Teen Students
Engaging parents in lessons with teens
I have a group of teenage students and although parents attend lessons, they are for the most part completely not engaged. I’m at a loss as to how I could include them in the lesson process. I can see the value of doing this in…
New teacher with special needs student
I’m just getting started as a Simply Music teacher. My first class is scheduled for next week, in fact! I have the possibility of enrolling a 14-year-old student who has no thumbs and a communication problem. He’s small for his age, and is of normal…
Teaching and coaching your own children
I am desperately seeking help for teaching my own daughter. She is 14, and we have been doing SM in a group for 5 years now, and are in the midst of Level 6. Even though she does not like it, she mostly has been…
Help for me and for Life Coach… Student wants to quit
I’ve been teaching for about 8 months, and I’ve lost 3 students so far, all of whom I agreed it was the best decision that they not continue lessons with me. I have 7 other very happy students… and now one who wants to quit.…
Older students without life coach
Hi Everyone, At what point do you allow students to come to classes without their parent? I have two students, brothers, ages 12 and 13 who are in level 7. Their parents are very supportive of the program and the process, but the dad…
Advice needed on Reading Program
Dear Fellow Teachers, One of my parents just texted me to say her oldest boy (14) wants to quit lessons. She said she would like both boys (younger one is 12) to stay until they are “reading notes proficiently”, and asked “What will it take…
Student Composition
At Neil’s suggestion, I’m sharing a wonderful experience I had last week. I had assigned a 14-year-old boy to compose a song using the chord progressions from Honey Dew in the pattern from Dreams, Arr. 3. I told him that lots of repetition of simply…
Students Leaving Because of ‘Too Much Homework”
I’ve had a couple students lately ‘take a break’ because their homework load has gotten to be too much, or so they say. I’m not sure what to think of this as it seems to be recurring. The students do often come back a couple…
First Teen/Adult Class
I will be having my first teen/adult class this Wednesday! I have been teaching for a year and a half now but have only had kids 12 and under. My class on Wednesday will have a 12-yr-old boy, 16 yr-old-boy, and an adult woman. How…
Students Comfort Level with Touching
For those of you that teach groups, do you ever find that students are uncomfortable or embarrassed to touch each others’ hands? I’m thinking in particular of a 13 yr-old boy that may be in a group with three 16-yr-olds (all beginners). I think it…