Greetings!,
Last summer, I was at a convention selling my two books and approached a woman with the question, "Would you like some new ideas and inspiration for your teaching?"
She looked at me aghast and haughtily responded, "I don't need any new ideas. My students win contests!"
Wow. I would like to say, "I'm so glad for your students." But I'm not. I feel sorry for them. Even if they play well and win contests, they would still benefit from a teacher who has new ideas to bring to the studio.
There are three kinds of teachers who feel they don't need to learn:- Teachers who feel their own training was so exemplary that they want to teach exactly the same way they were once taught many years ago.
- Teachers who feel, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Like my contest-winning friend who is satisfied with how things are going and doesn't want to ever change a thing.
- Teachers who view students as a paycheck walking in the door and don't want to make the effort to improve.
But the mark of a good teacher is someone who is always learning. If you haven't talked to other teachers for ideas, participated in music teacher groups or read magazines and books (Hey! I know two very wonderful choices!), then you and your students are missing out on a lot of fun!
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Practice Pointers
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- The fact that you fingered the note correctly does not mean the audience heard it. Analyze every note with your ears, not your fingers.
- Use post-its in the shape of arrows to point out every missed measure. Then go straight to those measures at the next practice.
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Performance Pointers
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Your performance starts the minute you walk onto the stage.
- Dress with a little flair.
- Stride onto the stage with good posture.
- Announce your name and piece with confidence and end with a big smile.
If you don't act as if you believe you are a wonderful player, no one else will believe it either.
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Tuning With The Piano
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For a solo instrument tuning with the piano:
After you stop playing your tuning "A," if you hear the piano pitch go up, you are flat. If you hear the pitch go down, you are sharp. Weird, but true!
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Flute Flash: Changing Articulation
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- Practice tongued passages slurred to improve tone.
- Practice slurred passages tongued to make sure every note is there and in perfect rhythm.
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Mailbox
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Thank you for sharing all your experience and ideas with the music community. Your books have put into words all the essential aspects of teaching and mentoring students. Every dedicated music teacher should have these books!
Elena Yarrita La Jolla Symphony, San Diego
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I'm adding your books to my arsenal of tools!
Keith Hanlon __________________________________________
Thank you Bonnie! My mother, sister and all three daughters are successful piano teachers. We all believe in teaching with relationships and expecting great things! Thank you so much for your confirming presentation and all your new ideas. The daughters and I agree: We need rubber chickens!
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