I wouldn't miss a private lesson for it - advanced wouldn't be an adequate replacement.

What about 1 year of group lesson? Can they just advanced group?

My kid started violin at 3 and did play in her "advanced" orchestra in 4th and 5th grade, but it was just to socialize. Now she's concertmaster in her high school's Philharmonic, and it's still just to socialize. The level across all grades is abysmal, because some the kids have never had private lessons. And that's FINE. It's how it's meant to work: giving kids who cannot afford private lessons a chance to play!

I would let your kid choose what they want to do.

At out ES, it was a year of lessons put you in advanced.

Anonymous wrote:I would opt-out of music class in 4th and 5th grade if you are already 1.5 years into private lessons. Join the orchestra in middle school.

Let them do it for fun or a different instrument. Most kids do it, don't opt out.

OP, its not very advanced. Its year two of group lessons. With 1.5 years of private lessons they should go into advanced but it may be a schedule issue adn they'd repeat advanced in 5th.

The problem with MS and HS is if your child is advanced/highest group, they will be in the same class for all the years of that school. MS/HS still may not be challenging.

I would opt-out of music class in 4th and 5th grade if you are already 1.5 years into private lessons. Join the orchestra in middle school.

Anonymous wrote:My child had taken cello for 3 years when she did elementary school music and the teacher basically let her use the time as practice time - advanced wasn't really that advanced, but she just had fun being in the class.

Did they put her in beginning or advanced?

Also, why did you still sign her up since she was benefitting from it? She would be missing her regular lesson.

My child had taken cello for 3 years when she did elementary school music and the teacher basically let her use the time as practice time - advanced wasn't really that advanced, but she just had fun being in the class.

DD has taken 1.5 years of violin lessons. She’s in 4th grade now and it sounds like she would need to do beginning lessons. How advanced are “advanced” lessons? I am worried she would be bored with the beginning lessons.

Choosing another instrument is not an option as we don’t want to pay for another rental.