By Patrick Fritz I am currently in the process of re-reading a helpful book about communicating effectively with children. A few years ago, after an influx of young students with very big personalities, I realized that I needed some strategies for more effective communication. The drudgery of endless pleading, coaxing, begging, bribing, and the over-enthusiasm I was using to get my point across was wearing me...
Read More
A few weeks ago, I saw the fabulous movie “Whiplash” about a dedicated drummer vying for the praise and attention of his intensely effective yet sometimes abusive college professor. If you haven’t seen this film, make it a priority as soon as you have the opportunity. As a teacher, it stayed on my mind for well over a week. It made me think of a lot of things. The professor in the film is a talented teacher, creating a top student jazz band that would make professionals envious. But his methods are ethically questionable. He uses embarrassing details about students to humiliate them in class out of revenge for playing out of tune. He slaps a student to the beat of a metronome when the student is out of time. He even throws a cymbal at the poor kid when he doesn’t get the beat “just right.” It’s pretty hard to watch at times.
And though I of course disagree with his abusive behavior, there is one thing he says
By Marc Powell I have not met many students who love playing their scales. Scales are the green vegetables that are left on the plate and passed off to the dog under the dinner table. Here are some quick tips to help inspire your students to enjoy their scales: 1. Change up the rhythm: If one of my students has trouble with the fingering of a scale, I...
Read More
So it is Spring 2015, you have a great studio, but you still have that one student who you just aren't clicking with. Your personalities don't match, you don't communicate well, you haven't been able to figure out their learning style...
Read MoreBy Jamey Mann The voice is one of the most important instruments/tools a musician can learn to use. Training the voice the proper way is essential if a student wants to study at the collegiate level and reach their full potential. In fact, at all major music schools ear and aural training are part of the curriculum that all students must take and pass. Because of...
Read More