Five Tips for the Beginning Private Music Instructor
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We have all experienced that “A-HA” moment in a lesson, where a technique, piece of music, or skill begins to click. It’s one of the most rewarding feelings for a musician and a lot of the time we can thank our instructors for guiding us along that path to success, which I now share with my own students.
When I first began my teaching journey, I was excited for these moments to happen with my students. Unfortunately, teaching was a struggle at first. However, over the years, I have developed several methods and techniques to help me become a confident educator which have allowed me to acquire a full private lesson studio, as well as a job teaching percussion at Greendale High school.
Teaching Tip #1: Steal from your Teacher
I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from UW-Milwaukee in Percussion Performance, and am currently pursuing my Master’s degree in Performance at UW-Madison. So, as someone who has not studied education, how did I develop a way to teach?
Well, a large part of my development as a teacher came from my instructors in college. Some of my fondest memories from my undergraduate degree are from walking out of a lesson or rehearsal and being so excited about what we accomplished, and the knowledge I gained. This made me think, what did my instructor do to make this session so successful? When in doubt, using the pedagogy method of a teacher you had is a great way to develop a base for your own teaching style.
Teacher Tip #2: Understand that Students Have Various Needs
Having students ranging from elementary school all the way to adults, I have learned that each student has different views, goals, strengths, and weaknesses. Is your student super dedicated to their instrument and want to make a career out of music? Is your student an absolute beginner? Or is this just a hobby? Being able to accept that not every student is on the same level, or has the same interest is a simple, but crucial step to effectively instructing them.
Teacher Tip #3: Use a System to Stay Consistent
When I first began teaching privately, I did not have a system for private lessons. Things like technique, reading music, and other music skills were wildly inconsistent between my students. This led to lessons that were hard to manage and some sloppy teaching. It wasn’t until I reassessed my approach to instructing that I noticed a change in my student’s progress and eagerness to learn.
This all started with developing a comprehensive approach to teaching percussion fundamentals, written and aural skills, and musicality. By having a set base of teaching these subjects, it allowed me to tweak them to fit the needs of each individual student. This helped me greatly when I began teaching at Greendale. Running rehearsals with 40+ students at a time, it was imperative to have a consistent approach to the basics to allow for a smooth rehearsal.
Teacher Tip #4: Keep Documentation of Lessons
Documentation is an essential element for yourself and for your students. Throughout my time at UW-Milwaukee, my Professor, Dr. Wier, kept detailed documentation of what was covered during our lesson, as well as what the expectation was for the following week. This allowed for both student and teacher to track progress and expectations.
Once my private lesson studio began to expand, I started to use this approach with my students. Having a weekly description of how they are doing and how much they have accomplished is a huge motivator for students. It also keeps me organized for each lesson and ensures that no time is wasted trying to recall what we had worked on in the prior week.
Below is an example for you to try! Feel free to alter it to fit your own needs.
Tip #5: Strive for the A-HA Moments!
The most important thing that I have learned as a music educator, is to remember that at the end of the day, music is a passion. Being able to share such an expansive and growing art with people of all ages is a wonderful thing. The joy that music brings is something to always keep in mind and that every student learns at their own pace. Being dedicated to your craft, willing to share the knowledge we have gained, and putting the student’s needs first will almost certainly lead to “A-HA” moments.
