Students

The following is an email exchange between Carrie L., Michigan and Kim L.  Questions and answers were edited and organized in a particular order. She has had prior lesson experience and is very quick and smart. The 2nd lesson her mom mentioned that she gets…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• claiming territory, coaches, coaching, impatient student, Playlist

I have a student who has played in the past, and has a habit of twisting her hands laterally (outwards) when playing chords. She wants to use her own fingering, and complains about having to use the fingering as instructed, and even included on her…

• Last updated 8 years ago
• claiming territory, coaching, fingering, Neil Moore, resistant students, SM big picture, technique, twisting hands

In response to “…Some of my students have 4 to 6 songs they are working on as well as variations and arrangements.  My “notes” seem to be too busy and overwhelming to some of these students, because they still need to work on all of…

• Last updated 9 years ago
• Dreams Come True, managing projects, Neil Moore, Night Storm, Playlist, practicing, writing notes

I need suggestions on how to liven up the Accompaniment program.  Although my students like learning the chords and their structure, they are not thrilled with the idea of playing the pieces. I’ve had them bring in some of their own music, but they don’t…

• Last updated 5 years ago
• accompaniment, managing projects, popular music

I have been teaching for almost two years now, and until recently have never felt really satisfied with how I have ‘wound up’ Level 1 for students -meaning how I have given them a real sense of accomplishment, ushering them into Level 2 without losing…

• Last updated 8 years ago
• controlling the events, ending level 1, external speakers, learning a way of learning, learning tools, rhythm diagrams, skills, strategies, vocalizing

I have a new adult private student with previous experience. She has had 4 lessons. I taught Dreams and Night the first lesson and told her she’d probably feel like going ahead but I wanted her to wait. Well, second lesson she came back and…

• Last updated 11 years ago
• accompaniment, fast moving student, learning a new way of learning, previous experience

I have an experienced student who is 9 years old and has been playing for about 4-5 years in a traditional method. Reading is fair, but he has been playing by ear for years and his overall ability and absorption rate, in this area, is…

• Last updated 5 years ago
• accompaniment, arrangements, fast moving, long term relationships, rate of learning, student, students with previous experience, traditional students

I would like to know what do you say to students or parents when they do not bring their playlist or note books?, or and they bring it but they did not mark it but parents say they practice every day anyway? Also when students are in a…

• Last updated 5 years ago
• analogies, claiming territory, long term relationships, Playlist, relationship conversation, requirements, Robin Keehn

I’d like to know if you have any standard policies and strategies regarding uncooperative young children. I am dealing with a 5 year old boy who is very un-cooperative. He is in a class with another 5 year old boy. If I give him an…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• correcting behavior, shared lessons, studio policies, uncooperative child

I have a student who has just started F2, had done 4 arrangements. She is learning a few other instruments as well. She is a fast learner, able to play the new songs hands together immediately after I show her. She has asked me to…

• Last updated 8 years ago
• Accompaniment‏, arrangements, composition, foundation duets, Gordon Harvey, improvisation, learning a new way of learning, other songs, playlist management, songs outside the repertoire, variations