Music Teaching Mistakes

Are you a piano teacher? If you've been teaching for decades, chances are very good that you are not the same instructor that you were in the beginning.

What brought about these changes? You probably learned a great deal about what works with your students and what doesn't, and that caused you to alter your approach.

Even if you have been teaching for most of your life, there is still more to learn. For newer instructors, this is doubly true. As you progress in your career, you will undoubtedly discover that you learn more from your students and through the process of teaching than you ever thought possible.

No piano instructor is perfect. In fact, many mistakes are extraordinarily common among music teachers. Here are some of these mistakes. Are any of them familiar to you?

1. Not Teaching Your Students How to Practice

It is common for piano instructors to assume that their students instinctively know how to practice or that their parents will be able to help them at home. The reality could not be further from the truth.

Young music students have no idea how to correctly and productively practice, and unless their parents are accomplished musicians themselves, it is extremely unlikely that they will be able to offer helpful assistance.

Accordingly, it is essential that piano instructors teach their students how to practice. Let your students know that you cannot always be there to help them. This is why it's crucial that they learn how to help themselves.

A pianist who is adept at practice will perform well and be equipped with the tools that are necessary to efficiently and thoroughly learn music.

2. Relying on Mnemonic Devices

Most piano teachers and students have heard the saying "Every Good Boy Does Fine." However, it is wise for instructors to avoid using mnemonic devices to help their students learn to read music.

As an example, "Every Good Boy Does Fine," isn't even particularly accurate since the musical staff actually should be read from line to space, which would be:

• E
• f
• G
• a
• B
• c
• D
• e
• F

When students are taught to read the musical staff alphabetically rather than with a mnemonic device, then they are truly beginning to read music.

Memorizing a saying is not a substitute for genuinely learning to read music.

3. Making Piano Playing Too Much About Work

Why did you become a piano teacher? It's probably because you have a genuine love of music that you want to share with others. This means that you take playing and practice and teaching quite seriously.

However, it is critical for instructors to walk a fine line between being serious and making lessons fun for their students. If a piano teacher is too serious and strict, then there is a risk of discouraging the students.

Remember that music is all about self-expression. This means that it can be fun and even instinctive. Try to set aside about 10 minutes of each lesson for something that is purely fun and that your student loves to do. This means that your students always have something to anticipate, even in the midst of a tough lesson.

4. Forgetting to Follow Up After a Tough Lesson

Things do not always go as planned during lessons. Students sometimes end up confused, frustrated, or upset. The problem may not even be music lessons. Perhaps the student had a bad day at school or got into trouble with his parents.

When you can see that one of your students is struggling, don't hesitate to follow up with a kind, encouraging email to his parents. This gives them an opportunity to talk to their child about what's happening, and it may mean that a recurrence of that difficult lesson is likely to happen.

5. Forgetting that Most Problems Originate in the Mind

During a lesson, it is easy to see that your student's shoulders are hunched, that the arms are tensed, and that the fingers are flat. You may provide prolific reminders about the need to sit up straight, relax and curve the fingers.

However, it is a mistake not to inquire more deeply about where all of that tension is coming from. The reality is that it begins in the brain. The state of mind communicates itself in your student's posture.

Accordingly, you may want to ask your student what is in their mind the next time you see the physical manifestations of tension at the piano. Address the source of the tension, which typically resides in the mind, and your student will be better able to relax and assume a better posture for improved performance.

6. Believing that You Are Only Teaching Piano

Think back to all of the music instructors from whom you have taken lessons. Which teachers are the ones that you remember most fondly? Which are the ones that made the greatest impact on you with regard to your development as an artist?

Was it the instructor who helped you strengthen your non-dominant hand or the one who shared your passion for jazz?

Remember that it is possible for piano teachers to touch every aspect of their student's lives. You may be teaching them the proper techniques for playing the piano, but you are sharing your love of music at the same time. It also is possible that you will provide a refuge for students who are dealing with a tough situation at home or helping kids to learn resilience and dedication.

You may be a piano teacher, but to many of your students, you may be a great deal more.

7. Marking Reminders on Music Sheets

Have you ever had a music instructor who made notes and reminders on your music sheets? Perhaps your instructor:

• Highlighted a certain note
• Added a note name
• Wrote out counting
• Drew a musical symbol

After the conclusion of the lesson, could you remember what that mark meant? Even if you did retain the information for a short time, would it still mean something if you looked back at the music sheet six months or a year later?

The truth is that there is no substitute for learning how to genuinely read music. Using notations for reminders discourages the student from learning the true musical symbols that are already on the page and may only serve to confuse them.

8. Neglecting Music Theory and Ear Training

It is the job of the piano instructor to teach the instrument to students. However, it is vital to lay a foundation of music theory as well. This subject may not be the most exciting part of learning to play the piano, but it is essential to becoming an accomplished musician. Likewise, learning to sight-read and training the ear are even more critical, but frequently get lost in the shuffle.

It is not necessary to spend endless hours droning about music theory or ear training. Earmarking about 15 minutes in each lesson for these subjects is sufficient. You might even ask your students to do some related homework before the next lesson.

While it might not take up a huge amount of your or your student's schedule, this extra learning will help tremendously with your student's growth as a musician.

9. Not Documenting Progress

Have you ever watched one of your longtime students giving a mature performance as you glowed with pride? What would you give to have a videotape or a sound recording of that student's first lesson? Their parents would probably love to have this memento as well.

It's always a good idea to document your students' progress in some concrete form. Begin with the first lesson, and try to record something at least once a year after that. It's a wonderful way to help your students recall just how far their hard work has carried them.

10. Using the Same Approach with All of Your Students

No two people learn in exactly the same way. This is a lesson that most piano instructors must learn the hard way.

It's a natural mistake. Most instructors teach in a manner that is in alignment with how they learn best. It works so well for them that it is easy to assume that these techniques will work for everyone.

Unfortunately, that's not the case. While you may be able to start many of your students in a similar manner, it is crucial to observe each one with care as they progress. Are certain approaches more appealing to certain students? If so, then it may be necessary to vary your techniques to more successfully reach those students.

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