The Allegro Program
Quality * Freedom * Progress
As a teacher, I'm always asking myself, "How can I help students achieve better results?". This question has nagged me for the last 4-5 years. Traditional teaching is no longer enough. Students and families are stretched to the limit with activities, work, and school, with little time for practice. Parents feel guilty for not pushing practice and for having to nag about practicing. Students don't want to practice in the little free time they have, and if they do practice and have a problem, they're stuck trying to figure it out. This has been my quest. And I found my answer with The Allegro Program.
Deep research forced me to challenge the "sacred cows" of traditional lessons. Is a traditional 30 minute lesson really the best for students? Is the at home practice expectation relevant and reasonable in today's world? How can parents have their children involved with lessons without the additional stress and guilt? How can I get students through their books faster with better mastery? The more I learned, the more I discovered that the traditional lesson model was not in the best interests of parents and students. So, I teamed up with a highly successful and regarded teacher in Indianapolis to redesign my studio to make it reflect my desire for increasing the joy of music making and reducing stress and frustration.
What is The Allegro Program?
In music, allegro means "fast and lively". That's precisely what this program is. Students learn all their new music at the lesson, so any time playing at home is for musicality and speed--not fixing problems and solving musical mysteries. Students advance through their materials 30% faster. All TAP students increase their time at the piano, with some even DOUBLING that time. Best of all, the stress associated with home practice is eliminated!
Students receive a 60 minute lesson each week. During that time, students work independently on assigned materials. When they have mastered an assigned section or song, they signal for the teacher to listen and assess. Any issues are fixed right then and there, or, if they've accomplished the task, the teacher assigns something new. The longer lesson time allows for special activities in sight-reading, note learning, and music theory. These ever important supplements often get overlooked in traditional lessons due to time constraints.
The hour is filled with rehearsal, performance, and exercises that develop musicianship and independence.
In addition to all these cool benefits, The Allegro Program costs the same as a 30 minute traditional lesson!
What does The Allegro Program look like?
To the observer, The Allegro Program is really kind of boring to watch. Don't let that fool you, because kids are highly engaged in their music.
Students arrive at their lesson, go to a piano, put on their headphones, and begin playing. They do not need to wait for the teacher to tell them to play. When a student believes that the song is ready to be assessed, the student signals with a green card that the song is ready to be heard. The teacher goes over and listens to the student. The teacher gives the next assignment, either for something new or to fix an error. Then the student begins to work on the new task.
If a student has a problem, a red card is displayed. This indicates a priority for the teacher, who helps the student work through the problem. When a solution is given, the red card is put away and the student resumes work on the song.
Music theory in written and digital apps is provided during the hour, which keeps the pacing light and lively.
The program has a maximum student-teacher ratio of 1:6, although most classes will have 4 students. Opportunities for peer learning, duets, and mini-performances are a bonus that traditional students rarely get.
The Allegro Program FAQ's
Q: Do you group kids by age or level?
A: Students of all levels are welcome in a group. Families with more than 2 students can have the same time slot! As far as age is concerned, students are grouped loosely by age. We try to place kids in groups of elementary, middle, and high school ages; however, there is some overlap between them.
Q: Are kids getting quality instruction when there are more kids in a group?
A: Yes! In fact, the quality of instruction improves because the students are actively playing for the majority of the hour. Students become independent learners and problem solvers. They are learning by doing. Traditional lessons don't offer enough time for figuring it out, so the teacher either has to hope the student will figure it out at home without guidance, or does the work for the student. That creates learned helplessness, and progress comes to a screeching halt.
Q: What about COVID-19? How are you managing groups and instruction?
A: All pianos are situated over 6 feet apart and are wiped down after every hour. Teachers wear face masks. Students may either wash their hands in the washroom, or they may use the hand sanitizer provided upon entering. Common areas and high-touch surfaces are wiped down after each hour.
Q: Are parents allowed to watch?
A: During the pandemic, we offer a qualified yes. For the first 2 - 3 lessons, parents may watch the lessons to make sure that their child is settling in okay, learning, and is safe. We ask that visiting parents wear a mask, use hand sanitizer, and watch from a distance. We respectfully ask that during the pandemic, younger siblings not attend the lesson to watch. This is to keep our capacity at a safe level. When health and government authorities deem it safe, we can let parents visit as much as they would like, bring siblings, and wait in the designated waiting area. As stated earlier, it is pretty boring to watch, and parents quickly realize that the hour is a great time to run a few errands and answer a few emails.
Q: Is The Allegro Program affordable?
A: Yes! It is the same price for the 60 minute program as a 30 minute lesson! It's a no-brainer--more time at the piano, faster progress, and noticeable results--for the same price as a traditional lesson.
Q: We may miss a lesson or two due to planned vacations. Do you offer make ups?
A: Yes! The Allegro Program offers unlimited make-ups for students. All classes have one extra piano for just that purpose. Sign ups are on the parent portal. It is important to note that the student-teacher ratio never goes beyond 1:6.