First lesson

[nanabush]

I'm starting to teach this week and next.... I'll be having 3 students tuesdays, 4 friday and 4 on monday... im starting tuesday cuz im busy today.... what should i accomplish in the first lesson?  Some of these students are brand new, but some are doing grd 6 or 7 piano.... should it just mostly be getting to know the student?  What do I do to tell whether they're at the level they should be....



ps... the search function isn't working right now... it just loads endlessly, so im sur there's a topic... if osmeone can link me to one with this that'd be great!

[quasimodo]

Ask them to play something for you.
Ask them what they want to play.
According to the answers give them something to read and look where tehy are in term of reading.

For the very beginners, hem... good luck

[semiquaver]

Hi there
I always find my first lessons with students are the most challenging. You are trying to find out about them and their abilities plus encourage and motivate them as well as putting them at their ease.  I would look at the first 8 lessons at least as a chance to get to know them and appreciate their way of working. Don't be in a rush to decide what level the more advanced students have reached. It takes time to assess this. Be honest with them and explain that the first few lessons will give you both a chance to find out the best way of working together. Ask them how they think they are progressing and a little about what they would like to play. What did they like best about their previous lessons and what was the worst thing?  Inherited pupils can be a challenge. Don't assume their abilities are strong across the board. It may be their sightreading is weak or their playing lacks musicality etc. Sometimes the level they think they have reached is not really the case.

  With total beginners I usually start by explaining the layout of the piano - black and white notes etc - and locating D between the two black notes. I usually give them a little tune to play (by rote) and generally have a relaxed fun time.  I don't usually buy them a tutor book until I have got to know them a little as people and then I can choose more appropriately.

Good Luck!

[bernhard]

Replies # 33 onwards on this thread:


https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2260.msg19270.html#msg19270
(Dear Bernhard thread – Pieces leading up to the revolutionary)

describe in detail the first five lessons of a beginner.



And these threads may be of interest as well:

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4020.msg36635.html#msg36635
(What to teach a 4-year old in his first lesson)
 
https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2500.msg21577.html#msg21577
(Teaching adults)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2192.msg21823.html#msg21823
(How to teach very young students – the historical method, the pragmatical  x logical method and total exposure as the best way for under-5s)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2907.msg25589.html#msg25589
(how to teach chords to young children)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2906.msg25591.html#msg25591
(How to organise a lesson syllabus – analogy with cooking)

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[nanabush]

Thanks alot!

My first student was ok.. he's had I think 8 lessons with a previous teacher, but I don't think she was very good 

According to his notebook, he was half finished the the beginner book, but when reading the music, he'd mistake his left hand for his right, and not know the difference between 3 notes and 4 notes...  If he sees a note, he'll just play it several times, then play the next one 

Some stuff is pretty good, he likes when I accompany him, but this only works for pieces that are like :  C-C-C-C-E-E-E-E-C-C-C-C-C---

I think his previous teacher would get him to struggle through something, then advance on to the next piece 

I actually found out he's only 7 [just turned it], so he's got a huge issue with paying attention.  In the middle of a 'song', one that he says is his favorite, he'd just stop, stand up and start talking about how he's goin to his friend's house later... like completely change the subject, and this is literally after 2 seconds of playing.

I might be overreacting because it's just my first experience teaching, but I just don't want to f*ck this up, and then make his parents mad because he is not progressing at all...

w/e He's got his next lesson in two weeks, labor day is next week, I'll hopefully pick up some tricks in my next few lessons w/ other students 

[pianistimo]

every student is different.  different ages, personalities, levels.  some very young students can pay attention even more than the older ones.

now the seven year old you mentioned may not have a repertoire list...but i would expect to start helping the older ones write down a list of pieces they HAVE completed.  and, to write down for you some history - and personal info.  it's always good to have this.  i have a form that everyone fills out the first lesson.  then, i have their full address (and i make sure, off personal check, that i get the zip code and telephone, too).

then, whenever you need to call or write - you've got the info.

name:
date of first lesson with you:
birthdate:

how long they've taken lessons:
what they liked and didn't like about previous lessons:
reasons for quitting or continuing:
how much time they have to practice:
(i always put - requirement of 1/2 hour - or 15 minutes for equal length of lessons and practice for youngest students)

for older students add more of your own questions such as repertoire list:
technique exercises:
performance experiences:
what they hope to achieve with lessons from you:

[pianistimo]

also, right from the start you set your lesson policy (handout).  what you plan to do or not do about make-up lessons.  how early you want notification.  when you want to be paid.  what you do when you are not paid on time.  the necessity of being paid at the beginning of the month (if that's what you prefer).  i think students are more committed when they have paid for an entire month at a time.  much less cancellation during winter months.  sometimes i would drive to their homes to make it more 'convenient' for parents.

get a 'lesson planner' from a music store.  keep all student information up-to-date.  what you did for each student (write it down after each lesson).  then, a day or two before the next lesson - start planning what you are going to talk about next.  review their music (make copies if you can - or buy extra books).  work out the fingerings and things AHEAD of time.  this makes you a more professional teacher who moves from point to point quickly and doesn't hem and haw and make a single item into a daylong discourse.

students hate slow lessons.  if the seven year old likes it fast - give him a fifteen minute lesson.  just make it really intense.  tell the mom and the boy what your expectations are.  he is not allowed to talk for the first half of the lesson unless it is in response to your teaching.  the second half - he can freely talk (8 minutes or so) and show you his own creations.  you can help him learn to write down music - or introduce him to the rhythm section of your keyboard or whatever.  creative young boys can often learn a lot of alberti basses and play all sorts of 'duet' kinds of stuff using two hands in the bass -whilst you do treble...and visa-versa. 

[nanabush]

Haha another thing, although this may be also cuz I just met him and he's pretty new to the instrument.... one piece was 2 lines long, and these are 4 measure lines of the most beginner music in existance... one measure has a whole note C and E, to be played with the left and right hand... throughout the entire lesson he refused to play the piece, cuz the measure was too hard... and he's kinda jokey, like he doesnt seem unconfident, he's just too wild and crazy, and hes' like OOOH NO! IM NOT PLAYING THAT!!! WHEAAA!!

I wrote in his book just to review what we had looked over today, to 'count out the patterns' aka time signature [he likes to refer to them as patterns, and i find it helped a ton], do the finger warmups we practiced, and if he wanted to look at 'march of the dwarfs' which has the double note measure, but that we would look at it next lesson.  I had to tell his mom something comforting and supportive, cuz I have to remember it's my first lesson, first time meeting him and he's still a youngster.  I can't deny that he has a good sense of rhythm, and a good ear [he could recognize elements that were common from one piece to another, and some patterns like FAC are contrary to CAF]... I'm trying to use this strength, but I'll have to find out for what by next lesson 

[pianistimo]

sometimes you can play an octave or two higher at the same time as the student and count together.  it helps to verbalize the rhythm.  'whole note hold it.'  some students at first are not used to talking and playing - but i never let them go without saying it out loud with me.  i'll repeat it several times if they refuse to say it at first.  say something like, i know you think you can count this in your head - but it's very easy to miss a small portion of the rhythm.  it's very important to learn to count correctly and hold the note down for the entire amount of time.

also, when they become comfortable with phrases - i start to help them notice the rests that are often placed at the end of each phrase and encourage them to not hold the notes too long.  you already know all this.  BUT, what is interesting is that in some pieces there are NO rests at the end of phrases.  i tend to (if half-note) blacken the last note and add a dot or whatever to give an 1/8th rest to the end of the phrase.  this way they are able to say 'half-note dot rest.'  when they say the word 'rest' - then they know to pick up the hand and start again.  it gives a completion to a phrase.

[nanabush]

hmmm, I'll try to do something like that, thanks!

[bernhard]

I actually found out he's only 7 [just turned it], so he's got a huge issue with paying attention.  In the middle of a 'song', one that he says is his favorite, he'd just stop, stand up and start talking about how he's goin to his friend's house later... like completely change the subject, and this is literally after 2 seconds of playing.

Are you teaching Stevie?  

BW,
B.

[zheer]

Are you teaching Stevie?  

BW,
B.

  Where has he gone.

[nanabush]

Lol no clue...


I love teaching! I had 4 more students yesterday, and it all went well, I'm getting the hang of it!

[lau]

nana, this is yout 1000th post!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! ! !

[pizno]

Nanabush - I just read your posts and I am so there.  I am just a few weeks behind you in teaching.  I have 4 students now, and have taught 3 lessons. 

How is your kid who sounds pretty ADD?  Is he getting beyond C and E?  How're the other students going?  Update please!

I got a new student today - I have decided that meeting with new students is really fun.  I feel very inspired.  Now if I can just keep that up.  It is so hard for me to tell what pace to go at.  I don't want them to be bored, but I want them to really 'get' everything before we move on. 

I'm enjoying myself too!  Now I want more students.  The word seems to be spreading, which is good!

Pizno

[jpianoflorida]

Nanabush - I just read your posts and I am so there.  I am just a few weeks behind you in teaching.  I have 4 students now, and have taught 3 lessons. 

How is your kid who sounds pretty ADD?  Is he getting beyond C and E?  How're the other students going?  Update please!

I got a new student today - I have decided that meeting with new students is really fun.  I feel very inspired.  Now if I can just keep that up.  It is so hard for me to tell what pace to go at.  I don't want them to be bored, but I want them to really 'get' everything before we move on. 

I'm enjoying myself too!  Now I want more students.  The word seems to be spreading, which is good!

Pizno

 

welcome to the world of teaching....the best job around.   I have been teaching for over 16 years and still enjoy getting new students and teaching.    Remember however, that there may be days that you feel like you are not getting thru to the student, that you aren't good enough, etc etc etc...self doubt may happen which sometimes is good----it will cause you to evaluate what you are doing so you can be better!   Each student will be different..some will learn fast, some will learn very very slowly.    Remember to always have fun and make sure the students are enjoying it as well.    You will do great!