Studio Management

My adult students are addicted to taking notes. Twice now I’ve given students the SHM and said “Don’t watch the video, and put the music aside for later” and they don’t hear it.  Previously, I had written on the students notes for her first lesson…

• Last updated 8 years ago
• claiming territory, coaching, getting results, Laurie Richards, learning a new way of learning, not following instructions, note taking, requirements

I have been working with two women in a shared lesson for the past five months.  One is excelling, one is struggling.  One cannot read music, one can a bit.  One is listening to what I recommend, one continues to do it her own way.…

• Last updated 8 years ago
• adult students, cheating by reading, playing-based, previous experience, shared lessons, students who use music book

I had a 79-year-old lady who is a traditional teacher, sign up for lessons with me so that she could learn herself and then go home and teach her grandkids using this method.  Her 89-year-old friend also signed up, and I put them together in…

• Last updated 8 years ago
• adult students, arrangements, claiming territory, coaching, moving ahead on the video, prior experience, shared lessons, students who move ahead, traditional experience

In response to: “… How do I deal with students who continually move ahead on the videos, even though I have told them not to?…” Students deciding to move ahead on the videos is a problem, and in the long run it sabotages their progress.…

• Last updated 8 years ago
• arrangements, claiming territory, comp & improv, duets, ideas for bored students, improv ideas, moving ahead on videos, requirements, SM big picture

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 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’m wondering if students should continue to keep up their Playlists after they have completed Time for More Music and have begun reading. I understand the value in keeping most of their Playlist alive so that they have songs in their repertoire that they can…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• accompaniment, advanced students, Amazing Grace, Development Levels, Dreams Come True, expressive playing, Gordon Harvey, Jackson Blues, Night Storm, Playlist, reading, Squidgies Boogie, The Gaz, Time for More Music

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