Therapeutic vs. Private Music Lessons
We are so lucky as music therapists to have so many tools to help our clients! Songwriting, improvising, playing along to music, listening and discussing music; the list goes on and on! Additionally, I often find myself in sessions with clients who are interested in learning how to play piano, guitar, drums, or practice singing. They are interested in therapeutic music lessons (TMLs)!
Over the last year one of my clients, who has been learning to play the drum kit in our sessions, went through his first year of mainstream high school. It has been so rewarding to see him come into his own as he embodies more confidence both as a musician in our jams and as a more independent student. In the last year, he has sought more independence in music therapy, and our sessions have transitioned almost entirely to TMLs.
Though music therapists tend to understand that TMLs are different from private music lessons (PMLs) which take place outside of a music therapy context, many non-music therapists may not know how or why they are different. I have my own ideas about how they are different, but I wanted to reach out to my Keynote colleagues to get their take on this subject as well!
Personally, I have only ever had one private music student, so my experience around this topic is limited. My sense is that my approach to overall goals would be different. In PMLs, I am being paid to guide students through rudiments and techniques so that they can develop their musicianship independently. I keep them on track as they practice and grow (mostly) outside of lessons.
I sat down with my Keynote colleague, Kristi, this week and asked her if she approaches her private piano students any differently than TMLs in music therapy. She reflected something similar to my understanding. She told me that she utilizes her skills as a music therapist in her PMLs but that her focus is narrower and more structured for PMLs including: rudiments, technique, student accountability, discipline to practice. She said that the main difference for her is that PMLs serve as a stepping stone for students as they grow as musicians and move on to other musical endeavors. In her view, TMLs can have a broader focus and serve client needs in a more immediate context (i.e. building self-efficacy and increasing self-expression irrespective of proper technique).
A simpler way to describe the differences is to say that the goals in PMLs are narrower than the goals in TMLs. In fact, every Keynote team member who wrote back to me highlighted this difference in goals. Carolyn emphasized that in TMLs therapeutic goals are included along with musical skill building goals and, the music therapist takes into account clients’ unique needs. Kayla added that in TMLs we can identify supportive practice techniques for our clients’ specific learning styles. She also named several of these specific goals for TMLs: “increased self esteem, problem solving skills, self expression, and social skills.”
Another Keynote team member, Abby, shared her experiences of the main differences between private and therapeutic lessons. She explained that in TMLs, she may shift to focusing on more general musical skill building, that she often includes time for breaks, and that some musical concepts are “gamified”. In contrast, she said that her PMLs are more focused: “Sessions are almost entirely for playing through assigned material like scales, etudes, and solo music or assigned school music. My students typically don't have disclosed disabilities and may learn skills differently than in TML. There is a higher expectation for music accuracy, practice routine, posture, and developing musicianship skills.”
In my view, TMLs offer a context in which clients can learn musical skills with less pressure and rigidity. Progress in playing is rarely linear, but clients in TMLs continue to develop skills socially, emotionally, and expressively. The joy of music flourishes, and clients’ enthusiasm for learning about music flourishes! Joy and enthusiasm which are such wonderful assets in both musical and non-musical achievement.
