Tips & Tricks Workshop

This workshop, held in May of 2010, was so well attended we didn't have enough handouts for everyone! Below are lists of what the teachers presented with PDF copies of their handouts.

Cheryl Hansen
    What makes a good teacher?

    (From John Ivers' list presented in Sep of 2009 with her additions.)

1. Positive teacher/student relationship: like each other
2. Enthusiasm in your deliveries
3. Be clear in your examples, give lots of them. Principle of repetition gives the student a better chance at an "Aha!" moment.
4. Good preparation and organization
5. An ability to stimulate interest
6. Thorough love and knowledge of subject
7. Fair-minded
8. Open to the opinions of others in your field and those of your students

(Cheryl's additions)

9. Lots of patience
10. Lots of encouragement

Carol Blanchard
    How do I run a studio?
    How do I motivate children to practice?

1. Communicate!! Write a yearly policy letter which includes:
• Appreciation and excitement to teach
• Current schedule
• Current rates and fees
• Required commitment from students
• Other activities such as group lessons, recitals, festivals, etc.
2. Scheduling
• Provide for your student's parents a schedule of lesson times which includes everyone's phone numbers
• Train clients to call and trade with each other when conflicts arise
3. Practice Incentives: I use music money and let them buy prizes such as candy
4. Organize Yourself
• Make a notebook with student information, books they are using, charts of technique skills, etc.
• Use accounting ledgers or Quicken to keep track of financial transactions
5. Carol's handouts with example forms, letters and schedules

Vanessa Beard
    How do I keep track of my finances?

1. I have a spreadsheet that automatically calculates my studio finances.

Cheryl Hansen
    How do I teach children skills?

1. Proper Piano Posture - fit the student to the piano using:
• Boxes to support the feet (Peter Ivie 356-0668)
• Adjustable benches (CPS Imports 480-329-5530)
• Carpet sample squares which are more stable than phone books or pillows
2. Agenda handout listing further topics Cheryl discussed

Brent Jones
    How do I teach melodic line & tone production?
    How do I teach students to practice?

1. Tone productions is a large part of study for every other instrument - it is too easy to make a sound on the piano and tone production is generally not studied well.
2. We must listen to every tone we produce.
3. Good practicing involves:
• Preparation
• Starting with the most difficult part
• Listening
• Repetition
4. Brent's handouts with excellent details

Paula Johnson
    How do I teach sight reading?

1. I have my students sight read one piece at every lesson and check out books from my library to practice sight reading at every practice session.
2. Material for sight reading should be at or below a student's level
3. In order to train your reflexes to respond properly to the notes printed on a page of music, it is important to play music at sight without changing speed or stopping. The signals seen by your eyes must be instantly translated to motions by your hands and feet.
4. Paula's handouts with more great tips and example forms