Do you care if your students understand the effort you put into your teaching ?

[m1469]

That's my question for now, pretty much.

Thanks,
m1469

[amelialw]

yes. so that they do their part and practise

[m1469]

Okay, thanks for your response.  Do you feel that this works toward that purpose, actually ?  And, how do you have them actually come to grasp your effort ?

[amelialw]

yes, I feel that it works. Well maybe not on all of my students but it works on a few. Hmm, when I 1st start teaching a student I always will make sure that both the child and parents know that i'm a 100% commited to the job unless something much more important comes up. Actually both the parents and child can see that on their own usually after a while, so the child just practises on her own.

I have 1 student who just comes every week and always has done her practise time, completed all of her theory HW and is so well-behaved that sometimes it's hard to believe that I have such a student.

Kids are different, they are motivated in different ways, some by the teacher's commitment and care for the child, some start to work when they get scolded etc., parental support

[dan101]

Ultimately, I do care deep inside. However, I really don't obsess over what students think of my efforts. I just try to keep things professional and fun, and the rest seems to fall into place.

[Bob]

I care that they know there is work involved on both sides.  There are so many students though and so little time that they don't need to know a lot and I really don't care what they know about it much.  They should be aware that I has some background in music and do put some effort into lessons and curriculum and improving things.  Do most care though?  No.  That's fine.  There are things to do in the lesson.

What's annoying though is when a student expects you to be able to anything.  They see a jazz pianist on tv -- You should be able to do that.  They have a relative who plays piano -- You should be able to play the same pieces, from memory.  Any music in front of you, you should be able to play perfectly and entertain them the first time. 

[dora96]

What's annoying though is when a student expects you to be able to anything.  They see a jazz pianist on tv -- You should be able to do that.  They have a relative who plays piano -- You should be able to play the same pieces, from memory.  Any music in front of you, you should be able to play perfectly and entertain them the first time. 

My teacher claims that she is the best and experienced teacher in the area. In her business card, she has 3 different titles (qualification plus she is classical piano performer). Due to her expertise, I come to her to study the piano. I am learning Beethoven Pathetique and other repertoires. She often whines about me that I didn't do this or that. I should play more expression, very light, voicing  chords, legato, the triplet in 3 rd movement is not correct, it counts wrong wrong and wrong. I said to her could you play for me, demonstrate it for by example. So I know how it sounds like and how it works. She has never played anything for me. Even though, she only demonstrates it by one hand, both hands just for few measures , very brief. In fact, I feel quite frustrated now. She talks lots of theory, ask me to this but no action. Like pie in the sky. I keep on requesting to her please play for me otherwise I won't be able to understand. She insists that I should work it out by myself, not trying copying her or anyone. No doubt,  she has great knowledge and real qualification. Why can she play for me? What she is afraid of? 

I had few teachers for my high grade in the past, I had hardly seen my teacher playing anything for me or to prove that they have the skill what they say that they have. Sometimes, I am just wondering what is going on? I don't expect they play like concert pianist, playing the piano with absolute perfection.  I play the piano at home, at church, at the lesson. It would be like to hear someone in my level to play something for me, instead of I am playing all the time.

[mknueven]

That's strange!  Most people learn by observation to an extent even if they are a hands-on person.
Why won't she play?  How long have you been going to her?

In answer to the first question - sometimes I do get frustrated at how hard I work on a lesson plan - and how minimal a student tries - but I'm trying to get OVER it.

If I go to a French restaurant and order something I don't understand - I don't care how much work they go through - I just want it to taste good.  So do I deserve more gratitude than the gourmet chef?  I don't think so - but I do feel like a gourmet chef when I'm selecting pieces -designing exercizes, etc for them to equip them for beautiful music.

I think we should care less what a person's response is - and just know we are doing a good job.  If I back off my effort when they back off from their effort - I would not be trying too hard!

It's sure nice though - when you have a student that actually says "I love the way you prepare for my lesson" - That's happened once - but not twice.

[faulty_damper]

I had few teachers for my high grade in the past, I had hardly seen my teacher playing anything for me or to prove that they have the skill what they say that they have. Sometimes, I am just wondering what is going on?

A teacher's ability to play has little to do with his ability to teach.  You are making a classic assumption about the purpose of a teacher.  A purpose of a teacher is to teach in the most effective manner possible.

In teaching how to play the piano, the teacher is there to teach you how to play the piano, not perform for you.  Unless they are demonstrating a physical movement or asking you to listen and imitate the required sound, mostly they won't (or shouldn't) play.  You are there to learn, not to hear a performance!  You should be the one performing.

And to comment on your teacher: anyone who says they are the best teacher in their neighborhood is indirectly making a poor professional conduct.  Degrees, certificates, etc. mean little in the world of teaching.  Usually, piano teachers with the most qualifications are the least qualified to teach.

[dora96]

A teacher's ability to play has little to do with his ability to teach.  You are making a classic assumption about the purpose of a teacher.  A purpose of a teacher is to teach in the most effective manner possible.

In teaching how to play the piano, the teacher is there to teach you how to play the piano, not perform for you.  Unless they are demonstrating a physical movement or asking you to listen and imitate the required sound, mostly they won't (or shouldn't) play.  You are there to learn, not to hear a performance!  You should be the one performing.

I do understand what are saying faulty_damper. I have studying with my new teacher for 1 year now. I came to her becuase she is performer. I am getting to high level now and of course, leaning the piano is able to perform in front of people and that why I came to learn how to perform and play like a professional. I have watched youtube Barenboim discusses the work with Lang Lang. Have you watched it before? https://au.youtube.com/watch?v=qFKjTJ566c4&feature=related.
In the Masterclass Barenboim has demonstrated Beethoven Appassionate, obviously, he didn't play as well as Lang Lang at that moment, but the point is he has played and demonstrated to his students. My teachers in the past, they teaches very high level, but never even play one page, they gave lots of instruction and correction which is fine and I accept that.  I paid a fortunate for a lesson why shouldn't I get what the demonstration? Why shouldn't I be inspired by my teacher's play.

This topic is about Do you care if your students understand the effort you put into your teaching?. Just give an example, I go to gym a lot, there is class called the body attack., high impact exercise. There is one particular instructor, he is vigorously doing the motion. He gives  100 percent for his workout.  At the end of the class, the sweat is absolutely  pouring out of him. I asked him why do you need to work so hard ? It's just class. His reply is he wanted to be excellent example to others by demonstrating. Each Saturday morning, there are people queuing up to do the exercise, because they know they will have good sweat and good workout and good result while other instructors try to cheat and save energy for next class. Others try to avoid overdoing their class physically, mentally . People know whether the teachers or instructors are putting their genuine effort or not. Sometimes, after my workout I am actually  on fire, it feels so wonderful and relax. Because I can see result and I am not just wondering.

[faulty_damper]

A teacher's ability to play is usually associated with the teacher's time spent practicing.  Coincidentally, most full-time teachers don't have enough time to practice pieces to a level of performance especially if it is of a difficult nature and especially if they have many students able to play different advanced repertoire.  Unless they were a performer or have learned a massive load of pieces that won't take much time to be re-acquainted with, most teachers would have to practice.  This doesn't mean they have to learn the entire piece, just parts that the student would have difficulty with.

Another thing to consider about most teachers is that most teachers have never achieved a high degree of facility at the piano.  But they teach anyway and they'll even have students who learn to play advanced repetoire perhaps beyond their own abilities.

Sometimes, the older and more conscious (as opposed to the unconscious) students want proof that their teacher can do what they teach.  Is that really necessary?  If you can play well and your teacher was the result of your abilities, then is that not proof that your teacher has taught you?  Why on earth would your teacher need to justify his teaching abilities by riding a motorcycle and pulling a wheelie?  And especially considering that a full-time teacher's schedule won't allow for the time his students have to practice...

I have never once cared whether or not my past teachers could play the piano.  That wasn't what I paid them for.  I paid them to teach me a skill I did not possess.  As such, I didn't care if they spent an hour preparing for the lesson or didn't prepare at all.  I just wanted to be able to improve.  Just like what mknueven said - I just want it to taste good.