Benefits of the group lesson format include the development of independent learning, ensemble playing, critical listening skills, and exposure to a wide range of repertoire.
Logier, an Irish business man, developed a system of teaching that increased income for teachers while lowering the cost of lessons for students.
Due to the affordability of Logier's class format, it quickly gained traction in Great Britain, India, Ireland, and the United States.
Clara Schumann, Franz Liszt, Felix Mendelssohn, Karl Tausig, Anton Rubinstein, Theodore Kullak, and Hans von Bülow were some of the most famous teachers to teach in this format.
The Industrial Revolution and ensuing rise of the middle class in the 19th century provided increased opportunities for leisure activities and created a high demand for pianos.
[3] However, in the 1930s, interest in elementary class piano programs began to decline due in part to the Great Depression and World War II.
[1] Group piano lessons in the college setting continued to expand with the invention of the electronic keyboard laboratory, first achieved by Ball State University in 1956.
The Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) and the National Piano Foundation (NPF) began to provide training on teaching in groups, and journals such as American Music Teacher, Piano Quarterly, Keyboard Companion, and Clavier began publishing articles related to teaching in groups.
Advocates for collegiate group piano have stated that it is the “most effective and efficient tool” for enabling students to be independent learners so they can continue to make music for a lifetime.
They may take place in a private studio with multiple keyboards or a piano lab in a college community program.
Group lessons provide ample opportunities for discussion, critical listening, structural analysis, study of historical contexts, and collective decision-making.
Group piano lessons also expose students to a wider range of experiences through repertoire, performance opportunities, and ensemble playing.
[14] Positive peer pressure encourages students to feel like they should master their piece for the class, either to avoid embarrassment or to contribute to the group.
Piano labs, multiple keyboards, headphones, and a conference system require more space and upfront cost than individual/private lessons.
Group lessons also require more planning and preparation for teachers, as they teach multiple students at once and for longer time periods.
Another disadvantage that may occur with group piano teaching is complications in developing and scheduling cohorts with similar experience levels and background.