* gulp * No need. I will learn it properly

[Steve Hopwood]

Hehe. I taught 8 year old comparative beginner Matt tonight. He had clearly not practised one of the pieces I helped him prepare last week.

Now, we are talking a very simple arrangement of 'Happy birthday to you' (Waterman 'Me And My Piano Bk 2', for those piano teachers here) very thoroughly prepared. Matt is a highly intelligent little boy - understands intellectual concepts in one go.

"I was confused." he whinged.

"No you weren't. Not when you played it fluently at the end of your lesson last week. You sing it 50 times a year. You know exactly how it goes."

"I couldn't work out what to do" he complained.

"Yes you could. You just didn't practise it. There is a difference."

"My mum wouldn't let me practise it."

So there is a God, after all.

"You do understand, don't you Matt, that the first thing I am going to do after your Gran picks you up tonight is phone your mum and ask he why she would not let you practise a piece I have set you?"

Matt turned pale.

"One last chance to avoid doom, Matt. Do I really need to phone your mum and complain about her not allowing you to practise the pieces I set you?"

There was an audible gulp, then, "No need. I will learn it properly."

I love teaching ;D ;D ;D

Steve

[Dulciana]

I wish the threat of mother had the same affect on some of mine...

[caz]

I love it
Psychology is such an important part of piano teaching - you have to know what works for each pupil - they're all different!

[stumac]

There was a slightly cynical article about teaching in the Guardian a couple of weeks ago. The author was saying that when he started his firts job, one of the "old lags" gave hime 4 rules which he must always follow.

Can't remember them all, but number 2 was:

"Under no circumstances must you ever believe anything that a pupil tells you"

[meepmeep]

;D

[chocolatedog]

Well I have just lost a pupil at school - she started with me last term, came for one lesson, then didn't turn up again (am I that scary?? ) and I sent for her this term - she said her mother had written a letter and that she was stopping lessons.......wait, wait, no letter from mother......so music department secretary rings mother, to be told, no she wants daughter to continue lessons, but daughter can't really practise as they don't have a piano.... in any case, she thinks it doesn't matter as she believes learning piano should be fun..... (I think my contact lenses are playing up - I seem to be blinking a lot....... ) wonderful mother, eh? needless to say head or music told her where to get off.........