Smart kid, but talks too much!

[rebecca]

Hi all,  

I have a 6-year-old student who is extremely smart and a fast learner as well.  I enjoy teaching her very much.  However, she talks too much and asks questions whenever she thinks of.  Her lesson time is only 30 minutes.  Every lesson seems to end in a rush way because that she constantly interrupts while I am explaining things to her.  Can anyone out there give me some advice or suggestions on how to control kids like that?  

- Rebecca, CA

[deirpg]

Hi Rebecca,

Have you tried explaining that question time will be after you explain concepts?  Or perhaps at the end of the lesson.  Maybe try to tell her that you will explain everything as complete as possible and you will occasionally ask if she has any questions.  Maybe if she knows you will ask her, she can pile them all into that time rather than asking all through her lesson.

Good luck!

Deirdre

[rebecca]

Deirdre, Thanks for your advice.  

The reason why she talks and asks questions frequently is because of her excellent ability in observing things.  She can quickly identify patterns and also their differences.  She is able to comprehend things faster than normal kids.  Asking questions constantly is her way to obtain "answers" (or attention/recognition) from adults.

It's my first time to teach a kid like that.  To me, it's a great experience.  I thought of creating some rules for her to follow during the lesson time.  For example, the lesson will be divided into three sections:
1. Playing time: when she shows me what she has practiced at home in the past week.
2. Talking time: After playing, she can then ask questions on the old assignments.
3. Listening time: when I am assigning her new pieces to practice, she can only listen but ask questions.
3a. Talking time: allow her to ask questions regarding the newly assigned piece(s).
3b. Playing time: let her try a few measures of the new assigned piece(s).

But, I don't know if this will work.  Any more suggestions?
- Rebecca

[namui]

If the kid is happy to learn with your method and she advance constantly (eventhough gradually), I would call that the method "works".

Result-oriented people (mostly perfectionists and ADULTs) can take long term of pain in the acquiring process in order to be VERY happy with the end result. But most children (and many adults) prefer to feel happy with all the things along the way. For a living of says, 1 month, this latter type of people will have more happy hours, eventhough they may not be extremely happy with the super-quality result like the first type. But then nothing is wrong with both types as long as achievement is acceptable by respective individual.

You method seems to provide a good degree of compromise between both types. It should have good chance to succeed.

[allchopin]

Have her play weekly games of chess with you.  If she doesn't know how to play, teach her.  This will teach her to think before she acts, and should actually calm her down.  This has been psychologically observed.

[chopiabin]

I started lessons when I was five, and I enjoyed them, but I was incredibly talkative and asked questions constantly. My teacher told my parents that she didn't want to teach me anymore, and I didn't touch a piano for years. I don't think you will, but don't give up on her. Even if the new method doesn't work, she will calm down in time or run out of questions. Even if all she gets is exposure to piano, she will still learn a lot.

Chop

[rebecca]

Chop, I agree that she probably will get better as she grows older.  I actually prefer students to talk or ask questions, more the better.  A few of my students are incredibly quiet.  It's so difficult to know what they think and whether they understand.  The communication is often one-way with this type of students.

Playing chess or similar games is also an excellent ideal.  I will suggest her mom to try that at home.  

- R