Should I enrol my 3-year-old in a group class or an individual lesson?

At JoyWaltzAcademy, we offer both group classes and individual lessons. We find that both settings offer similar benefits with few differences. Additionally, there is no price difference between the two settings, despite the difference in duration. Group classes last 45 minutes and are capped at three students (of the same age). Individual classes last 30 minutes.

Which path then, is most ideal for your child? To help you in your decision-making process, we have compiled a list of factors that you can consider:

1. Understanding each student.

In both group classes and individual lessons, teachers will be able to glean information about your child’s personality and learning style. In group classes where teachers can also observe your child’s social interaction with other peers in a variety of situations, this would mean that teachers will gain a more in-depth knowledge of your child in a shorter period of time as compared lessons in a 1-to-1 setting. However, in individual lesson settings, it would be easier for the teacher to calibrate their teaching techniques to suit the needs of each student.

2. Attention

Individual lessons allow for undivided attention placed on one student. This enables teachers to supervise hand movements, finger placements and technique with acute focus and supply feedback instantly.

This does not imply that the quality of attention given to each student is reduced in group settings. All students in a group will be learning the same concepts simultaneously, making it easy for the teacher to spot incorrect techniques and provide immediate feedback. However, it is still important to be cognisant of the fact that the teacher’s attention is not individualised.

3. Opportunity to socialise

Group classes pose the perfect opportunity for your child to forge new friendships and build camaraderie with peers. Furthermore, group classes are beneficial in developing your child’s self-confidence as they learn to be comfortable performing in front of others. More importantly, group lessons help instil a positive outlook towards making mistakes, where everyone learns from each other’s errors without prejudice.

Conclusion

We hope the above information has been useful in guiding your decision of whether to enrol your child in group or individual classes. If you are still unsure or undecided, fret not as you can always arrange to opt for a different class setting, subject to our teachers’ availability. 

Najiha Safudin