Well, friends: I officially have a teenager...
...and I can't help but think back on the many ways my now-13-year-old daughter has made me a better teacher.
Of course, I think they very act of becoming a parent gives you a new perspective on your students (and their family dynamics)... but this girl has delivered an exceptional number of lessons in teaching I never knew I needed.
The short (for-public-consumption) version of the story is this: she's an anxious kid. That means she's often an (uncomfortably) quiet kid.
...and seeing as how that is not exactly MY disposition (ahem), I have learned A LOT by studying how she interacts with the world (and how the world interacts with her).
Here are a few quick reminders for when you find yourself looking into the eyes of an exceptionally quiet student:
- They are often having a better time than they appear to be. Quiet students can be keen observers and enjoy the variety of being in different environments. Just because they look uncomfortable (or disinterested), doesn't mean they actually are.
- They are often content being quiet. What makes them uncomfortable is feeling pressured to speak. Don't push them for responses. If your usual questioning techniques are not yielding desired results, change it up and try something else.
- Sometimes they just need a little more TIME to find their words. I've witnessed adults dismiss my child countless times. Apparently, we grown-ups have a very short-tolerance for silence. Give quiet students a few extra seconds to answer. The discomfort you feel is yours. Their brains are likely running a million miles an hour and sometimes they just need an extra beat or two to narrow down the flurry.
- These are the kids that likely fly "off-radar" elsewhere. My kiddo adores her teachers, enjoys her classes, and does well in school. Yet, because "the squeaky wheel gets the grease", she often goes unnoticed in a variety of classroom circumstances.
Even though every relationship in our studio is important, I can't help but think there is special potential here to build relationships with students who don't always get the attention they deserve elsewhere.
I know it's easier to teach the charismatic students who readily declare their lessons to be, "THE BEST DAYS EVER!", but I hope you understand how important your work is with students who are less-demonstrative of their enjoyment.
May we all remember the power of the relationships we build, even when we don't see the fruits of our efforts in an obvious way. 🥂
And now, I want to know what lessons YOU'VE learned from teaching quiet students.
Hit that REPLY button and let me know!
As always, thanks for reading! 👏
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Can't-Live-Without Repertoire
I think Valerie Roth Roubos is an absolute gift to piano teachers. I assign a lot of her pieces, including several from this collection: Stories in Sound, Book 2.
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BONUS Repertoire Lists
Last summer, in honor of my 40th birthday, I put together a list of 40 of my favorite Supplemental collections.
I've been getting a lot of questions about my love for supplemental literature after my interview on Dynamic Piano Teaching, so I thought I'd share this again.
FYI: This is all non-historical literature.
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Support my work on Patreon
Are you an artist who cares about supporting other artists? Do you find value in the work I put into the world?
If your finances allow, I hope you'll consider a $3 or $6 contribution.
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A Favorite Thing
If you are not using dry-erase staff boards in your teaching, you're missing out!
These are hands-down my most used studio tool.
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This Week on the Podcast
Episode 138 was inspired by One Thought Thursday 007! Thanks to those who contributed your responses.
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One-to-One Teacher Consultations
Only a handful of consultation appointments remain for August, so if you've been considering booking one, I'd recommend moving quickly!
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Studio Foundations: 6-week session
We'll be starting up a new 6-week session of the Studio Foundations Course in September.
Register NOW to secure your spot!
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NOW: Hit that REPLY Button and tell me a lesson you've learned from quiet students.
Onward and upward toward building relationships that matter more than we'll ever know. 🥂
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