group lesson? Check out my free Group Lesson Planning template below:

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