Friday, October 26, 2007

Challenges...

I like being the kind of teacher that can show someone how not to do something. Sometimes that means I have to experiment in front of them, though, which I don't feel as comfortable with!

I have another new flute student and I cannot match her pitch - I can match my pitch on her flute when I blow it, but have not (during one lesson) figured out how she's blowing to show her how to best blow. I was honest and let her know what I was doing. She just smiled. Not the "you're really weird" smile, either. That was encouraging.

Then, today, I had two opportunities to teach ear-training - one with a student, one with Scott. With Scott we were playing along with a CD and I proved to myself I'm not as bad as I think I am! With my piano student, I challenged him to play 5 notes then I had to play them back. We reversed it, too, where I played 5 notes and he had to guess them. He has a wonderful talent and likes to play but not practice. (WHO likes to practice? Really!!!)

I honestly believe part of my job as a teacher is to be a resource on how to find what music you like as a student. I hope I can do that more, and make myself more of a resource at the same time.