I really need some advice!

[hlsmith02]

I just found this forum today and I have been GLUED to the computer screen trying to suck in all the information I can!  The reason I am on here is I am ALWAYS looking for ways to improve my teaching skills.  Yesterday was a particularly hard day teaching and I would like some advice.  I am 24 years old and this is my second year teaching.  I feel like there is so much out there that I still don't know and that my students could benefit from so I am so anxious to learn better teaching methods!!!

So here is my current situation:
I recently started a very mature 12 year old boy (I also teach his 6 year old brother).  This boy is a perfectionist and I can tell he wishes to do everything very well.  Well yesterday he broke down in tears much to my surprise.  He was playing his lesson song for me and after playing it once I told him he needed to correct a few things and told him to try it again.  It took several times for him to get it to my standard to pass it off.  By the time we got to the next song he was in tears and told me he couldn't stand repeating these songs over and over!  So basically to make a long conversation short, he wants to sit down and play great songs without starting with these elementary songs (I use Alfred's method).  I completely see his point, these songs are incredibly boring and a 12 year old boy has the need to feel accomplished and he wants to be grown up, not a child.  These method books work really well with the younger kids, but I am noticing the older kids really hate them and so do I!  How can you keep a 12 year old's attention with a song called "a happy song?!"

So I want to get away from the method books (because I can't find ANY that I like any better than Alfred's and obviously that too has serious shortcomings) and find a better way to teach some of these older children.  Could anyone please help me design a better curriculum for 10-14 year olds?  I would REALLY appreciate it.  

Thank you so much
Heather

[bernhard]

Yes, pedagogical pieces can be deadly (but there are some gems out there)

So, what is his level? What can he already do?

What does he want to play? Does he already have something in mind? (style, composer,period).

I never use methods (although I am not against them, and they certainly have their place and value), and I have found that a highly motivated student will be able to cope with reasonably advanced pieces that would shock a more traditional teacher. In fact, I know that I will succeed when I can find a piece that the student is eager enough to play so that s/he is prepared to go to the underworld and face Hades himself in order to learn it.

So what does he want ot play? (There are already severl lists of repertory spread through the forum - have a look in the Repertory board).

Good luck,
Bernhard

p.s. (whispering) It's considered a sacrilege by some members of this forum to use the word "song" to describe a piece of music. shhh.

[hlsmith02]

lol, sorry if I offended anybody with "song."  I will try to keep my offensive music "slang" to myself!!!  but please forgive me if I fail!!

The boy just started 3 weeks ago, but he can already read notes for the most part (treble clef better than bass).  He plays some other instruments, but has never had private lessons in any of them.  He plays clarinet in the school band.  

I think for the most part he doesn't really know what he is interested in.  I think he came to the lesson hoping to come out as my prodigy, but one of us failed . . . .probably me!!  We have had several discussions on the types of music he likes and from what I gather he listens to country music!  I am a classical teacher so while that is a bit far fetched for me, I want to keep his interest in music with something that he likes.  I think if he found something impressive to work with, something that he can achieve right away, he would but his heart into it and try.  

Do you have any suggestions?  Should I just ditch the method book he is using (he is using alfred complete level 1 for later beginners)? And if I do get rid of the method book, should I just assign pieces that he is interested in and work with them until he finishes them?  

Thanks, Heather

[minsmusic]

Hello Heather, great to have you here!  First of all I'd just like to compliment you on your attitude.  I think it's wonderful to be thirsty for progress wtih the idea of benefiting your kids.  For this reason, even though you may not have experience as your strength just yet, I would happily recommend you as a teacher.  I hope this enthusiasm you have never dies!

12 year old beginning (obvsiouly sensitive) boy, into country but wants to learn piano.  Mmmm, I've got to admit I'm a little limited with country repetoire.  I'll have a look for you in some of my books - I do remember some of the titles suggesting country.

Yes, I have been pleasantly surprised with what Bernhard has said about difficult pieces.  If kids really LIKE the piece, they will more engaged at lessons, and practise  with more purpose.  So, you've got a challenge, haven't you?

I'd suggest you find three pieces.  One classical, one jazz (boogie and blues etc) and one modern (pop/rock or 20th century).  Play them for him.  Not just once.  Kids sometimes need a while to make up their mind.  You may need to play each piece a few times through.  And you may be surprised by their choice.  I'm constantly amazed - many want to learn the classical piece!  (I click my heels, as it my favourite 'type' of music too).

Like Bernhard has said, there are many threads talking about repertoire.  You'll get some good advice from these.

You can teach very succesfully without following a commercially designed method.  I use many different methods, mixing and matching, ignoring, and including, complementing ...

The trick is, to 'know' your student, collect heaps of options, be very famililar with them, and do a bit of 'this goes with that' - Ever tried to wear one of those "ALL SIZE FITS " garments if you are not the "average" build?  AS you've probably experienced, with people, there is no average.  We all learn differently.  To have the most sucessful with ALL students, we need to be very adaptable.

So my advice, do some web browsing at places like sheet music plus, and musicroom.com.  They usually have a picture of books, a description, some sample pages and sometimes reviews from other purchasers.
And needless to say, if you've been classically trained then you have heaps of wonderful teaching resources right at your fingers!  Use them.  Classical music can be heaps of fun for kids.  Its all in the presentation  

[pianoannie]

I don't have any specific advice about the country music thang.   Like mins said above, many of my students end up preferring classical once they've been exposed to it in my studio.
I have a student a bit similar to the one you describe (although in his case he came to me as a 4 year transfer student, playing mid-intermediate repertoire by rote, but couldn't sightread even at primer level.)
SO....with this 12 y.o. boy, I am compromising a bit, by continuing to work on some impressive pieces, although largely by rote; yet requiring daily sighteading at the beginning level.  I also have him working on one intermediate piece from the score, which is difficult for him to read, but helps show him that my requirement to improve his reading is a reasonable one!  I try to be light-hearted about the "easy but dull sightreading pieces," while reminding him that these pieces are apparantly not be TOO easy or he'd be sightreading each one perfectly. (which he is not at all).
Another thing I'm trying to do is use music with lots of recognizable patterns (Carolyn Miller's Prelude #1 comes to mind--I have another 12 y.o. boy working on it and enjoying its "big sound").
Perhaps you could also work with him on some blues scales and improvisations? (while continuing to teach reading).
This age boy definitely doesn't want juvenile stuff!

[bernhard]

Try Pamela Wedgewood's series of graded books. she composes in a variety of popular styles (including country).

You can alos try the "The Joy Books" (The Joy of Bach, The Joy of Jazz, The Joy of Ractime, etc.) edited by Denis Agay. I am almost sure that there is a "The Joy of Country music" in the series.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[glamfolk]

Hi Heather,

Sounds like the student had a bad before he got to you.   In the more difficult pieces, I try to correct one thing at a time.  Perhaps he got overwhelmed at trying to cover a bunch of corrections at once.  

I like the Joy series, too.  Also, AMSCO has a bunch of nice collections of classical pieces of varying degrees of difficulty and style (about 150 or so per book), and they also have collections of styles--Ragtime, Blues, a Sonatina album, Romantic, etc., if your student is really interested in a single style.  I try to jump into something like that as soon as possible after using a method to get basic note and rhythm reading down  This is in  order to develop repertoire and musical history adeptness.  Jamming is always there, too, to get them familiar with chords and scales.

I think methods are mentioned at least once in every thread on the forum.  You'll find lots of ideas.  I like Thompson right now, because they don't depend on the same fingering and use the same chord progression for nearly every song the way Alfred's does.  The kids who come to me using Alfred's have the greatest difficulty moving onto more serious compositions.  

Welcome!

[comme_le_vent]

the piano is the most versatile instrument on the planet.
you can play any style on it, from country to reggae to death metal to disco-funk.

if you have the time, ask him what his favourite songs are, and transcribe it for piano.

[Kaaryn]

Hi Heather, here is what I've been doing with my older kids. Maybe it will help you...

One method I like is the Piano Adventures books for adults or older beginners, they make faster progress and play more recognizable tunes instead of kiddie songs.  

I have a deal with some of them that if they work on what I assign them I will get them more fun stuff to play.  One boy (14) is ecstatic because I keep ordering him new books with movie themes, etc.  A couple who are 9-10 I go looking for music online for, and then there are a few that I spend the time to simplify my own music for them.  Probably that's questionable behavior in some minds, altering the original and whatever, but if it keeps them interested then I'm happy.  

My objective in teaching has been to keep the kids happy and interested and keeping it enjoyable for both of us, and I try to do what it takes.