Adult Students

One of my private adult students had agreed to start RR but when I did the first exercises with her (walking with SDQ’s) she told me she did not feel comfortable as she feels this is more suitable for children. I told her I have…

• Last updated 5 months ago
• adult students, claiming territory, counting rhythms, difficult rhythm, explaining claiming territory, getting an even rhythm, helping students feel rhythm, improving rhythm skills, marching sdq, multiple thought processes, natural rhythm, not trusting the method, processing, processing rhythm, processing rhythms, reading, reading preparation, reading process, reading rhythm, reads rhythm, reclaiming territory, refusing to learn songs, refusing to play, regaining lost territory ideas, resistant students, rhythm, rhythm difficulty, rhythm fun ideas, rhythm games, RR, RR mastery, RR pacing, RR practice, SDQ, single thought process, single thought processes, singles doubles quads, STP, student processing and resisting approach, tapping, tapping sdq, teacher preparation, teaching rhythm, territory, trust the method, trust the process, trusting the method, trusting the process, trusting the program, walking sdq

One of my new private adult students (she is practicing diligently, LOVES SM, her playlist so far is very strong) wants to switch from having one (half-hour) lesson per week to two (half-hour) lessons weekly (several days apart) because she is eager to make even…

• Last updated 6 months ago
• 2 lessons per week, adult students, duration of class, duration of lesson, frequency of lessons, importance of playlist, length of class, length of lesson, lesson duration, lesson frequency, lesson length, managing playlist, managing the playlist, multiple lessons per week, number of songs on playlist, Playlist, playlist management, practice, semiweekly lesson, special needs, teaching week, twice per week lessons, two lessons per week

I’d love to get feedback on how you handle absences from students who are ill. I offer make-up lessons or even extended lessons to “make up” the time. Also, what about adults or youth who are so involved in other activities that they aren’t always…

• Last updated 7 months ago
• absences, absences in group lessons, activities, adult students, busy coaches, busy families, busy students, busy teenagers, busy teens, catching up after absence, commitment, commitment to lessons, communication, extended lessons, extending lessons, group lessons, illness, make up lessons, make-ups, makeup, makeup lessons, makeup sessions, makeups, missed lessons, over committed families, policies on makeup lessons, requirements, sick students, student absences in shared lessons, studio policies

I have an adult, private student who came to me already reading. She is near the end of Foundation Level 6, has completed Reading Rhythm and Reading Notes, and is working her way through Read n Play. I’m realizing I’ve procrastinated on introducing Time for…

• Last updated 2 years ago
• big picture, Laurie Richards, playing-based strategies, Robin Keehn, simplicity of TFMM, tfmm, Time for More Music, value of TFMM

I have a super fast learning adult student. In 4 lessons he’s done Foundation up to and including Ode to Joy; composed a short song, improvised on black notes, learned the C blues scale, done an arrangement of Dreams, learned different rhythms for Jackson Blues,…

• Last updated 2 years ago
• arrangements, comp & improv, fast moving student, learning a new way of learning, learning strategies, playing-based strategies, playing-based tools

In my initial lesson with adult students, I often will introduce the Basics followed by Dreams Come True. It has become a common theme that people really don’t understand that diagram; I am considering starting with the right hand of Ode to Joy. Sadly I…

• Last updated 2 years ago
• 5 steps of sound, 5SS, basics, Dreams Come True, first lesson, five steps of sound, foundation session, Laurie Richards, learning a new way of learning, understanding diagrams

Any advice for teaching students in their 70s? I’ve got a couple in their early 70s who seem to lack a sense of time. The motor skills are also a struggle. She has some arthritis as well as a finger that locks, and he is…

• Last updated 2 years ago
• adult students, elderly students, expectations for seniors, physical limitations, senior students, slow pace

I’m just curious to know if anyone ever omits a part of the program if a student doesn’t like it. I have an older senior that doesn’t like accompaniment, wouldn’t sing for himself or know anyone else that would. He hasn’t been using the audio…

• Last updated 2 years ago
• Accompaniment‏, elderly students, Laurie Richards, omitting pieces from the program, senior students, tailoring the program

Some folks asked me to share about growing your adult student population. Here are a few things that have worked for me. 1) Deciding that’s what I wanted. Yes, I have turned down requests for teaching children. I adore kids, but at this point in…

• Last updated 3 years ago
• adult students, advertising, facebook, growing your studio, marketing, social media

One of my students will have a baby in a couple of months and she already has three other children, so she said she will need a break at that time. Any suggestions how to support her to keep up with her piano journey at…

• Last updated 3 years ago
• breaks, maternity break, method coach, student breaks