"I have a 10 yr old that is just starting lessons and for the life of me I can't figure out why she's not getting this one concept. I've tried several different ways to teach it, but it's not sticking. UGH! Basically, she's not seeing the notes on the page for what they are i.e. she's not memorizing where middle C is or any of the notes. We've been on the very basics for 2 months now! She's still having trouble with middle C. She's still not mastering the keyboard. Like today, she said "B" and played "A" and then stared at me like, "What? I'm playing the right note?" At first I thought she was cocky like, "I don't really have to pay attention because all the rest of this has been so easy." But then last week she says, "this is too hard I want to quit." She's bored and I'm frustrated. I'm doing flashcards at the end of each lesson and using several books so that she's getting the same concept in 6 different songs instead of 2. Any thoughts? She's driving me nuts with the attitude. It doesn't help that mom is sitting in the next room till the lesson is over."
So any thoughts for my friend on how to help her student?
9 comments:
Are you certain she is practicing during the week? I think that is what the problem may be.
I have a whole bunch of thoughts so I hope you don't mind!!!
I've personally found that teaching sight reading to a beginner can be extremely frustrating for both me and the student. It's seriously hard to learn where all of the notes are and try and transfer that information through your brain to your fingers while simultaneously trying to train the muscles in your fingers to work in ways they never have before. It's very overwhelming. While I've never trained in the Suzuki method, I like the basic philosophy, which focuses on playing by ear and memorization first and learning sight-reading later.
I had some students that did better with numbers than letters so we assigned each note a number. Middle C was 1, D was 2, etc. We sat down together and penciled in all of the numbers above each note and they learned to play initially that way. Once they learned to love it and have confidence, we started integrating sight reading. I've also had students who just liked to memorize songs so we would start with that, and then work on sight reading after they became more competent and confident.
I've also found that allowing my students to pick their own songs is HIGHLY motivating. Even if they pick something too hard for them, you can usually simplify it. I have A TON of simplified Disney and pop songs that I'd be happy to email to you if you want to email me.
Another idea that has worked well for me was laminating a poster board of the Grand Staff (I just did it using contact paper) and laminating some black notes that I cut out of paper. I hung the poster board on the my wall by the piano and used tape on the back of the notes and played little games with the kids like asking them to put a note where the middle c goes or playing a note on the piano and having them place the note on the staff where it goes. Or I would place a note on the staff and ask them to play it for me. Sometimes I would let them place the notes first and make up a song for me to play and then we'd switch roles. They liked trying to trip me up by placing notes all over the posterboard, and because the lines are bigger and farther apart it's easier to see the difference between notes. Finally, I used this posterboard to teach patterns, such as moving the note up one line/space at a time means you're playing one note higher on the piano. Also, teaching that every time you move the note from one space to the next you're skipping a note. I really try to emphasize that if they an just memorize one or two notes, they can figure our the rest based on whether the note is one space/line higher or lower than the note they have memorized.
Finally, try to keep it fun! Focus on anything she does right....plays smoothly, has good dynamics, has good rythym. The most important thing you can help a new student with is to learn that making music is fun! That will be a better motivation than any bribe or threat down the road.
Whoops! The comments above were actually made by me....Cathy, NOT Cindy. I was at my mom's house on her computer and didn't realize I was signed in as her.
Cathy suggestions are GREAT! I've found with my kids that the best way to get them excited is to let them pick their songs also. Sometimes I will play them 3 options and let them choose the one they like the best. It seems to work really well.
It sounds like she isn't doing the practice/work she is suppose to at home. I have one student who says "he always forgets to practice", so I ask his mom to set an alarm on her phone for her so it remind BOTH of them that he needs to practice.
Lastly, they have to have the support at home or else they will only learn so much. You can teach them and let them practice as much as you can at lessons, but unless they are spending time everyday doing it at home...they won't ever improve. A couple of times, I've had to talk to the parents seriously and ask them to help me get the kid interested in piano. Have you tried that?
Thanks everyone!! I'll try some of the suggestions. :) and I know she's not practicing like she should. The first half of the year was super easy for her & she flew through the lessons. Now that she's having to buckle down, she's getting "bored". She's also getting snotty about it (a result if her mom & I being friends). She can't seem to understand that if you don't get a concept, then you have to keep learning it til you get it. Like trying to do multiplication when you can't add or subrtact. I'll try some of these & have a chat with mom when they come over today. :)
Alisha,
There's one more thing I do with my students to help encourage practicing that I didn't mention.
I have my students bring a three ring binder with them and page separators. I make five sections in the binder...Practice calendar, lesson plans, theory, exercises, and extra. Helps keep me, the parents, and the kids organized.
Under the "Practice Calendar" section there is just a calendar for that month. They are suppose to write how long they practiced each day on the day they practiced. My rule is if they practiced 5 times that week for at least 20 minutes they get a piece of candy from my candy jar. Also, if they "pass off" songs or their finger exercises, they get a piece of candy (but only if they play the songs perfectly).
Under "Lesson Plans" I have them keep notebook paper in there so I can write down exactly what they are suppose to be practicing that week, example:
~Finger Exercise #4
-Play RH and LH
-Play 5 X a day
-COUNT outloud
-Curve fingers
~Popcorn Popping
-Play RH only 5 x day
-Play LH only 3 x a day
-Play hands together until the star sign 5 X a day.
Etc.
I keep a candy jar out on the piano so they can see it during the lesson. haha. Kind of funny, but it really works for my kids. They seem to WANT to pass off their songs as fast as they can so they can get 3 or 4 pieces of candy every lesson.
Just a suggestion :) Good luck!
So.... I talked to mom & she said daughter did the Same Thing when she was learning to read!! She'd memorize the words mom read & then repeat them back instead of reading them back. I found an Amazing music book store & there were multiple books/tools available for just this problem. And daughter is going to buckle down & practice more. Hopefully the new practice schedules plus the new books will help her finally figure out middle C! (it's been 5 weeks & she still hasn't memorized that - or any other note for that matter. :). )
Thanks for great information you write it very clean. I am very lucky to get this tips from you
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Great suggestions are so helpful in the comments. My kid want to use the Korg piano that has been sitting at home and he wants to take some lessons. I am undecided because he might get fed up in the middle.
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