What are your students learning ?

[m1469]

I have realized that I want to help them learn much more than what seems like an isolated skill, on an instrument.  Because of this and my views about life and music, I have been seriously considering going into a different field, of late. 

What value do you think piano learning has for the individual as a whole ?

How responsible do you hold yourself for them as an entire person ?


M. Fox

[loops]

I have realized that I want to help them learn much more than what seems like an isolated skill, on an instrument.  Because of this and my views about life and music, I have been seriously considering going into a different field, of late. 

What value do you think piano learning has for the individual as a whole ?

How responsible do you hold yourself for them as an entire person ?


M. Fox

Hmmmmmmm
You might do better to ask students what they get out of it for them as a whole individual, and
whether they think their teachers are responsible for them as whole persons! I teach maths, not music, and
what I think and they think on these topics usually have no correlation.
So last weekend I went to a graduation ball; two mature age students had completely beaten all the odds against them and achieved excellent degree results, and so they decided to celebrate big style!! On a huge cake was some math notation from the course I taught, and I was mentioned in the speech no less....something I said completely off the cuff two years ago had had a huge impact beyond anything I would have thought.
Something that allowed them to move their self-images from suburban nobody housewives to professional mathematicians.

From these and other experiences, I think that simply meeting a difficult challenge, the self awareness that that needs, provides all the fodder an alive human being needs to achieve anything from simple satisfaction all the way to enlightenment.

[timothy42b]

Something other than pure music?

My wife's first degree was in music therapy (basically a combination of music major and psychology major.)

The theory, if I can try to briefly paraphrase, is that the set of patients for whom high level talking therapy is effective is fairly rare in institutional settings.  Therefore, you must try to reach them with other methods, such as music therapy, dance therapy, art therapy, occupational therapy, etc. 

Is that something along the lines of what you were thinking? 

As far as touching people.  I played for a high school graduation not long ago, at the request of the local band teacher.  Many of the students talked about the influence that guy had on their lives.  Clearly he was a major impact on them during a key developmental portion of their lives;  music was only a part of what he taught them and gave them, and probably not the largest part. 

[amanfang]

Well, there are other benefits of music study that come naturally - discipline, organization, concentration, ability to take criticism, the ability to listen carefully, dealing with both success and failure, etc.  These are "life skills" that are applicable to every part of life - not just piano study.  Furthermore, I would say that my teachers have had a huge impact on my life - on my personal growth.  My teacher makes it a point to find out (tactfully) what's going on with his students and is always willing to offer sympathy and advice.  I appreciate that about him - he is not in it for the money.  I think teachers, no matter the subject, can have immense impact on their students.

[pianistimo]

agreed with everything here.  and, i've learned, too, that successful teachers cause students to want to succeed and do their own work.  it's more like tutoring to me than teaching after the first three or so years.  the foundation is probably the biggest thing to develop a start for all these skills.  then, you don't want your students overly dependent upon you - so you start offerring a few choices and giving them the benefit of the doubt (that they are practicing certain things at home and don't have to play them at every lesson).

in taking a tutoring class - the cycle ended with the student being able to repeat the information (teach it back to you)- and that the information was integrated into their way of thinking about whatever subject they were learning.  breaking information down into manageable pieces was a LEARNED subject in tutoring.  surprisingly, students don't automatically know this at a young age.  some are brighter than others - but generally - explaining how to process information is as important as the information itself.

i was very impressed with my daughter's home ec teacher.  i never thought of writing out a list of each of the processes in cleaning up the kitchen or whatever.  i thought 'tedious tedious.'  but, unless you explain the process and reasoning - you tend to do the same ineffective routine and it becomes habit.  if you have the most efficient routine - you get more done in less time.  this is the goal of a teacher, imo, to produce efficient lessons and efficient thinking students.  how else can they start really learning  alot of repertoire and really having it solidly in memory? 

another thing i've learned is that notes are extremely helpful.  if you take a lesson from a good teacher - it is likely by the next week you will have forgotten 1/3 of what they said.  that 1/3 has to be repeated again at the next lesson (or may never be).  but, if you take notes after your lesson - going thru the whole thing in your head - and writing in the score and in a notebook - you've got something to refer to each day.  my teacher even broke the week down into (can you do this for two days and then move to this - and he actually broke the week down into what would be accomplished).  some teachers also allow you to taperecord the lessons.

[mschopinliszt]

m1469,

When we teach, we are addressing the ENTIRE student - not only their musical progression, but becoming their friend and trusted advisor.  The way i view my students is as friend first, student second  - and that has made all the difference to me.  As you, i try to look beyond the surface and treat them with an equal respect for all things going on in life, as well as how they're progressing in their musical studies.  It's no different than how they should be able to perceive their primary school teachers.  We spend alot of time with these kids, and we want to enhance their lives with whatever inspiration we might be able to infuse.    Teaching is really little different than being a clinical psychologist.  Ok, i understand the REAL differences, but perhaps you know what i'm talking about.  Each personality looks up to us as a source of wisdom, and we are more incredibly influential than you may believe.  Not only for musical guidance, but because they view us as 'friend', it's easier to open up and talk about what might be blocking their musical journey.
Personally, i love these discussions.  Sometimes...piano lessons are the only outlet students have to share what they refuse to do so with parents.  Of course, there are lines here - and i'm talking about the times when students break down and say they're too stressed to get everything accomplished, etc. etc.  At that point - an open communication with the parent HAS to take place.  But still - this child has trusted you to know they can talk without judgment. 

Ok...i guess what i'm saying is that teaching is MUCH more than just leading a student towards a musical goal - it is reaching out to them to say, hey..i'll be your guide and your friend along the path.  It's inherently a field where we, as teachers, question our abilities and motivations.  But based on what i have seen of your posts on this site - i can honestly say that i believe you are a tremendous teacher who cares deeply for her students.  We all go through the times of wondering if a little cubicle wouldn't be better...but you know what?  Just from your internet personna - i don't for a minute believe that you'd be happy doing ANYthing except teaching your kids. 

We have to separate, too.  Sometimes they become our raison d'etre..and that's not good.  Take some time before you go looking at other jobs - Please.  This profession truly needs good leaders as yourself.  It's your calling, and i think you know that already.

Wishing you good thoughts,
mschopin.

[m1469]

Thanks everybody for your replies.  I will say that, mschopinliszt, I am particularly grateful to you for what you have said.  You have reminded me of so many things that I once felt very strongly... especially when I was just starting out teaching (not all that long ago).

Anyway, I think I am just getting through something... I am grateful to have had some recent reminders on what it is that I find valuable about music and about helping others in this field of endeavor.  I could still use some kind of awakening, though... but maybe that's already in the wind.

Thanks again,
m1469

[keyofc]

m1469,

I notice you write similar to this from time to time and to me it shows how committed you are to being an excellent teacher.  You're never satisfied with where you are at - and I think that's great!

To me - the value we bring to a student as a whole person is showing them how to overcome overwhelming feelings of "I can't do it".  It's not about getting the notes, rythym and dynamics only - but it's about experiencing music through them.  It's about showing them they are worth the patience it takes from us and from themselves to break up into steps a path that will lead to their own musical discovery.

I have a student that never seemed like she was listening to me.  She always said, "I can't!" when I gave her something to play.  I told her one day. "There were two little girls at the park. One said "I can" the other said, "I can't"  And both of them were right."

A couple of weeks later, she played something better than usual.  I said, " you know, that was pretty good and that was the first time you played it"  She said, "And I didn't say , 'I can't" 
That was a great moment!

I am honored to be a part of their education because I know it will make a huge impact in them. I know it changed my life to learn music.  But I do not take total responsibility for them.  I take my responsibility to teach them seriously.  But I have one role in their life.

For me - knowing how to play the piano - being able to express and communicate what I cannot say at all the highs and lows in my life - is a priceless gift.

One of my students recently played at her grandma's funeral.  It was her way of being empowered to express her love. 
I am sure you have similar stories - but that's some of the reasons I teach.  As they get older they learn to find their own voice, and we will have helped them find it.

[m1469]

Thank you very much, keyofc,  I am truly grateful for these responses.  Life is so interesting sometimes.  I have been questioning these things and in response recieving such beautiful thoughts and insights from you people, giving me reminders on the things that I once believed and some of the main reasons I ever entered into this business.  And, just as I gain that inspired sense of it back, one of my students has a family crisis that is a big surprise to me, and quite confusing and difficult for my student.

I saw an opportunity to help my student further see some of the deeper values of having something consistent in one's life, like the piano, and my student seemed quite relieved in learning this perspective.  I have realized that as some major changes take place in my student's life, I will be one of the most consistent, and perhaps influential, adults in her life.  And, she will learn that she can turn to her craft to help deal with feelings that come along with life-challenges.

Anyway, we will see how this all goes.  I just find it so interesting that this has happened with the kind of timing it has happened with.


Cheers,
m1469