No Method

[ludwig]

   I realise that there are alot of different teaching books and programs out there which teachers follow through for young students, perhaps one method which focuses on reading, technical elements, learning through aural etc... I was just wondering if it is best to follow a method of teaching and that method's materials and books, or is it alright to develop my own teaching techniques. For a few young students of mine, I tend to follow my own instinct and tell the student how to practice to acheive a technical goal I've set them. Just wondering if anyone else does this, or do you all follow a certain method or books on teaching. Thanks.

[BuyBuy]

It is alright to follow your own method ; it is actually the right thing to do. What is wrong is to follow no method at all, letting the student wandering along, with no steps, no goals.

The benefit of the (right) method books is that they give you pieces that you can use, which saves the time you would spend writing them otherwise, that they are appealing with their colors and pictures, and that the student can realize more effectively how advances he is (yeaaah ! I'm done with book 1 !).

So it is just a matter of balance and adaptation to the needs of the pupil.