Private lessons

[smallbythesea]

Hi

 

Does your child have private lessons and if so, how old is your child, how often do they have them & how long for?

 

What benefits have you seen from having the private lessons?

 

Did you request the private lessons or were you offered them?

 

Many Thanks

 

smallbythesea

[glowlight]

My dd's teacher didn't have much time in the schedule for private lessons, and she didn't particularly recommend them as the main part of training as she said you learn more from being part of a class. We occasionally used private lessons for extra coaching for a specific exam.

 

When she was older (16+), dd sometimes had semi-private lessons (2 or 3 students together) with specialist teachers during school holidays which seemed to work well and kept the cost down a bit.

[smallbythesea]

My dd has 2 different dance teachers & 1 of the dance schools said she would like to spend a bit more time with dd working on a one to one basis.

 

Dd doesn't go there for her core lessons & both teachers teach differently. The teacher who has offered them has a school full of students who are 'serious' about dancing rather than as a hobby & who go on to vocational schools which is what dd wants to do.

 

It wouldn't form part of her regular schedule, it would only be on a short term basis - hoping it's not too many otherwise I will be permanently working overtime!!

Edited May 23, 2012 by smallbythesea

[Dancingdreams]

If you can afford private lessons then I would definately try and go ahead with them. For me and my DS they proved an invaluable part of his training being able to have 1:1 teaching. It helped in a number of ways.. confidence, ability and he learn't the syllabus much quicker than being in a group.. but this can both have its advantages and disadvantages.

[glowlight]

Smallbythesea - this sounds like a good opportunity for your dd, as long as you can afford it and your original teacher doesn't object (can't see why she would!)

[Pups_mum]

My DD has private lessons. She started having private lessons when she was about 5 I think. Then it was just half an hour once a week. It was offered by her teacher - I would never have thought to have ask at that stage. Now she is 14 and has an hour each week with each of the 3 teachers at our school. She doesn't do just ballet in her private lessons though and the content varies from week to week. Sometimes she learns/practices festival dances, sometimes it's extra exam preparation, sometimes non syllabus work. She's done a lot of non syllabus pointe work with one of her teachers recently, and I expect she'll soon start learning her solo for the school's Christmas production.

She enjoys her private lessons as it enables her to work intensively on particular things that she needs to improve and to try things that aren't covered in the regular classes.

[afab]

My 2 eldest DDs have had private lessons together twice a week for 1.5h for the whole year. It's used to correct bad habits they acquired in their old school and to prepare for their auditions. Most serious DK in vocational schools have private lessons here, when they can afford it. It's been really hard financially but really worth it.

 

My youngest DD (10) didn't have any as it wasn't needed at her stage.

[Anna C]

My dd has been having private lessons for about 3 years; the teacher suggested them. Over the years they've varied between being 1:1 or shared with one other pupil. They started as a means of learning the Inter Foundation syllabus which clashed first with Tring and then with dd's current Associates.

 

Now that dd can attend both Grade 6 and Intermediate during the week, we use the privates to concentrate on pointework, extra exam work near exams, or whatever issue dd's having at the time with her hypermobility or growth spurt. At the moment they are working on dd's solo for the RAD Genee Dance challenge.

 

Sometimes if money is too tight we only do a private every couple of weeks, but otherwise it's an hour once a week.

[petipacat]

My students are most precious to me I see teaching ballet as a vocation wanting to pass my knowledge of the art on to them and bring out the best. If they want extra lessons I am thrilled that they are prepared to work harder so I dont charge them if they want to come to extra classes . if they want a private lesson they pay for the hire of the hall but i give my time free. This is probably the reason my social live is DOA and why i am not rich lol.but i went into teaching for the love of it and not to make money .

[Kitschqueen_1]

I wish I could find a teacher like you petipacat!

My DD has had private lessons over the years mainly when she was doing festivals, when lessons clashed with other commitments and last year for rehearsing audition solos.

She recently changed ballet schools and has switched to the RAD syllabus. She enquired about private lessons as she feels she is behind the others in the class. She isn't (apparently) and was told that she is being entered for Intermediate exam in the autumn and will have 7 weeks special coaching prior to taking this. Not sure what it entails but sounds expensive!!

Edited May 24, 2012 by Kitschqueen_1

[KathyG]

Private lessons at school DS he went to were very expensive, unfortunately he had to have some as being a boy he had to learn the male exercises/dances sometime. The classes were also used to learn festival dances in.

[Aurora]

Shouldn't the boys exercises be taught in normal classes? The girls presumably learn theirs then so why not the boys?

Talking of price, a dance school/college near me charges up to £65 for an hours private lesson - ouch!!

[taxi4ballet]

The girls join in with the boys exercises at my dd's school, they enjoy it.

[Anjuli_Bai]

Shouldn't the boys exercises be taught in normal classes? The girls presumably learn theirs then so why not the boys?

Talking of price, a dance school/college near me charges up to £65 for an hours private lesson - ouch!!

 

At some point boys do need separate teaching and ideally from a male teacher. For one thing the tempo of the music is different. Since boys naturally jump higher they need more time for the preparatory demi-plié, the height of the jump, and the landing into demi-plié - both in grand and petite allegro. There is also a different dynamic to their turns/pirouettes and stance.

 

It is a good idea for mixed classes - but it is also a good idea for separate classes. However, just as girls should be encouraged to periodically join a boy's class - boy's should consider taking pointe class. There are many reasons for doing so.

[Aurora]

I was thinking about the RAD syllabus really where there are just a couple of separate exercises and the dance for the boys in each grade but it's all taught in mixed classes. The boys do the girls bits and vice versa. Brilliant if there are separate boys classes too but don't think someone should have to pay for private lessons in order to learn the boys pieces.

[taxi4ballet]

It's certainly been good for the girls at dd's school, as Anjuli says, the dynamics and tempo are quite different. One or two of the older boys join in with the pointework on demi-pointe as well.

 

Due to the usual shortage of boys, the girls often dance boys parts in school shows.

[smallbythesea]

Thanks everyone.

 

I always think it;s good to get everyones experience of something, particularly when it's something that is unfamiliar.

 

Only been offered a private lesson once before & that's because we had moved house 70 miles away from the dance school, but the teacher still entered her for the exam provided she practiced for the 3 week gap & had a private lesson (which she didn't charge us for) beforehand.

 

The teacher didn't go into any detail with regards to the purpose for them as she wants to wait until after she has had her auditions for associates, but I'm guessing it may be to iron out any bad habits & begin prep for the auditions for the 'big schools' this winter as many of her students are associates and go onto full time training at 11,14 or 16.

 

It all does come down to the time of the lessons and money at the end of the day, so I will see what she has to say.

 

smallbythesea

[amum/Cathy]

When ds was a RBS JA the JA teacher asked him to start private lessons with his local teacher, so maybe this is what the new teacher is anticipating. Also I should think the preparation for the auditions at the vocational schools merit private lessons.

 

Ds does do boys work in his private class now - but he gets it in his normal classes as well, it's more a case of "pre exam polish" in the private class. It makes a huge difference to his technique and he loves being able to work at his own pace and not being held back.