Although we are super pleased we have such high retention rates due to lots of long term conversations, recently we are finding (within the last year or so) that people are tactfully avoiding 1. Talking to us about issues or things they are confused about or questions they may have so that we can have a conversation with them 2. Any talk or thoughts of cancellation until a written notice has already been turned in 3.…
I have found quite a few of my students are very emotional at lessons. When that happens, lessons are a bit of stressful for me sometimes. Do you have similar experience? My own children (now grown) never exhibited this sort of behaviors when they were young. I feel I am lacking the skills to manage it. How is the emotion displayed? Tears? Outbursts? Defiance? I had a group of 5 boys…
Sharing a requirement-based success story. I had a family recently whose two children never practiced consistently since they started. I told parents and children consistently the past week before spring break and week following that it wasn't a problem, but that it wasn't going to work for me. The dad talked over me repeatedly, told me he "didn't have time to be a babysitter," and lied about the amount of practice time that had been happening.…
How would my expert teachers out there manage a student who was absolutely adamant that they should only have 1 NEW song to practice each week. Regardless of if they get it easy or not; how can I correct this limiting belief in their psychology if it all? This is a case of Claiming Territory. If you don't claim it back, it will always be something with this student. I'd start…
You know how you talk yourself blue in the face sometimes to your students about basic best practices and it seems to go in one ear and out the other? Well, I decided to let the STUDENTS speak - video tape them - and share it with my studio. Lo and behold, it worked! Folks are referencing these videos in ways they never did before when I was just TELLING them to do it. It's…
Has anyone heard of school teachers saying children should use their own 'internal motivation' rather than pushing them to do something? We were discussing reward for completing tasks. Poor Mum is confused, I am telling her she needs to guide her children, manage their activities and their long term relationships. The school teacher is telling Mum to let her children explore multiple activities, quit if they don't like it and try something else. [answer author="Gabrielle K.,…
If you're a requirement based studio, how much responsibility do you place on teenage students vs life coaches? I'd say if the student is not meeting the requirements on their own, the coach should still be responsible for making sure it happens. I agree that ultimately the coach is responsible regardless of student age. Teens need their coach more than ever to protect their practice time.…
I am trying to choose the right words to discuss a student's minimal effort with her parent. The student is 8 and has been taking lessons since she was 5. She progressed quickly, then hit a valley and has been putting in the bare minimal effort for the last 18 months or so. She reached level 3, completed Reading Rhythm, and started Reading Notes, then just seemed to forget everything. So we have been reviewing to…
What strategies have you used to help your students navigate a valley? First step - have a conversation about it. Ask questions. After finding out exactly what the cause of the valley is, I take the pressure off for a while - no new foundation material is added until they get through the valley; keep lessons as light and fun as possible; do more improv…
This webinar is driven by teacher questions. Topics range from the rationale behind some of the curriculum to supporting coaches to the future of Simply Music. Enjoy! Topics include: Intro: Funny Story About Neil (00:05) Helping Parents be ‘Requirement-Based’ (2:06) How Teachers Can Improve Their Rhythm Skills (12:55) Engaging All Students in Shared Lessons (20:04) Rationale for Repertoire of 30-40 Songs (28:13) Reason for Notation Changes in Foundation Music (31:23) Blues Songs – More Common Keys Used (33:58) Developing Our…
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