[TPIN] Private Lesson Questions

[Eric Bolvin]

<I have a studio of about 16 students, mostly middle school and high school aged players (12-16 y/o). I am finding it increasingly difficult to listen to these lessons as the majority of the kids are not practicing their assignments, and they aren't trying to implement any of the improvement suggestions that I give them. Is this normal for this age group? What do you do when you have students who obviously haven't practiced for at least two or three consecutive lessons? These may be dumb questions, but I'm am getting really discouraged by all of this. I know I can teach - I've had kids in the past who've applied themselves to my teaching and received college scholarships and won first chair in various all-state bands. Again I ask, what would you do? Or am I overreacting? Thanks for your input. 

Bruce Zeiger>

One thing that's important at this age (and all ages) is that you are instilling a love of music in the student. I think this is just as important as teaching the horn or music. Not everyone is going to want to be "the best" and practice daily, but everyone who plays should love doing it. The only time I'll consider dropping a student is if he really hates it, which is very rare.
When you run a private studio outside of the educational arena you will encounter students who have a strong desire and others who don't. You will also see some students that have problems- playing, physical, mental or emotional. It is best not to judge young students at this age on their abilities. Instead try to remember why you play music- because it's fun and you love it. 
Here are some things I do in lessons where kids don't practice.
Write down a weekly lesson plan. When they come in, simply have them play the lesson from the beginning. Work on the music with the student as if he practiced it. I call this the 1/7 plan or supervised practice.
1/7 plan means that the student who only practices with you will improve at 1/7 the rate of one who practices daily. This may not change his practice habits, but it will be easier on your attitude.
As far as the music goes, I've been through the same thing so I wrote a book, The Really Big Student Songbook. Many teachers on here use it. You can see it at my site below.

HTH

Eb


Eric Bolvin
The Really Big Student Songbook
The Arban Manual
www.BolvinMusic.com
www.myspace.com/ericbolvin  
408.236.2009