Today I teach one student - the one I teach "fun" things to, I continue practicing both standards, free improv, and better harmonies for folk songs, and I will finish contacting a couple of last year's students that I have not heard from. They are traveling internationally and may not be back yet.
Also, a bit about siblings in Dalcroze classes.
I hate to say this, but I will anyway. Many of my best practicing students have a parent or two who are not American. There is the idea that you need to work for things that seems more prevalent in the international families. Not all American students do not practice, but basically all of the students with international parents practice well regularly.
I am not a teacher who always drops students who do not practice. With young children it is simply not their fault. The lifestyle that a family lives either allows time and has the proper environment for practicing, or not. I will tell parents when the time has come that the situation lacks integrity for me. They will do something about it. Years of lessons with no practicing is tedious for the student. The pieces they dream about playing are just that, dreams.
The idea that talent is enough is completely flawed. To not develop skills where talent exists is doing a grave disservice to the students. They are not entitled to take lessons, it is a privilege in every circumstance.
This leads me to teaching a Dalcroze class. There are students who are very talented in learning concepts this way. Other students need quite a bit of guidance. In the case of the talented Dalcroze student, I have noticed that they are so into it they never find any activity beneath their skill level. They are the leaders in class.
i taught in a situation last year where the most talented students in Dalcroze happened to be the students who would get roles in productions. These productions took place during class a couple of times. I did not always have notice about this change and it was so difficult to adjust to a class minus the leaders. Dalcroze is a very energy based teaching environment, much like rehearsing and performing music are. It is to me the most musical approach to learning music.
I would love to hear about anyone's thoughts on the changes in classes due to absences, additional students, observers - one of the toughest I think, and perhaps the change of a caregiver in class with a very young student. Also what if a sibling visits - just shows up?
I have become very strict about siblings in class after being once burned by a parent who brought a sibling to class, with my permission. She did nothing with her son because she was holding the baby. He was not engaged and she not only dropped the class but wrote a letter and complained about me! This has rarely happened in my career - in fact i do not recall it happening any other time.
When someone shows up with a sibling I tell them that this could be fun! I also tell them that if it is not working out, the child will have to sit out if they are significantly older. If they are just a little older, sometimes the caregiver has to take the child out and leave the younger, regular member of the class in class. If the sibling - or even friend, this happens - is younger sometimes everyone has to go.
Don't get me wrong - I think that families making music together is wonderful. An older sibling can be a role model. I have actually had a younger sibling be a good member of the class, mavbe even better than the regular student. In this case I suggest they join the class.
You have to be careful about visitors. Once I had a younger brother come in and "visit" only to return week after week. I told the family they had to register him since he was participating and they got offended. I had let it go on too long. The father was a big deal executive with plenty of money. They were also from a different culture so I made a mistake in this way.
Have a policy in mind - though you can break it. Be sure to say something the first time the child comes to class - either when they ask or if they just show up. I understand the just showing up part. Sometimes the caregiver is not there or ill - such as the live in nanny or au pair - and the parent is stuck. Or, the parent is supposed to be with the child while the caregiver brings the student to class and the parent has a conflict. One or two of these a year is enough. No matter the circumstance say that it is unusual and speak your peace about what will happen if it does not work.
When you have a very strong student, even if very young, they do not get distracted. They can be leaders at age 2 already and having a baby on the nanny's lap will do nothing to sway their excellent work. Dalcroze is simply contagious and irresistible to some students.
Off to teach after a couple of e-mails. The fall seems to start very slowly and then - WHAM - it is upon me. Have a great day!
Comments
No comments posted yet.
Login to comment