This Is Going to Change Your Perspective On Taking Lessons...

Live interactive lessons are better than YouTube. Yep, I said it but hear me out. YouTube is certainly more flexible (and free!), but it lacks the personal guidance and tailored instruction that an interactive human can provide. Not to mention, many questions come up all the time when you're learning a new instrument. Can a YouTube video answer those in the moment? It'll probably take you more time to google answers to your questions than just attending a 30 minute class each week with a human who can answer all of those questions for you on the spot. I can count on two hands the amount of times where a student enrolled for lessons after attempting to learn from YouTube, and realizing they weren't grasping some of the foundational techniques. Don't get me wrong, I think YouTube has massive benefit and is a great resource for the many questions of life. For music lessons and certainly violin lessons however, I'd encourage virtual or in-person classes.

Agree or disagree, I've compiled a few reasons I think learning the violin in a live setting is better than YouTube:

ONE--Personalized Lessons and Feedback: A teacher can observe technique, posture, hand position, and offer realtime corrections that are crucial for avoiding bad habits and preventing injury. Most people don't even realize that you can injure yourself playing a musical instrument. While in college, a dear friend of mine had to withdraw from our music program due to being diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome. This condition was caused by the excessive use of her wrists and repetitive movements in her hand, as she neglected to stretch and take required breaks. I remember sitting in a hallway of the music building crying next to her as she shared the news with me. I was devastated for her and all of the work she put into her violin studies. Unfotunately, there are an infinite number of stories like this. When we start learning a new instrument we don't realize that we're using a whole new group of muscles and we need to be gentle as we're building that endurance. You wouldn't go to the gym for the first time and grab the 100lb weight...

TWO--Customized Learning Pace: Live lessons offer a tailored pace to your skill level, learning style, and progress. YouTube videos, despite having their own benefit, are often generalized and may not cater to individual learning needs. This topic goes back to my very first blog post on how important it is to work with someone who aligns with your learning style. Given that each individual processes information uniquely, it seems implausible that a single YouTube video could cater to all those diverse learning styles.

THREE--Structured Learning Path: A teacher can create a structured and progressive curriculum based on your goals and learning style and ensure you're learning the appropriate fundamentals before advancing. I often tell students in our first lesson that my teaching style is structured yet tailored to YOU. I have a system I follow but it's very dynamic. We might start out on path A which might lead to path B or it could lead to path C instead; based on many factors within our lessons together. The benefit that you're receiving from interactive lessons is access to a broader curriculum. I don't offer cookie-cutter lessons nor a cookie-cutter curriculum. The benefit truly is boundless.

FOUR--Motivation and Accountability: I don't know about you but I am wayyyy more productive and consistent when I have someone cheering me on and guiding me in my process. This goes for a multitude of things in life but especially when I'm learning a new instrument. Regular lessons with a teacher creates a sense of responsibility for practice and improvement. Is your instructor from YouTube reaching out to encourage you on your progress or check in on your practice?

FIVE--Adaptability: I completely understand that life happens and there are things that throw off our day/week/month a little. Having a teacher offers a real-life human connection and despite our current state/mood/interests, a teacher can alter the lesson on the spot while still learning something new and progressing at your pace. I've had students show up to their lesson crying from a tough day, I've had students show up not having practiced through the week, and I'm happy to alter my support and lesson plan to accomodate wherever they are in the moment. And most leave the lesson feeling better and having learned something new.

Takeaways: YouTube is certainly more flexible and free. I mean, I get the attraction of the convenience to learn something at two in the afternoon or three in the morning. I also fully support the attraction to have the benefit of receiving real-time engagement, feedback, encouragement, and support.

Did you enjoy this blog post? Share it with friends, family, the stranger at the grocery store...honestly, anyone who can read. Aside from playing and teaching the violin, I love writing and sharing my life lessons aaaand wouldn't mind getting paid for sharing my knowledge with the world. In all seriousness, thanks so much for reading! If even one person receives benefit from this post, I'm a happy little camper.

Share a comment, a question, or a story of your own--I'd love to hear from you. And stay tuned for the next post...arriving every week to an electronic device near you!