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Looking for ideas to give your students self-confidence, high standards and a sense of responsibility? Check out Making Music and Enriching Lives: A Guide For All Music Teachers Chapter 3 ""Instill Pride and Respect"
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for concrete solutions to your everyday problems and ideas to get more satisfaction from the best job in the world!
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Greetings!
Happy Thanksgiving! I took the meaning of this holiday to heart this month and decided to thank three teachers who were so important in my life, but probably didn't know it.
When I first entered the University of Washington hoping to become a music major, I had a BIG problem. I needed to audition on both voice and piano. Having never taken voice lessons nor studied with a piano teacher for many years, my meager skills were rusty. Luckily, two friends who were taking lessons each taught me a piece and, unbelievably, I was accepted.
Now came the hard part. When my world-famous piano teacher, Neal O'Doan, asked me to play a scale, I replied,
"I don't know what a scale is." That poor man almost fell off his chair.
Theory class was no better. My theory teacher, Gerald Kechley, quickly learned my (huge) limitations and would sometimes say to the class, "Let's do this example in
C major -- for Bonnie."
Though my sight-reading skills were limited, the happiest part of my day was singing in the select, 40-voice University Chorale, led by the most motivating and exciting teacher, Rodney Eichenberger.
As a late bloomer, my road to becoming a musician was stressful, but these three men helped me hang in there and develop the love and skills I now have.
So this Thanksgiving month, I called my piano teacher to thank him for putting up with his hapless student. I took my theory teacher out to lunch, and I'm planning a reunion at my house for the singers in Chorale and our beloved teacher.
Take a moment to think of a teacher (or two or three!) who changed your life. Now make that call. I guarantee you will be glad you did!
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| Say Please and Thank You | |
At the end of the first lesson, I say to each new student, "All my students say thank you for the lesson." The first few weeks, the student (prodded by the parent) thanks me for the lesson, but after a month or two, that thank you becomes genuine.
When I greet students as they enter the studio, I always ask, "How are you?" Many need a manners hint, so I will say, "And how are you Bonnie?" asking them to copy me. If they don't take the hint, they get to walk in the door and try again.
The simple greeting at the beginning and thank you at the end of each lesson set up an atmosphere of mutual respect. Try it!
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| Technology Tips |
 After your students have learned a piece fairly well, direct them to YouTube. Have them make three copies of their sheet music and listen to three different performances and make notes of interesting phrasing, dynamics, articulation, tone color, etc. Armed with these new ideas, they can now create their own music interpretation. |
| Flute Flash | | |
"Here's a funny take on Edvard Munch's "The Scream" that only flutists -- and their loved ones -- can appreciate.
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THANK YOU to the Spokane MTNA
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Thank you to all the new friends I met when I gave my all-day workshop to the Spokane Music Teachers Association. It was a fun day, and I value your ideas, insights and friendship.
"I can use what I learned today over the weekend to change how I teach on Monday. I left inspired to breathe new life into my studio! Awesome presentation!" --Kristy Purkett
"I felt proud of what I do and the impact I can have on the lives of my students because Bonnie elevated the importance of being a music teacher. The workshop went way too fast!" --Carolyn Stuart
"I was really inspired today while listening to all the great ideas Bonnie suggested. Her love for teaching really shows. What a blessing she must be to her students!" --Barbara Heckenlively
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