TEACHER QUESTIONS

QUESTION 2

The studio where I teach initially schedules 30 minute lessons. As I create openings, I expand lesson times instead of filling the opening. However I have a few Artistry at the Piano students still in 30 minute lessons. I feel as though things are falling through the cracks. I have devised sheets to keep track of what is covered that I keep in their file, but I know the wavering momentum is not optimum.

MARY GAE GEORGE answers:

There are several ways to stretch our teaching schedule to give us more time with each student.Let's look at four possibilities.

A.) Giving students "partner lesson" -- that is overlapping time at the end of one student's lesson with the beginning of the next student's lesson -- can add another 10 or 15 minutes to each student's lesson. This is an efficient way to find time for those things most enjoyably learned with another person, such as rhythm, ear training, technic, theory, analysis, ensemble, sight playing (easy ensemble pieces), as well as performing and listening to music. Because the tuition is shared by both students, the increase in cost is low especially in relation to the advantages gained. Students do not need to be the same age or at the same level of study to make partner lessons productive, but they do need to be compatible.

B.) Another solution is regular group classes. Even if you can schedule only one class a month, this gives you the opportunity to introduce new issues and skills to four or more students at one time. This is as productive as it is efficient, for you can have the students work toward mastering the new issues before the next group class.

C.) Don't forget to take advantage of the first week of lessons after a holiday break. This is a perfect time to spend most of the lesson on new issues and skills, thus laying a foundation for the weeks to come. You may want to schedule a lesson every six weeks to do just that. I recommend that you record this special lesson for the student to work with at home, thus saving the time to take notes or write an assignment and providing the student with a recorded reference to use during home practice. (Incidentally, I record all of my private lessons for this very reason. Furthermore, when a student must miss a group class, a recording of the class is provided so that they can "make-up" the missed class.)

D.) And finally, take advantage of what technology has to offer. With a computer and some of the excellent software programs available, it will not be necessary to take precious lesson or class time to repeatedly drill and review what the students are learning. The computer can do this for you (before or after the lesson), and in a most enjoyable format for the student. (Some of the programs, such as Rhythmaticity, Music Lab, and Music Ace are reasonable enough for families to have them on their home computer, for additional application outside of studio time.)

To this end, I invite you to visit the MusicWare Web site to explore some excellent programs. Another Web site you are urged to visit (for insights and encouragement into using computer assisted education) is metr.