a friend who teach my students temporary

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Hi All,

I was sick so I was forced to let my friend to teach my students for temporary. She said,"How you can give this piece for the students? They can't play it. It's too hard, out of their ability, etc". And the worst, she told me that she has told the parents about it and now, the parents think, "I'm the bad teacher".

The true is, I have never given the piece if it's out of students' ability. I have taught the piece before and they can play it. I learn this from my teacher. Play only 3 bar for a week and the students can play well.

If you are I, what will you do if you know that your good image as a teacher has broken just because your friend's attitude?

Thank you

-- Amelia (noname_poster@yahoo.com), October 04, 2003

Answers

Your friend's behavior is terribly wrong and you have a right to be angry with her. You also can behave better than she and not say anything bad about her, but simply not refer students to her in the future.

I would concentrate on the students you still have.

I must say, however, that I am somewhat perplexed by your method of teaching. Just because a student CAN learn a difficult piece 3 bars per week doesn't mean that they should. If they can learn only 3 bars a week, then the piece IS too difficult for them. Their reading and technique needs to progress together, as well as their ability to understand the music both theoretically and expressively.

What service do you give to your students if, in the end, they can play one fantastic piece, but can't play anything else well or learn a piece on their own?

I suggest that you rethink your approach. Otherwise, your students are likely to become quite frustrated at the piano and you will lose them after all. Let them enjoy pieces which they can learn well and relatively quickly, incorporating appropriate challenges along the way. You will then have a more balanced, healthy student who will play the piano for many years instead of getting burned out from being overwhelmed, frustrated or bored.

-- Arlene Steffen (asteffen@fresno.edu), October 07, 2003.


Thank you for your advice

-- Amelia (noname_poster@yahoo.com), October 08, 2003.

As a student of classical music I have practiced many compositions that had led me toward a better playing even though they were beyond my ability. You may want to suggest the parents of the kids that such music has great values in the future learning. The other suggestion is that if your students are enjoying and liking the music it does not matter what piece it is (Mary had a little lamb /or Rachmaninoff prelude). Remind your friend that he/she is a tool for students not a judge. Keep teaching because without many good teachers there won’t be good students.

-- M.Gh. (mmojie@juno.com), October 19, 2003.

M.Gh thank you for your advice, too. I will keep teaching. About my friend, don't worry, I won't contact her anymore. She is not a good friend.

-- Amelia (noname_poster@yahoo.com), November 12, 2003.

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