Selecting A new piece for a student... HELP!!!

[bach_ko]

i have two questions regarding this topic... there are:

1) what are the most likely errors a teacher may be guilty of in the selection of pieces for a student?

2) what points would you take into consideration in selecting a new piece for a student?

[eddie54]

hmm, I think there are several things to think about:

1.  It should be a piece that the student may perhaps like in terms of musicality, etc.  If students hate the pieces they work on, progress is very slow....

2.  Depending on level, there should be something they are learning, or skill that would help them improve.....ie, you pick Bach inventions as an introductory into voices, and having different hand independence, etc.

3.  Ask what the student likes in terms of music....like if they are really new, play a few things and see where their interests are....some  people like strong melodies, others like sad minor songs, others may like very fast and happy....

4.  Errors in picking a piece imo are students wanting to learn pieces they are not quite ready for yet....like if they like the Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody in C#minor, and can't quite reach nor have the technique for yet, you could create many bad habits and more of a forced playing techbique versus a flowing technique.....also, I think balancing the repertoire is something overlooked.....like if the student wants to work on 2 pieces at a time, choose contrasting.....

of course, all of this is my opinion, but those were things I enjoyed when I took lessons, etc....

[hyrst]

I find my errors are usually choosing somehting i think they will like and then they screw up their noses.  Also, choosing something I think should be quite easy or achievable only to find a student is not quite ready for the technique (of course choosing an easy piece is fine, it just gets learnt quickly - but it can lack challenge and satisfaction).

I have a rapid turnover of pieces for most of my students, so choosing the wrong piece means we can lok at it and leave it prematurely - it all adds to experience. 

When I choose pieces, I try to match the individual student with music by availability, key, level of expected difficulty, style, contrasting tempos and styles, techniques learnt and to be developed, purpose for learning the piece (fun, recital, exam etc).

I think this is all pretty normal / common.

[dan101]

I think that knowing your students' personality and goals often determines repertoire choices. Many of my pupils are into popular music, as they just want to use the piano as a relaxation venue.

Having said that, a 'serious' classical student and heavy practicer needs challenges. With this type of student, a work slightly above and beyond his or her capabilities might bring out the best in that person. This is not usually he case in the more casual student.