Practice (2006) Attribution Some rights reserved by woodleywonderworks

For as long as I can remember, music has been a huge part of my life. I began learning piano when I was about six years old. My first teacher, Sister Heads, used to come to my home every week, and I vividly remember writing long lines of minims and semibreves, as well as playing lots of Middle Cs & holding them for four counts each. Hardly much fun for a six-year old! She was kind however, unlike those nasty stories you sometimes hear of nuns who struck children over the knuckles with a ruler for making a mistake. It was my mum, though, who probably had the greatest influence on me at that early stage - she was most determined that my sisters and I learn an instrument and develop an appreciation of music. She encouraged me, helped me with new pieces and got me into a disciplined routine of piano practice every morning before school. I must have had a very good memory in those early years, learning all my pieces by ear, since my sight-reading was atrocious! An examiner commented once that I had no idea of the notes that were printed on the page whatsoever and that there was little hope of a future for me in music! Ironically enough, it is my excellent sight-reading ability that helps me as an accompanist today, and often one of the reasons that I am recommended to students/young performers who need piano accompaniment. Somewhere along the line, everything must have 'clicked', because music became my passion and my life.

Some of the lessons I have learned from my own small beginnings, that I now try to incorporate in my own teaching are:
  • To make lessons fun and enjoyable for my students 
  • To help children learn with understanding, not just by rote
  • The importance of a productive practice routine
  • The need for encouragement from both the teacher and the parents/caregivers
  • To never give up on a student, no matter how dismal their efforts may seem
I hope to discuss more about these aspects of teaching throughout my blog. Hopefully, some of my readers will be able to contribute their ideas to this discussion as well.

References
Practice [Image]. (2006).  Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/wwworks/275200051/sizes/l/in/photostream/