Tip No 1. Never arrange for lessons after 8pm
Kids below 10 generally don’t have much energy left after 8pm to pay attention to you because they are used to sleeping early. They tend to get all squirmy on you and be moving around as though they’ve got pins poking into their butts. Nothing you say will actually get into their heads.
I once had no choice but to setup a make up lesson during that time for the twins. After just 10 minutes into the lessons, one of them started to complain that he was really sleepy and the other one just kept repeating that she didn’t understand a word that I was saying. It was an absolute nightmare.
My lessons are now all scheduled to happen before 4pm. :D
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Tip No 2. Don’t accept second best from your students
I have a reward system for my students - either giving them stickers or those fancy chops for them to decorate their scores when they have done well. After a while, I’ve noticed that they liked it so much that they began to bargain with me in order to get the stickers or chops easily.
Typical scenario:
Student: “Teacher… if I make just two mistakes, can I still get the sticker??”
Teacher: “Of course not!”
Student: *with big cute eyes* “PLEASEEEEEEEEEEE…”
Don’t give in, no matter how cute their expressions, and how obedient they usually are. If a perfect piece of music was required in order for them to get their rewards, then they would have to deliver it in order to claim their rewards. Giving in will only cause your students to think that you are lowering your expectations and ruin their chances of reaching greater heights.
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Tip No 3. Encourage the student’s parents to get involved and be supportive
During the first 2 months of piano teaching, it didn’t occur to me to approach the parents for help. I was thinking, as long as I was impressionable and made lessons interesting, the students should be getting excited about music and start practicing on their own as they should. Unfortunately, it didn’t exactly work out the way I have expected it to be for all students. It wasn’t until one day, when one of my student’s parent came to me and asked about her child’s progress and how she could help. I saw the results just after two weeks.
As your student’s piano teacher, you will only spend 1 hr a week teaching and influencing them. Whether they actually follow your advises and practices as you recommend is really up to individual student’s initiative and interest. So it’s important to get people who can influence your students the most to help increase their interest for music - their parents.
Of course, not all parents are as enthusiastic to help.
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Oh well, to all new piano teachers out there, GOOD LUCK!
