When a student plays the notes all heavy-laden

[go12_3]

You guys, must think I'm an experienced teacher with bad luck on my students!  Not really, but it does help me to share what I experience as a teacher.  Anyhow,  I have a student that is 13 years old.  Early intermediate level.  Her playing is like her personality---she's quiet and doesn't say much, and is very polite and nice.   Whenever, she plays the notes,  each note she plays sounds flat, all the same tone and heavy.  I explained to her about making the the music more expressive,  with technique and she seems to lack that concept in doing that.  I wonder where is the drive in some students.  Some  seem to go along in their lives without improving much.  She hasn't since last Summer and I want her to play well and feel good about playing the music I teach her. Then there are some students just have that special touch upon the keyboard and it sounds musical with no problem at all.  I won't give up on her because she can play and sightread fairly well. I have noticed that the more energetic and outgoing a student is, it reflects upon how they play.   I appreciate those that responded to my plea about my 7 year student.   thank you!  = )

[morningstar]

Have you tried letting her pick the music? If she picks a piece that she chose maybe she will work more at it.

[go12_3]

Have you tried letting her pick the music? If she picks a piece that she chose maybe she will work more at it.

  I think I will try that.  She just doesn't show that much interest....it's hard to gauge her though, plus I teach her every other week so I don't see her consistently, as with my weekly students.  I try to pick pieces she'd enjoy, but you know, it's like.....hummmmmm, not much response.  She'll say,  "okay"  or complain about something that's too hard and then I tell her, she can learn to do it.  But anyhow, I will let her pick a piece out and see what happens.  I teach her next Tuesday.  Thanks  = )

[morningstar]

  I think I will try that.  She just doesn't show that much interest....it's hard to gauge her though, plus I teach her every other week so I don't see her consistently, as with my weekly students.  I try to pick pieces she'd enjoy, but you know, it's like.....hummmmmm, not much response.  She'll say,  "okay"  or complain about something that's too hard and then I tell her, she can learn to do it.  But anyhow, I will let her pick a piece out and see what happens.  I teach her next Tuesday.  Thanks  = )

I went through 8 teachers and the best way to get the student interested that i found was to have the song playing while they look at it (either recorded media or on the piano) and let them decide based on what they hear as well as what they see on the page. Let them follow the music on manuscript as well. Hopefully they pick one or more they like then they start learning more productively. Hope this helps!