Slow progress
Found in: Special Needs & Learning Differences
Heidi M., Canada
I suspect that one of my students (9 years old) may have some learning disability as she is learning slower than I have every witnessed through she is really enjoying the process very much. Her family are refugees from Africa so I suspect some form of PTSD. I am continuing with her and encouraging her. No major motor skills issues, just forgetting over and over again how to start, or where on the keyboard to begin. After a few months she can do Night Storm with RH though often she starts at the wrong locations. When that happens, I focus on the positive, how lovely it sounded and what an interesting variation, before I remind her of the actual starting point.
She is having fun and enjoying lessons and her mother says she practices at home without having to be told. The mother is willing to pay for the lessons. Though I am happy the girl is enjoying it, I am interested to hear suggestions regarding what can help her. I did a bit of improv with her and it was simple but sweet, but then she would forget what she just did. Still she seems to enjoy it.
Leeanne I., Australia
I have a similar student. He really struggled with everything. Then one day it just clicked and he finally got it. He has been with me for over a year and is still only at the end of Level 1. I have talked with Mum and she asked me to not give up on them, so I didn’t. What made things click for this student was getting him to play the patterns with his feet on a piano mat. This may help. Getting the focus away from the hands and remembering the starting positions and the patterns.
Jennifer Y., Canada
If it is PTSD, being able to express herself through music may be a very important piece in her recovery. And I think playing music develops memory and functions of the brain that may be disadvantaged due to PTSD (or some other reason) so piano could work for her in two ways even if the learning is slow.
Who knows what is going on with kids who struggle? But just what you are doing, encouraging and staying with them, is so important.
Patti P., Hawaii
Remember that Neil always says “it takes as long as it takes”.
Robin T., China
A student that practices and enjoys? Something to be celebrated and one’s own expectations to be shelved.
Robin Keehn, Washington
I also remind students that this is a process, not an event. And when anyone says that they feel ‘behind’, I ask ‘behind what?’