Sick of hearing my own voice

[jeremyjchilds]

Sometimes, after a long teaching stint, I am just so sick of hearing my own voice, like it almost irritates me...Then my wife wants to talk...

Since I actually really like talking to my wife...Here's my question.

Has anyone found a way of teaching that has employs the least amount of talking from the teacher?

[BoliverAllmon]

have them play more i guess.

[ptmidwest]

Popular in U.S. since the 70's, and still going strong in many areas:

Have a certain number of lessons  (once a month, twice a month, four each year, etc....) designated to be non-speaking lessons.  You must communicate by playing and listening, and a little sign language, and sometimes facial expressions.

These are very productive lessons, believe it or not.

Silent lessons are surprisingly well-liked by almost every one of my students, which may mean they are tired of my talking....nah, couldn't be THAT!

Of course, you could always play "mime" with your wife.  That could be fun.

[Bob]

Yes, call and reponse.  You play, they imitate.  It can work well to get them to hear things in music.  Play the "correct" way, then play incorrect.  If you want them to play a certain articulation, do that, then do the opposite.  It can open up their ears.  It's always interesting how some students immediately pick this up and imitate and others never get it.

Just let them play.  I used to think I had to keep giving them advice and correcting them.  Sometimes I think it's good to sit back and let them play.  You hear other things in their performance that way.  Plus, a lot of people associate the amount the student plays with the quality of teaching -- the more they play, they better you're doing.  Not necessarily true, but I haven't heard many students complain about playing too much during a lesson.

[nanabush]

Use a tape recorder haha... 

It'll ask a question and then wait like 6 seconds for them to answer...k don't use a tape recorder.

[Siberian Husky]

buy a darth vader voice distorter...and go all out...

[thalberg]

That idea of the silent lessons is really intriguing.  I would think it would cause the student to pay much more attention and feel playfully challenged by trying to receive what you are communicating.  Also, words often trigger weird psychological reactions that can block the teaching process.  Like if I'm unknowingly using a favorite phrase of one of a student's parents, it can automatically make them tune out.

[whynot]

I love this thread!  I have nothing helpful to suggest, because I am guilty of talking too much to my own students.  But I loved all the suggestions and will try them out myself.

[jeremyjchilds]

Well.. I've been "miming" or "mimeing" (whatever) with my wife for a while now!!!
Thanks Ptmidwest   You've added a whole new dimension to our marriage

[joyfulmusic]

after eleven straight lessons, I get a tickle in my throat.  I drink water a lot.  It helps.  Glad you brought this up.  It's tiring to talk for hours. 

[Bob]

buy a darth vader voice distorter...and go all out...

[metallic Vader voice]
"[koooo....] Use less force, more arm weight, my son....  [keeee]  ... and pray you do not dissappoint me this time.... [kooo....]"



You could do something like a group/studio class were the students critique each other.  It helps them recognize problems they might have themselves and trains them for any future teaching they might do.

Warmup your voice before you teach and use lots of air when you speak to take strain off the vocal cords maybe.

[i_m_robot]

self recently saw a documentary about universities and the cost of education

there was a college professor who taught a several schools during the course of a day

many of the classes were the same and so he got used to repeating everything

he became like a robot and made jack squat for cash


so you are not alone

its bound to happen

[ptmidwest]

You're welcome, Thalberg.

Where can I get a voice distorter? I would love to be Darth to my students!

(Bob--have a Star Wars concert.  Let them dress up.)

[Bob]

(disco Stars Wars too )

The professors are definitely not making the money.  Where's is all that money the colleges take in going?  But I digress... (places hand to mouth)

[ptmidwest]

In the US, in the music depts of the colleges and universities, yes, there are worn-out duds, but there are also many excellent professors, both in the teaching of music and the teaching of music teachers. 

Where are they?  Well, you have to find them, of course.

In my admittedly incomplete experience,  the good ones are excited about what they do, and the music school is exciting and enthusiastic about what they are doing, and it shows.  They are eager, they can't wait, to share what they know, what they've learned, what's new, what works. 

[Torp]

Has anyone found a way of teaching that has employs the least amount of talking from the teacher?

Are you looking for ways to have your students play more?  Or are you looking for ways to have your students verbally communicate with you more?

I'm not sure I can help with the former, but for the latter, one of the best methods is to use open-ended questions.  As adults, we have a tendency to alway "tell" kids what they need to know (or, rather, what we think they need to know.)  A better approach it to ask questions that will allow them to find the answers for themselves with as little guidance from us as possible.  As a brief example of the difference between open-ended versus close-ended questions:

Open:  What did you think of that piece of music?  (This question can't be answered effectively with a yes or no response)

Closed:  Did you like that piece of music? (Yes or no are perfectly appropriate answers)

You can see that in a closed question, the conversation is over immediately.  In this example, the open-ended question may very well be responded to with something earth shattering like, "It sucked."  Not a very encouraging answer, but it leads to another question, "What sucked about it?"  Pretty soon, we're having a conversation, or the person is decribing in great detail what sucked about the piece.  Either way, we've decreased the amount of time we spend pontificating about whatever it is we pontificate about.

Your question that I quoted above is an open-ended question.  Just look at how much feedback it generated.

[Bob]

An aside...


Teacher "What sucked about it?" 

Student "Don't know.  It just does."   

Student stays quiet.

Teacher "Can you tell me any specific reasons why you didn't like it?"

Student  "It sucked because it.... um... sucked.  That's why."

Teacher remembers they have to earn their money more sometimes.


Alternate student response

Student "It sucked because is is boring."

Teacher "Why is it boring?"

Student "Because it sucks."

Teacher "Why does it suck?"

Student "Because it is boring."


You can also substitute "because I don't like it" for "sucks" or "boring."

[janice]

You can see that in a closed question, the conversation is over immediately. 

Talk-show hosts are trained in the art of naturally asking open-ended questions to the person that they are interviewing.  Or even David Letterman or Jay Leno.  Watch or listen to a talk-show host interview someone.  The interviewee naturally opens up to them.  This is a good skill to have for when going on a first date with someone--LOL.

[Torp]

This is a good skill to have for when going on a first date with someone--LOL.

It's a good skill to have with anyone.


Jeez Bob,  I didn't say to interrogate your students!