May, 2000
Well, its almost the end of the year, and I am holding my first ever student recital on June 4! My mom works at the local theatre, and she is renting me a room there for free. All my students can come and I am really looking forward to it!
Alex has become so contrary that I can barely get anything done. The only reason he is not learning anything now is because he refuses to. I hope that because of his learning disability he hasn't quit trying because of frustration. If he has, he isn't going to get very far in life. He was impressed to find out that he was one of my more advanced students, however. March, 2000
I have eight students now, four of which came to me by way of reference from other teachers. I guess that the best way to get students is through word of mouth. (I also advertised in the local paper, and only got one call, a person wondering how long it takes to learn to play the flute!)
Alex is still at the same level as last year, and he is getting more anxious to quit piano everyday, so it is almost pointless for him to come to his lessons anymore. Its getting really frustrating.
My newest students, two sisters (twins) and a brother, are really nice. the girls are 11 and the boy is 14, so they are quite old to be starting piano. However, I enjoy teaching them, and it is really interesting to watch how the twins learn piano at different rates! One is especially good at the practical area, but a little slower in the theory (not much though). The other has problems at the piano, specifically with counting. Their brother has had experience in band class, but he is at the same level as them. I think that this proves that private lessons teach a child way more than group lessons.
June, 1999
Well my students are now off for the summer. I am really happy with how my teaching has been going. Two students are going to continue for the summer and the rest will return in september. I had to let one student go because he didn't do his homework or practise and his bi-weekly lesson was turning into a monthly one. my students brought me cookies!! I could get used to this, which is probably a bad thing! :)
March, 1999
I was talking with my teacher about when to start students on the grade one toronto conservatory book. It's a lot more challenging than i realized, looking at it from a students' perspective! we agreed not to push them too hard, and i feel that it is important to have them play lots of scales and triads before they start it. I am asking my youngest student to get the RCM introductory book, because although i didn't have anyone else use it, i feel it would be beneficial for him.
I have my ADD kid learning all the grade one scales before he even gets to the grade one book, and i think that it is working really well.
Another student will not try a new piece for the first time in front of me. he insists on going home and learning it first. I feel that it is important to develop sight reading skills so i insist that he does, but he is adamant. A couple times he got through the piece when i asked him to think of it measure by measure (ie. play the first measure, now the second... etc) but he's caught on and refuses to do that anymore. oh well....
generally i am really impressed with how smart my students are!
February, 1999
My students are still doing well, although January was a bum month for everyone. (no one did anything). I now have an adult student, and i may be getting a couple more soon. I've decided to put all the worksheets i've made together and make a workbook for my students.... it will be so cool!
December, 1998
The youngest of my students, a boy in grade one at school, is making amazing progress! (He’s sooo cute too!) When we started at the beginning of the year, I would have him find a note all the way up the keyboard (for example, all the As). he just loves this, so even though he knows his notes really well in that way, I keep giving it to him every week. But now I’m giving him variations. this week, for example, he has to play C and E at the same time with his 1 and 3 fingers. This will work up to CEG with 1 , 3, and 5. no inversions yet, though. It seems to be working pretty well!
November 19, 1998 My first recital for my students-- sort of. A group of student teachers got together to have a recital so that there would be more than four students. It went really well though, three of my four students came. The youngest, a boy in grade 1, was a little nervous, but he went up there anyway. I was so proud of all of them! I brought them little candies to suck on and i think that helped too. And they bowed so nicely-- because i threatened them with a kiss on the cheek if they didn't! (good thing they were all boys!) I think that to teach children, all you need to succeed is love and respect. They are smarter than we think.
October 10 or 11, 1998 (I'm not sure-- it's been a long day! ) The two lessons a week with Alex have been working well so far. It is easier to complete a lesson with him and hold his concentration. I also am lending him a book I have so he can learn a "fun" piece. It is The Siamese cat song from Disney's Lady and the Tramp . he likes it because it is a very percussive and rhythmic song, even though it is quite difficult for him. I also gave him the F#+ scale last week... he thought it was very impressive because it is mostly the black keys. As long as he practises and tries his best I am happy.
----
Alex, who is in his second year with me, is having a difficult time again. Last year, by June he was finally getting the hang of piano. But now, he is in grade three and is also doing Judo, Basketball, and going to the university (continuing with his ADD treatment). this leaves him very little time for practising as he spends a lot of time on his homework (the other day his mother said they spent 5 hours!).
Anyway, he is having a very hard time remembering concepts from lesson to lesson. So his mother and i talked, and I suggested that we try a fifteen minute lesson twice a week (because he does not live very far away). That, and lots of positive reinforcement should hopefully help him to make the piano experience a benficial one.
© 1997 sarahmai@hotmail.com
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