First meeting with student

[keyofc]

What do you usually do for a first meeting with parent and child?

I've done it many times - but wondering what everyone else does.

What questions do you ask?

Do you usually play?

I usually give a mini-lesson - if anyone else does - what do you do at yours?

thanks

[m1469]

Well, it depends on the individual.  I will first offer them a place to sit and explicitly give them (the prospective student) permission to sit *anywhere* they would like, because I am *always* curious if a person will choose to sit at the piano vs the couch, when subtley given that choice.

During this time, my job (as I see it) is to open every pore in my being to being receptive to "where they are at" as an individual and as a musician.  I am reading their body movements, their speech patterns, their breathing patterns, their facial expressions, their posture ... generally, as much as I can *possibly* take in; I just try to completely absorb them ... hee hee.  I am always trying to figure out what their interests are and what motivates them, how they think, etc.  Sometimes I will ask a number of questions, sometimes not.  The main purpose in all of this is to figure out if I really have something to offer them and if I feel I will be able to reach them as an individual or not, and then if they do decide to be my student, I will be able to immediately begin making a plan that I feel will suit them individually.

Almost always I will ask them to play something for me, if they have ever played anything in their life at all (including making things up or playing things by ear).  Most of the time I go ahead and tell them it's not an audition but rather a chance for me to see where we will begin.

Again, depending on the student, sometimes I will teach them a little something at that very lesson, and what exactly that is also depends greatly on the individual.

I will also hand them (or parents) my policy sheet for them to take home and thoroughly read over before they decide to sign on with me.  And, I send them home with a sheet to fill out and bring back that will fully give me their contact information. 

Generally I don't play for them in this lesson, at least not some kind of solo performance.

That's the general gig for now.

[keyofc]

Thanks m1469 - I like the "sit anywhere you like" and see where they sit.

That does give a big clue, I would think, of who wants to take lessons, mom or child.

But are you kidding about their breathing patterns?  Do you mean if they are nervous?

Anyone have a couple of questions they always ask?

[m1469]

Oh, hee hee. Well, I got the idea of "sit anywhere you like" from reading Bernhard -- I liked it, too.

Anyway, no, I am completely serious about the breathing patterns.  That will actually say a lot about how they will play and how they may be inclined to "think" musically.

[m1469]

Anyone have a couple of questions they always ask?

One of the most common questions I ask is what their favorite subject is in school -- or what they are studying in University (if it's not music  ).

Another one : I will also ask if they have any pets and/or brothers and sisters and that kind of stuff.... hee hee.

Those are the ones I ask almost everybody.  Some other ones just have to do with music and piano and what they are wanting -- I also ask this to almost everybody.

[furtwaengler]

Anyway, no, I am completely serious about the breathing patterns.  That will actually say a lot about how they will play and how they may be inclined to "think" musically.

m1469, I'm not a teacher, at least in the capacity that you are, but I find your thought on breathing patterns and musical thought very interesting, and if possible, I'd love it if you could go into more detail. Thanks,

Dave

[m1469]

Well, of course our breathing patterns and our breath in general reflects much more than what/who we are as a musician (if one does not believe that musicianship itself is all of who we are), it is a sign of our very life.  Most of what I think about is not magic nor hidden knowledge, but simply what I have observed in myself and in others and a lot of it is common knowledge, actually.

There are a couple of parts to it that I am paying attention to, one being how a person's breath reflects their overall Psyche -- in general, and at the time they are with me.  Yes, some of that has to do with nerves in the moment, but some of it may have to do with whether they are a nervous person in general.  This alone will tell me a lot about how sensitive I need to be with them as we interact through our lessons together. 

This aspect of their psyche will have an effect on their musical expression, but in mostly sub-conscious ways.  For example, a "nervous person" (with breathing (or holding breath) to match it) may have a very difficult time with silence and therefore have a difficult time wanting to hear silence within rests and at the very end of a piece.  They will often play right through rests and/or at the very end of the piece (especially if it is actually a slower and more "soothing" piece of music), funnily enough, they will resist holding out the notes at the end and hurry themselves to a silence, at which point they will become very uncomfortable (creating in them a reactional seeming-need to nervously move some part of their body in "self-defense," destroying the experience for themselves and/or the listener -- no matter how beautiful the performance was).  I expect almost all of my students to perform on some level (I don't actually require it, but I expect that they will naturally *want* to after they see how wonderful it is to play the piano  ), at least I expect them to be thinking artistically from the first note to the last -- so this matters.

The other aspect is the very fact that music has its origins in breath (and some kind of pulse), and that which we may do on a more conscious level.  In terms of phrasing, for example, breath is going to play a pretty important role (some people may be more of a "natural" at phrasing then others, and this can be tied to their breathing patterns and awareness of their own breath). Also, proper breath-support plays a huge role in posture/tension/physical motion (and mobility), note accuracy, rhythmic timing and so on, all of which does cross over into the first "category" I mentioned (but here we will use breath more consciously to mold our artistic expression). 

This is all common knowledge, mostly.  However, I am also a singer and perhaps I pay particular attention to this (many people who use their breath in a conscious way (like a person who practices yoga, for example) probably would pay particular attention to this).

Anyway, that's the general idea -- and, of course I don't personally have it down to a science.  One of my favorite thinkers and writers on the subject of life relates breath to inspiration, I think that's interesting.

[keyofc]

m1469,
Thanks for all your posts - this is a little off my regular question, but after reading your post  I started thinking.
I know I hold my breath subconsiously a lot - sometimes I catch myself - if anyone uses the word , breathe, in conversation, I immediately notice myself taking a deep breath.

So since you pay a lot of attention to that - is there certain things you would recommend for me to look for in my own playing?

[m1469]

Well, I would say you hold your breath when you get anxious.  Of course I could have a bunch of "theories" about that, but as far as your music goes, I would just simply say to be aware if you are holding your breath while playing/performing.   

[furtwaengler]

Anyway, that's the general idea -- and, of course I don't personally have it down to a science.  One of my favorite thinkers and writers on the subject of life relates breath to inspiration, I think that's interesting.

Yes, "to breathe," or "God breathed." As musicians, I think we breathe life into the world. A musician is very special, anyway...has a special mind, thinks in a special way.

Thanks for responding. I like what what you have to say. I remember in lessons with a certain teacher, I'd often get the comment that I was not breathing with the music. Lots of time has gone by since then (7-8 years), and I've been a couple years independent of a teacher. I've not purposely analyzed my breathing, but I know I'm now completely different in my approach music, playing and performing, and breathing factors in. It has helped that I've been able to work with so many singers, as I'm always aware of their breathing.

I'm glad that you sing; before I ever touched a piano I wanted to be a singer, and that's funny looking back, because for a guy who's been in so many voice lessons as an accompanist, I've never had a voice lesson myself. Ah well...

Dave

[m1469]

.

[miguelcatalao]

Can a student post in the teacher's corner???

A had a first meeting with a teacher yesterday...

First thing she's done was to introduce me to her dog! Then we went to her studio and she invite me to sit, at the piano!

I think that made me even more nervous!

My greatest problem as a student was to try to calm myself During the class! I've never knew why i got so nervous!

[keyofc]

HI Miguel,
Sometimes a student's response can be very helpful to us teachers - thanks for posting!

What would have made you feel more comfortable?

[miguelcatalao]

Well, i'm an adult, if that matters (i think it does...).

I am myself a teacher (Computer Science) and i don't talk the same way, nor teach the same speed from children to adults. I know CS, is a completely different matter from music, but in the end you are "transferring" some form of knowledge...

When i was a kid, i think i was afraid of failure. Don't know really why...

The thing is, in this situation, i've waited for this class with a lot of anticipation! So i think i arrived already nervous! First classes have the stigma of being the first... First impressions are really important! At this class my teacher asked for all my pianistic story. Asked me to play, wanted to know my objectives, and did a raw judgment  of my playing skills. And a student, knows that in the first lesson! Because it is what happens. So unconsciously, a student might think "Is He/she going to like me? Will i do all right? Oh man, i'm reading so badly, gees i don't play this things so many time ago!" And i think i went on and on over this.

Anyway, i think in the case of Adults, the teacher and the student are more or less in the same plane. Working together for the same objective. My teacher put me very at ease, and asked me what were my goals.

Bottom line...
I guess a glass of water would have helped, but i was so nervous that i didn't ask... hehe

So in this case, i don't think she could have done something more! She was very nice, and very friendly, respectful, nothing condescending (the thing i hate the most is teacher who treats an adult student as a child...).

MC

[penguinlover]

I talk policies.  If the student has ever played before, I ask them to entertain me.  We talk goals, what do they want from music?  Where are they going with it?  I get an idea of how to teach a student from these answers.  If you have someone just interested in playing for himself, or for fun, you teach different things than someone who plans on majoring in music at a university.  I try to find out where they want to go, and than help them get there.  This is especially good with older students.  If a child is a young beginner, I treat them like they will be the next great concert pianist.  Who know, maybe they will be!