An Uptight Student

[go12_3]

For the past two lessons this month, my new 11 year old student (girl), has been quite uptight throughout her lessons.  She bangs loudly upon the keyboard as my ears are suffering.  Today, I showed her the difference of her playing....she just didn't get it and ended up playing more loud as she banged the the wrong notes also.  And flat fingered too. She doesn't want to think about which note to strike. She'll strike over and over the incorrect notes.  Like she doesn't listen to what I show her. Most of my 11 year students can comprehend the basics.   

She is a beginner but has had 2 months of lessons with another teacher, and she quit because she didn't like the teacher.....so I am under pressure, on whether my new student will like me afterall.  Her attitude is unlike any student I ever had....it's a hardness about her that  she is angry about something.  I can sense she is uptight and even when I speak softly and not jump at her whenever she strikes the incorrect note. I would like for her to ease up on her striking the keys.  She is aware, after I show her, on the basic notes whether they go up or down.  Plus, I am teaching her to play Twinkles by ear without the notes.  And she plays with HT now.   

I wonder if you teachers out there can give me some insight and your experiences....I need some kind input here.  Thanks ! 

best wishes,

go12_3

[quantum]

I haven't taught a student quite as you describe, but have an idea. 

Why not let your student loose on the piano?  There may be a lot of pent up energy and emotion, and she is trying to use music to express what she cannot do with words.  Problem is, she currently does not have the technique or musical vocabulary to do so. 

I remember going to a pedagogy lecture where a series of pieces based on sports ideas was mentioned.  These were for beginner students and involved a lot less conventional sounding techniques in favor of getting kids playing and discovering more of the unusual things you can do on a piano.  One of the pieces was all fists and forearms.  It apparently is a hit with kids. 

[mcdiddy1]

This student is demanding attention so you must act unemotional when she bangs. You are the teachers so you can't be emotional unless she does some thing right. When she does something right praise her every single time. Take out the negativies in your speaking to her and tell her what she did right. If she banged the right note praise her for playing the right notes and then give her a specific unemotional instruction. If she does it praise her and if she does have her do it again or show her how to do it. Use a lot of demonstration and prove that your on her side and you want her playing to sound the best it can be. Your student can comprehend the basics and uses the banging as a defensive mechanism. You are a teacher not a psychologist so don't attempt to understand what she going through or sort it out...sympathize but if she seems to have sever personal problems try and gain some insight from the parents. Be stern, patient and not allow the student to run the lesson. The student is there to learn so put her is situations where she cannot fail.
         Teach her to be relaxed at the piano and give her simple tasks such as playing one note at a time , singing the note names as she plays. Ask her to shape her hand in a ball and play from the second joint of third joint of the finger first. Play games with her by seeing if she can balance a penny on her wrist ...and show her that you can do it and challenge her to do it. Kids don't like to lose. Then have her play the whole piece like that.

[go12_3]

I think what will get my student to get her attention---is to teacher her to play the piano backwards.  Yes, I have met someone that plays the piano backwards!  He faces away from the piano and played a few songs.  Even Fur Elise.  So I tried playing Twinkles and could play with both hands.  It takes some thinking to play reverse.  So an uptight student or any student could try this during a lesson and see that they may relax and something to laugh about. 

best wishes,

go12_3