Today we had a recital. I always struggle with what to say after each student has played their song. Everyone is clapping, then I pop back up again to introduce the next performer. I say "that was great" then the next student I'll say "that was really good" etc. I feel awkward and uncomfortable when I say that after each student. Today I said nothing after each performance and just introduced the next one - I…
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 faster progress though she is very happy with what she already has gained. I love her enthusiasm but am a bit concerned it could be information overload if we do 2…
One of my new students (a 16 year old, very disciplined at practicing, and he and his Dad both love SM so far, he is on Jackson Blues) just told me today that he is also learning some extra songs (songs he likes and knows from movies, etc.) from YouTube clips that show you which notes to play and with which finger numbers, etc. NOT with music score but just note letter names etc. ... he is…
Can anyone point me towards resources to help a student with performance anxiety? She's 13 and used to willingly play and sing for anyone who'd ask, but now she's extremely resistant even as she's a fabulous and sensitive musician. I've never felt like much of a natural performer myself and feel keenly my own struggles to play in front of others so I don't feel like I have tools to help her (other than empathy!). …
A student is on a 6-week road trip. His mom just texted, "My piano player has been missing his piano. It is his coping mechanism when the world gets overwhelming. I didn't realize how much piano helps him. Do you know of general places--besides music stores--where he could play for 15/20 minutes?" Any ideas? Maybe a church in the area? I've used Best Buy before if…
I have a question about the SHM. I talked to my boss at the studio the other day and she was concerned about students possibly discontinuing lessons with me and then proceeding to use the videos and purchasing additional levels to learn the songs. She wanted to know if that is protected against and could this happen? I assured her there are some things that a student can only get in a lesson and the videos…
I have a level one student (7 yo) who learned the whole AMB (2 and 3) by watching the level 1 demo. Argh! Naughty, naughty! I point out to students when they do this, they are missing out on vital learning clues (I don't tell them what). Then I ask them for their promise not to do it again. I point out that things quickly fall…
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…
How would you handle this situation: neighbor (parent 2) of a current student (parent 1) was interested in SM; current student parent 1 shares account info just to give the parent 2 neighbor an idea of what the digital materials are like etc. parent 2 enrols son with me, now my student. Both parent 1 and myself have clarified that student accounts are not for sharing materials, and the intent is for each student to have…
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