relationship conversation

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 3 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

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

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 5 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

Has anyone else dealt with the issue of the second parent, the spouse of the life coach, not being behind lessons fully? They question the method and cost and cause issues at home? If so, how have you addressed this? I’m contemplating making it mandatory…

• Last updated 6 years ago
• communication, communication with parents, FIS, Laurie Richards, Long Term Relationship, LTR, non-attending parent, relationship conversation, relationship with coach, Robin Keehn, unsupportive parent

I have a “territory” parent situation I haven’t encountered before and would like to ask for some specific guidance on how to deal with this. The student is 8 and in a private lesson. She is lovely, eager to learn, and compliant from my perspective.…

• Last updated 7 years ago
• communication, correcting behavior, dealing with parents, discipline, parent correcting in lesson, relationship conversation, Robin Keehn

Something I’m continually learning as a teacher is to not shy away from having the relationship conversation. When a student walks in and says, “I am really in a valley”, my goal is to not freak out and worry that she is going to immediately…

• Last updated 7 years ago
• communication, empathy, encouragement, relationship, relationship conversation, valleys

I have a young girl who is not quite 7 years old. She is in the second week of level 2 and I introduced the 2nd section of Alma Mater Blues to her this week. She went through 99% of Level 1 like a champ.…

• Last updated 10 years ago
• alma mater blues 2nd section, claiming territory, level 2, relationship conversation, student resisting songs, working with parents

I just concluded my first two Introductory Sessions. The sessions went very well and I’m excited about embarking on the teaching journey. My question is this: what is one thing (or more, if you want to elaborate) you’d share with a new teacher from your…

• Last updated 10 years ago
• new teacher advice, relationship conversation

I’ve been having more attrition than I’m used to among students. Two, I think, are a temporary hiatus, and two others were over-committed in their lives and needed to rearrange something. I know I can’t take it personally when a student decides to leave, but…

• Last updated 7 years ago
• Long Term Relationship, LTR, prior experience, relationship conversation, studio setup, transitioning into SM