What is your style of teaching?

[G.W.K]

Hello!

I'm about to get a new Piano teacher and though I would ask others: "What is your style of teaching? How do you teach your students? What methods do you use? Etc..."

I had two previous teachers (however, they were brass instructors) and they both had different ways of teaching. How would you rate yourself?

G.W.K

P.S. Please note this is for TEACHERS/INSTRUCTORS only!

[amanfang]

I'm not voting.  As a relatively new teacher, I find that my teaching is full of ups and downs (though I assume this may be the case with experienced teachers as well).  There are some students that I "click" with, and we get much accomplished during lessons.  There are other students at roughly the same level that leave me baffled for how to proceed with them from week to week. 
Also, one must keep in mind that certain people may be great with certain types of students.  There are some teachers who may be great teachers with adult students, while others may be terrible with them.  Some may be great teachers of advanced students but not so great teachers of young students.

[pianochick93]

I have one student, who is my little sister, so I wont vote. I don't think that I am bad, though not great either. My sister thinks that seeing as she isn't paying for the tutoring and she is rude to me at other times, that she can be rude in lessons. She doesn't cooperate, and no matter how much I try, she wont actually read the music properly, she just assumes what comes next. e.g if 2 bars repeat she will assume that the next one does as well. It is fine if you can recognise your mistake as soon as you play it by ear, but if you can't, then it is bad.

[hyrst]

I am curious if anyone will vote on this one!?

I would agree with Amanfang.  I have some amazing students, but there are some who seem to struggle with every little thing and are so slow to understand.  I think I am good at working through new ways to sequence learning for slow  students, but one is still left wondering if it is the teaching or the student - or both.

I get on really well with all my students, they always have smiles and are keen to share their learning.  But, I have one student who I find hard to understand - she always says exactly what she is thinking and sometimes I don't know if she is joking or being straight.  I find that hard to manage, a little intimidating.

What makes a person a good teacher?  Is it sequencing learning well; knowing all the technical skills and how to pass them on and correct the student; is it soemone who engages the student in learning no matter how quickly they progress; is it someone who is still pursuing their own learning; or someone whose students always get top marks?  I think everyone would have slightly different values on what makes a good teacher, what the balance is.

I think I am a good teacher because my students love their learning and most are keen to play for others.  They are all progressing, some slowly and some super fast.  I have a number of strategies and am always trying to thnk of new ideas to make learning fun and effective for different learning styles.  Still, I am not the skilled and experienced performer I want to be - I am still learning the history, skills, techniques, context, practice strategies, etc.  If it is possible, I think I am a good teacher but a lacking musician.  But, is that possible?  Also, the more I learn the more I realise that I wasn't as brilliant as I once thought I was :-)

Annah

[dan101]

I try to be patient and fun. These two qualities seem to get better with age... at least that's the way it is in my case.

[joyfulmusic]

My style varies depending on the student.  So I would say flexibility is my style.  We are in a culture in the US that promotes quick results.  Therefore, I combine scales, arpeggios, right away with classical and jazz material.

It is the nature of the student that determines results.  At the end of the day, I'm happy if someone has music in a much greater depth as part of their quality of life. 

Only a very small percentage of students will actually become pianists in the truest sense.

Happy New Year everybody,

[G.W.K]

I notice that some teachers can be quite impatient if their student doesn't understand something straight away or struggles with something. I once had a very irritated brass instructor who used to take his temper out on his students when he had a problem in his personal life!

Does anyone else experience this or actually do this to their students? I don't agree that teachers should take their problems to work...so annoying.

G.W.K

[Bob]

Grr... lost my post.

I would say I'm still beginning.  Work for the student.  Guide them.  Make recommendations. 

But they are a consumer for private lessons and can always drop you.

And... good means many things.  Dictator teaching may be good for some.  A more motherly approach good for others.

(crosses fingers and hits post)

[andric_s]

I have no idea whether I am an excellent or mediocre teacher.  My students seem to like me, and they all enjoy playing music.  Their parents recommend me to others (or sign up themselves), and my schedule is almost full.

I also know that even my best students seem to progress slower than students of many other teachers, at first glance.  Sometimes I'm insecure about this.  But, then again, my focus is not so much on measureable progress, as it is on encouraging creativity, exploration, an understanding of music as a living language, and a sense of playfulness.  So, on the other hand, my students can (for example) come up with more clever reharmonizations of their favorite tunes than those same, faster students.

I have one student who's been with me for 2+ years, who can barely read 5 notes from middle c.  He was a troubled kid all along, and very uncooperative.  I could tell that music could be important to his life, but i couldn't get him to work or practice.  So I let go, and taught him chords, licks, pop songs, whatever he would take.  He plays alot, now.  Have I failed him by not teaching him to read?  Would a stricter teacher have succeeded, or driven him further into rebelliousness?

god, I have no idea how to rate myself...