Mobile Training vs. Studio Training
Should you go to the music teacher or have the teacher come to you?
There are many ways to learn to play a musical instrument. Although self-training using books or videos can be an effective method, it has its drawbacks. If you are not a self-starter, this may prove to be a difficult path. You need to hold yourself 100% accountable. In addition, you miss out on the opportunity for immediate feedback or suggestions to improve your playing methods. This can slow down your progress. For these reasons and many others, most people prefer live training with an instructor.
In most cases, training is done in a studio or music shop. The instructor may be an employee of the music shop or may rent out the space. You may not be aware of this, but many music teachers also offer the option of mobile training. This means they will come to your home or other site of your choosing. Both of these methods have their pros and cons. Let’s have a brief review of both methods.
Studio Training
This is still the method preferred by most students and teachers. Lessons may be offered in numerous ways: They can be one-on-one, small group, or large group. All of these methods have their individual pros and cons, which vary according to your learning style and motivational triggers.
The studio method works for many reasons. It takes you out of the familiarity of your home and can put you in a stronger learning frame of mind. Entering the studio or music shop can be an inspiring experience all by itself. Surrounded by musical instruments, sound equipment, accessories, posters, books, sheet music, and sometimes even CDs and mp3 players, you may find yourself inspired to work harder and learn more simply because of your environment. This is also a less expensive method than mobile learning.
The primary drawbacks are time and transportation considerations. It takes time and gasoline (or bus fare, etc.) to get to and from the studio. If you work full time, it can be vexing to fit those extra minutes in. If you have difficulty getting around (say, for example, you don’t have a means of transportation readily available to you), this can make the studio method nearly impossible.
Mobile Training
More and more instructors and students are taking advantage of mobile learning. This method is ideal for people who don’t have reliable transportation to and from a music shop or studio. It also works wonderfully for people who are disabled or generally have a difficult time getting around, but still want to learn.
One of the great things about mobile training is that you have the familiarity of your surroundings. It also saves the time and effort to get to and from the studio, which of course means saving you transportation costs. Do be careful, though. The familiar surroundings might hinder you (compared to studio training) unless you have the drive to succeed. The major drawback to this method, of course, is the cost. Instructors must factor in time and transportation costs, and those will be reflected in the higher rate they charge you for their services.
Conclusion
As you can see, both of these methods have their ups and downs. Take the time to consider your finances, your time availability, your home and work environments, and your drive to succeed as a musician. Once you have factored these things in, you will be able to make a clear decision.