Robin Keehn
Every Other Week Lessons?
Does anyone offer every other week lessons? I am a new SM teacher and in the process of switching my traditional students over to SM but one of my students parents is asking if they could do every other week because of the expense. I…
Planning Lessons
I’m looking for a better way of lesson planning. How do you plan your lessons for the forthcoming week, and when do you prepare for teaching them? I have a small amount of students, so I don’t know if this would work for everyone, but…
Order of Projects, Lesson Planning and Multiple Projects
I was reading in Simpedia about Managing Time in lessons. I copied down a list (partially shown below) that suggested the order to teach SM projects. I noticed that I may be moving through Accompaniments too fast. I think I spend too much time on accompaniment and…
Classical Stream
I just got off the phone with an adult that started learning traditionally and wants to try out SM. I let her know the various genres we teach, and she let me know she is not crazy about jazz or blues. I have had another…
Regaining Momentum After A Break
I have a bit of scheduling dilemma and would welcome some input. I have some students who are anxious to start lessons, but because of vacations they’ll be away in August and I’ll be away in September. If they were to start now they would…
Coaching students who are more advanced than the teacher
I’ve been meaning to ask this since after the symposium. I remember Robin Keehn saying that she doesn’t necessarily play what her most advanced student plays. I guess my question is how early/late into the program would it be ok for the teacher to just…
Relationship Conversation
You all know the emphasis put on the Relationship Conversation in your initial training and in many conversations about teaching and working with coaches and students. I’d like to say a little more about it and the benefits of a weekly conversation about it. In…
Managing Students Who Don’t Follow Instructions
I have an adult student who has been SO keen and enthusiastic and constantly comes back saying that he has gone further into the video, and taught himself, pieces we have not covered yet. I have explained a few times that this is not acceptable.…
When Students do not bring their Playlist to Lessons
I would like to know what do you say to students or parents when they do not bring their playlist or note books?, or and they bring it but they did not mark it but parents say they practice every day anyway? Also when students are in a…
Adult Student Claiming Territory
A couple weeks ago I wrote an email about the value of accompaniment. I am writing again concerning the same student. This adult student is a very quick learner. She has not had piano “lessons” before, but she did have violin lessons, and her sister…