Worst students in the world

[ahmedito]

Hi,

Im a piano student, and I have a lot of financial problems. To help pay my studies, I have some piano students, to whom I devote all of my free time. My problem: well, basically, since Im still a student at the conservatoire in a city where other students dont do a lot of teaching, all of my students are the students that all the other teachers in this city wont take in, or even kicked out. My students have horrible vices, are playing repertoire far too demanding when they start classes with me, and, since Im still studying, dont usually respect my opinions when I want to get them on something more like their levels... and I really cant afford to say, If you dont like it, find someone else!
The couple of students Ive had that started from zero showed remarkable progress, only to be taken away by some of the more established teachers (and in some cases, not always for the best.)

Most of my students, cast off by other teachers in the area have severe learning problems, no ear or rythmical sense or near impossible hands... and Ive tried everything I can to set them on the right track. At first I was utterly depressed about my teaching abilities until I started comparing the progress these students made with the ones that started from scratch with me, or came with a reasonably decent background.... Im fighting years of bad teaching and a very strong resistance from some of them about taking the advice of a person as young as me, and still in school, and more than once IVe considered just giving up and letting them do whatever they want...

hmmm... Is anyone else out there in a similar situation as me???

[lc3606]

Yes, being a new teacher in town I have many students that wouldn't be accepted by the others.  I just try to do my best with each student, I won't take any nonsence and the students usually respect me for it.  Some I fear will never learn.  Sometimes I feel I'd be embarassed if anyone else ever saw them play.  But I don't give up.  I just keep trying, reading these forums, studying, and looking for successes to build on.  Most of the parents are pleased and refer me to others.  Hopefully, in time my studio will be full and I can start being more selective about who stays and who goes.  (off to another beginning teacher no doubt.)

[bernhard]

Yes. Once upon a time I was in such a predicament. But you can still profit from it.

As far as I am concerned a bad student is fair game for experimentation. You can learn much about the art of teaching by dealing with hopeless cases. I suggest you follow this approach:

1.      Decide (in very specific details) what is the outcome you wish from a certain student.
2.      Keep changing your behaviour until the student responds with the desired outcome.
3.      Have enough sensitivity to know when you got your desired outcome.

One good thing of this scheme is that it has nothing to do with the student. It depends completely on you. So it does not matter how bad the student is, you are still in control. The desired outcome depends on you, not on your student. If you are not getting the desired outcome, the burden is on you, not on the student. This can be quite liberating.

Most people however:

a.      Do not know what they want. And when they think they know, it is not stated in specific terms.
b.      Are stuck into a routine behaviour, and are usually so limited in the number of behaviours they are prepared to try that it is no wonder that they always get the same results.
c.      Even when they get what they wanted in the first place they do not notice it. Have you ever got someone trying to sell you an encyclopaedia, and there was a moment when they actually got you. You were there prepared to sign the papers and buy it. But they didn’t notice, and kept on with their sales patter until you came out of it and did not buy it? Same thing here.

So my suggestion to you is this: experiment wildly. See what you can get away with. See what works and what does not. If you are not going to experiment with these losers, with whom are you going to do it?

Also ask a specific question.
The answer may be more useful.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[ahmedito]

Thanx,

That is actually what Ive been trying to do these past few months. I may have exagerated a bit when I wrote this post, cause I had just come back from a VERY exasperating class. Your suggestions are very helpful, and Ill try to start putting them into practice. I realize Ive been so miserable teaching these guys that Ive probably fallen into the same routines of just sitting there feeling helpless.... thanx again

Ahmedito

[pianowelsh]

Hi - Worst Student in the World?     Sorry that would probably be me because no matter how much I practise How much I read and How much I will myself to be better I progress at snails pace!  Now thats a really annoying student

[ahmedito]

Wow! How did this old thing get bumped back up?! Thank God its old news. How things have changed. I have a full scholarship that includes food and board and an incredible new school and teacher. Those students back then really were bad though. ugh...

[bizgirl]

Congratulations!  Are you still teaching?

[ahmedito]

I've had some offers, but I really dont have time anymore.

[Bob]

Isn't there a little experiementation with any student until you know what you need to as a teacher?  Not just try out things with the "bad" students, but all the students?  A new method book comes out -- Try it with one of the students to see how it works.  I never liked this idea when I was a guniea pig for a teacher, testing out the beta version, but as a teacher I don't see anyway around it.  Just try things, learn as a teacher, and get it over with.  In the long run, it makes you a better teacher even if it lowers the quality of the lesson a bit.

(Bernhard!  I'm amazed you called those students "losers!" lol...)

[bernhard]

(Bernhard!  I'm amazed you called those students "losers!" lol...)

I know. I am far too nice and kind. Must do something about it this New Year.

(writes down a New Year resolution to start kicking butts).

[amanfang]

Is this Kula in disguise as Bernhard??         New methods to punish lazy students......   

[Bacfokievrahms]

I met a pretty bad student once, he was riding on the back of a trashcan and his principal was there giving him a stern look and his mom was like, what? you haven't been pursuing your studies? and he had this look on his face as if there was a rebel in him that couldn't be stopped.

[gyzzzmo]

HI
i have a student, quite bad, for me...
He thinks he already IS a very good piano player, because he can play notes very fast (he learned it himself). But the only thing he can play fast are broken chords. And i realy try to show him it is REALLY important to start over again to the basics, but it doesnt really seems to work. A bit frustrating, but i need the money.

Gyzzzmo