Homeschooling vs. music schools - do music lessons at home work?

Anyone who wants to learn an instrument or further their musical education will come across a very large and wide range of lessons on offer. The topic of homeschooling, or more precisely, music lessons at home, is becoming increasingly popular. In this article, we would like to give you an insight into the topic and compare it with the classic offer of a music school.

What does homeschooling look like when it comes to music?

Music lessons at home are great for those who wish for convenience and flexible scheduling. Students can receive weekly lessons on the instrument of their choice and can choose the duration of the individual units. Teachers are mobile and come to students' homes. Despite the very private and personal teaching relationship with the teacher, the teaching framework is set by the responsible music school.

There are teaching contracts and, above all, the commitment that lessons can be planned and that regular learning progress is guaranteed. This is also supported by the provision of additional teaching materials and attractive online offers. The music school Home Music Teachers, for example, provides its students with supplementary teaching material on a YouTube channel.

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In cases of illness or during quarantine measures, mobile music schools often provide online lessons seamlessly in order to minimize potential absences or interruptions in music education. Teachers for less popular instruments, such as oboe, trombone, double bass or harp, can also be arranged, as homeschooling is attractive to teachers even when the number of students is low.

Main features of a classical music school

The most essential feature of a classical music school is the fact that there is a school building in which all the courses, events, and lessons associated with the institution take place. The internal organization of appointments is essential here, because usually the various teachers are only in the building on certain days and times, which is why the lessons must be well planned. The teachers usually occupy a classroom by the hour or day and the students are then assigned free lesson times. Due to the younger age of the majority of the students, the lesson plans usually start at noon so that there is no overlap with general education schools.

For parents who have to bring their children to school for lessons, there is seating in front of the rooms and sometimes also specially-prepared waiting rooms to bridge the time during music lessons. In the evenings, ensemble classes are often held at local music institutions. The larger the school, the more extensive the selection. The main component is usually choirs, classical symphonic orchestras and pop-cultural offerings such as rock bands or big bands.

Here we should also briefly distinguish between city-run music schools and privately run institutions. In music schools operated by the city, there is often a wide range of ensemble lessons due to the size of the building. This is primarily due to the spatial conditions that a room suitable for this particular type of instruction must offer. Private music schools, on the other hand, usually offer unconventional, attractive programs that are closer to everyday life. When looking for a suitable music school, it is therefore worthwhile to take a close look at the respective course program and simply try it out.

Comparison of the two teaching models

Music lessons at home offer the advantage that, as the name suggests, the teachers come directly to the students' homes. This eliminates the need to travel to a music school, saving time and transportation costs. This is especially beneficial for students who live in rural areas or in the suburbs of large cities.

Also for people with limited mobility, the availability of mobile music schools is essential so that musical education can take place at all.

Points for mobility

For parents in particular, traveling to classical music schools often involves a great deal of effort. Issues such as rush hour traffic, waiting times during lessons, lack of parking, etc. are often reasons why everyday life gets mixed up and other private commitments come up short. However, music lessons at a mobile music school are somewhat more cost-intensive than at a classical institution due to the travel time required.

Another advantage of homeschooling is that the teachers teach the students in their familiar environment. This quickly creates a comfortable and familiar atmosphere, which helps to concentrate better on the lessons. The teachers can also see the students' own musical instruments and give advice, which makes for better lesson planning.

For this reason, mobile music schools often cooperate with large music houses, such as Session-Music, in order to be able to provide their students with seamless support in all technical matters and concerns.

One disadvantage of the mobile concept is that students may not interact with other musicians as often. However, there is always the option to get in touch with other students through the school administration to form ensembles or bands.

Spatial possibilities at classical music schools

One of the main advantages of classical music schools—as previously mentioned—is the fact that the school buildings usually have a large number of rooms available for musical use. If your student is interested in rentals, that's also possible in this setting. So if your skills are already advanced, and you're looking for orchestras, choirs and other formations, the local music school should be your first choice.

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Music Schools vs. Homeschooling - Conclusion

After all the comparisons, weighing and explaining, we want to make one very important point: There is no "one" ideal teaching method, and unfortunately no patent remedy for the perfect music lesson. Rather, it is a matter of developing a feeling for one's own individual wishes, and trying out different teaching models accordingly. Most music schools offer trial lessons—or even months—and it is highly recommended to take advantage of these opportunities. Because if the music lessons are close to everyday life and you feel comfortable with them, results will also be visible quickly and the motivation increases.

We hope that we can support you with this article on your personal way of decision making and wish you a lot of fun in making music! Stay tuned!