relationship

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 7 months 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

Any great ice-breaker ideas for piano lessons?!?!? I’ve been recommitting to group lessons this year and so I have several returning students who are coming together in new groups. While they all know me, they’ll be new to each other and I’d love to find…

• Last updated 10 months ago
• adding students to a group, benefits of group lessons, benefits of shared lessons, break the ice, breaking down barriers, comfort in teaching groups, communicate, communication, forming groups, friends, group, group dynamics, group lesson, group lessons, group lessons scheduling, group obstacles, groups, ice-breaker, icebreaker, leading groups, managing groups, managing shared lessons, relationship, relationships, scheduling groups, scheduling shared lessons, setting up groups, shared, shared lesson, shared lesson ideas, shared lesson management, shared lessons, shared lessons management, starting groups, teaching friends, teaching groups, value of groups

You know how you have a little small talk before the class begins…finding out how they are and how piano was that week? Well, this week I tried a little different angle. I asked “Did you make any musical discoveries this week”. The answers surprised…

• Last updated 10 months ago
• checking in, communicate, communicating where you are at, communication, conversations, discovery, question, relationship, relationships, small talk, talking about SM

I have found quite a few of my students are very emotional at lessons. When that happens, lessons are a bit of stressful for me sometimes. Do you have similar experience? My own children (now grown) never exhibited this sort of behaviors when they were…

• Last updated 11 months ago
• behavior, behavior in class, behavior issues, challenge, challenges, challenging behavior, challenging student, communicate, communicating where you are at, communication, cry, crying, disappointment, emotion, emotional, emotional limitations, emotional student, emotional students, emotions, expectations for behavior, expression, feelings, frustrated, frustrated student, frustration, managing emotion, misbehavior, mistakes, negative behavior, playing through mistakes, relationship, relationship with coach, relationships, self expression, stress, student behavior, student makes me feel uncomfortable, upset

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 12 months 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 1 year 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 have an ethical dilemma. I have had students try out for school talent shows and have had each one get chosen. One even went to state competition with a song he wrote. I know there is an elimination process for all of life’s events.…

• Last updated 3 years ago
• disappointment, encouragement, Laurie Richards, relationship, talent shows

A family told me this past week that they are discontinuing, because their only remaining lesson mate recently decided to discontinue, and this family did not want to continue in a private situation. My policy is 30 days’ written notice, and they’d prepaid for this…

• Last updated 4 years ago
• Gordon Harvey, integrity, policies, policy, quitting, refund, relationship, students quitting

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 4 years ago
• communication, empathy, encouragement, relationship, relationship conversation, valleys