HOME Why does Phoenix Feather Academy recommend group lessons? Private lessons often require the maturity of 10-15 years or older. Obviously, younger children are usually not prepared for this intensity and often quit before they ever achieve any level of proficiency. A group setting with parent participation provides excitement, friends, and inspiration during the first difficult 3-5 years of piano/keyboard lessons. Some of the benefits of learning in a group include: L I S T E N I N G Playing music in a group helps students learn to listen and stay together with the group. This helps each student become a stronger musician. R H Y T H M Working in a group helps students strenghthen rhythm skills in ways that are not possible in private lessons S OL F E G E Solfege (do re mi) is the language of the well-educated musician. When we sing the solfege syllables while reading notes or playing the keyboard, we develop a strong sense of tonality and relative pitch. Each solfege note sung strengthens the connection between what is heard, what is seen and what is played. Singing solfege teaches us to internalize the music. With time, and practice, you and your child will begin to hear the notes that you read before those notes are even played on the keyboard. R E A D I N G For the first year in the group, reading music is a separate activity from performance on the keyboard. Students learn to play pieces on the keyboard by listening to online recordings , memorizing solfege, pointing to the notes in the book and assistance from the teacher. This allows students to play beyond their level of reading (for the first year) and helps to make playing the keyboard more exiting in the beginning. P E R F O R M I N G Students perform every piece by memory in front of the class - and bow in thanks afterward A U D I E N C E P A R T I C I P A T I O N While each student performs, the others learn to listen and appreciate other musicians. After completing the 5+ year program, students are strongly encouraged to continue their music education with a private instructor that appeals to their own personal musical style.     Phoenix Feather Academy of Music - Established 1987