LTR

I have just lost a young student (7) who was, until mid level 2, loving the piano, practicing diligently without any encouragement needed. Then just before the school holidays we had two weeks where she barely played and then her father informed me she just…

• Last updated 2 years ago
• benefits, benefits of piano lessons, communicating benefits, dealing with losing a student, keeping them interested, Long Term Relationship, long term relationships, long-term, long-term relationship conversation, losing a student, losing student, losing students, lost interest, LTR, LTR graph, navigating a valley, quitting, quitting lessons, relationship, relationship conversation, retaining students, sticking with piano long term, student valley, students losing interest, students quitting, valley, valleys, want to quit

I have run three FIS’s over the past week, and have encountered a number of potential parents who use the phrase “we want to give it a go”. Now, I know this is a phrase we don’t like to hear necessarily – as “giving it…

• Last updated 3 years ago
• 4-song workshop, commit, commitment, commitment to lessons, give it a go, giving it a go, Long Term Relationship, long term relationships, long-term, long-term relationship conversation, LTR, LTR graph, relationship, relationship conversation, relationship graph, sample lessons, sampling lessons, sticking with piano long term, teaching workshops, trail before committing, trial lesson, trial period, try it out, trying it out, trying lessons, workshop, workshop SHMs, Workshops

Siblings in a shared lesson with 2 others, just finishing Foundation One (12 lessons) Big brother learning faster than average, and faster than his sister. Mom says they are having trouble at home because they are playing the same material, he wants to go faster…

• Last updated 3 years ago
• 30 day notice, claiming territory, discontinuation, discontinuation notice, discontinuation policy, discontinuing, discontinuing lessons, Laurie Richards, lesson requirements, Long Term Relationship, long term relationships, long-term relationship conversation, LTR, no notice ending lessons, notice, quitting, quitting lessons, reclaiming territory, regaining lost territory ideas, request vs requirement, requirement, requirement based studio, requirement versus request, requirement-based, requirements, requirements in lessons, sticking with piano long term, students quitting, territory, want to quit

A LOT has been said about this topic both in the SM teacher body and the greater global teacher community. I’d be interested in a more pointed discussion about possible alternatives to how teachers current converse about practice expectations. While Simply Music has gone to…

• Last updated 3 years ago
• at home practice, confidence as a student, discipline, encouraging practice, expectation, expectations, improving retention, lack of practice, lesson requirements, Long Term Relationship, long term relationships, long-term, long-term relationship conversation, LTR, managing practice, managing practice time, motivating teens, motivation, Music and the Art of Long-term Relationships, music as a lifelong companion, not practicing, play vs practice, play vs work, playing, positive feedback, practice, practice guidelines, practice habits, practice routine, practice time, practice vs play, practicing, practicing guidelines, request vs requirement, requirement, requirement based studio, requirement versus request, requirement-based, requirements, requirements in lessons, retention, sticking with piano long term, student not practicing, student retention, student success, success, talking about expectations, unmotivated, unmotivated students, work vs play

We’re now nearly three months into online lessons, and I’m sensing a growing weariness in some (not all) of my students. Anyone else experiencing the same thing? It’s normal for some of them to have a summer slump, but this feels different. What are some…

• Last updated 4 years ago
• 4-song workshop, accompaniment games, accompaniment workshop, benefits of group lessons, benefits of online lessons, certificates, certificates for each level, certificates of achievement, chord games, cocktail parties, comfort in teaching groups, distance lessons, FaceTime, fatigue, fun, fun in lessons, fun with accompaniment, games, Google Hangouts, gratitude, groups, keeping groups together, learning online, learning via webcam, Long Term Relationship, long term relationships, long-term relationship conversation, long-term relationship with teaching, LTR, managing groups, musical games, online, online groups, online learning, online lessons, Piano at Home, piano parties, piano party, playlist games, relationship, relationship conversation, rhythm games, Skype, slump, summer camps, taking videos, teaching groups, teaching online, teaching workshops, tired, using a webcam to teach, using games, value of groups, video, videoconference software, videos, weariness, weary, workshop, Workshops, Zoom

I promised I’d send online ideas that make it SIMPLE for beginning onliners. I’ve been doing this for a while now. It is particularly helpful I find for kids in groups online. It helps the lesson get off to a flying start at that typically…

• Last updated 4 years ago
• benefits of group lessons, benefits of online lessons, comfort in teaching groups, distance lessons, evaluating playlist, groups, importance of playlist, keeping groups together, keeping playlist alive, keeping playlists, keeping the playlist alive, learning online, Long Term Relationship, long term relationships, long-term relationship conversation, LTR, managing groups, managing playlist, managing the playlist, online, online groups, online learning, online lessons, Playlist, playlist check, teaching groups, teaching online, value of groups

I’m sensing my own impatience lately with some of my adult students! I also feel like I’ve been getting lots of “I’m nervous” and “it was perfect at home” from them. Maybe it’s just me… I’m not quite sure what’s going on. I’m just feeling…

• Last updated 4 years ago
• adult students, at home practice, enhancing practice, file folder analogy, frustrated, frustrated student, frustration, group lesson, group lessons, how to practice, impatience, Laurie Richards, Long Term Relationship, long term relationships, long-term relationship with teaching, LTR, managing practice, mistakes, nerves, nervous, nervousness, perfection, piano teacher effect, pract, practice, practice guidelines, practice habits, practice ideas, practice location, practicing, practicing guidelines, relationship, relationships, Robin Keehn, teacher effect

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…

• Last updated 4 years ago
• claiming territory, coach, coach responsibility, commitment, commitment to lessons, discipline, encouragement, encouraging parents, encouraging practice, encouraging students, enjoying the process, external rewards, extrinsic rewards, holding coaches accountable, holding students accountable, intrinsic rewards, Long Term Relationship, long term relationships, long-term relationship conversation, LTR, managing practice, motivation, parent support, parental responsibility, practice, practice habits, practicing, practicing guidelines, quitting, relationship, relationship conversation, relationship with coach, relationships, requirement, requirements, responsibility, rewards, student interests, student rewards, unmotivated, unmotivated students, unsupportive parent, want to quit

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…

• Last updated 6 years ago
• Long Term Relationship, LTR, minimal effort, Music and the Art of Long-term Relationships, navigating a valley, sensory processing disorder, valleys

Has anyone had success teaching SM without parents in attendance? I had my second FIS today with current families, and they were all excited about it until I told them that a parent had to attend lessons. That was kind of a show stopper for…

• Last updated 6 years ago
• Long Term Relationship, LTR, Music and the Art of Long-term Relationships, Neil Moore, no coach at lessons, parent unwilling to attend, Robin Keehn, teaching without a coach