Tag: Teacher

Teachers – what do you do with students that don’t (or won’t) practice?

Nicole Neal3 Comments

I’m very much blessed to have students that are really intrinsically motivated to practice, have a real love for the instrument and the learning and development process. As a result I’ve not had to do too much of the cracking of the whip!

In fact, my students are most apologetic when the big important things such as family, health, work or life(!) mean that their practice has taken a back seat for a week or two. This is so sweet and so endearing that they place such a high value on their learning process, and always makes me chuckle. I tell them that it’s ok – they certainly don’t have to seek my approval or “OK” for having done or not done practice during the week – and to take the pressure of themselves. It’s not all about the guitar all of the time – it’s true!!

I have had, however, the occasional student where practicing has started to lapse over a greater period of time. This is frustrating for me as a teacher to go over exactly the same ground for a number of weeks with the same student. More importantly it’s disheartening for me to see the student become increasingly disheartened with their own playing and lack of progress.

In discussing this issue with a friend recently, they said to me  “Why does it matter? So long as they’re paying you money, and they keep turning up.”

Well, I’ll tell you why it matters to me.

If I took that attitude I might as well go and work at MacDonald’s (no offence to Macca’s workers – I used to work there myself in my yoof), or a consulting firm or in a shop or do any other kind of job. This is not just about money for me. This is my passion and I so dearly want to pass on my own skills, knowledge, learnings and understanding to help my students progress as players and people and to help support growth of the classical guitar.

So this, fellow teachers, is where we must be brave and ask certain questions, even if it means putting some of our income on the line. We must for the good of our students (and also ourselves) ask the question in this situation “why are we here learning the guitar? Is your heart in this and do you want to continue?” It might be that there are some issues going on their lives which are impacting them, and of course we can be very empathetic to their particular situation. Asking this question we can perhaps discern some of their story and support them.

Similarly we may also find out whether their journey with the guitar is one they want to continue on at this time. If it’s not right for them right now, this question may give a good opportunity for them. If they do wish to continue, but they just need a gentle nudge to pull themselves back in line, then you as a teacher stepping up and supportively asking these kinds of questions might just be the step to get them headed in the rigt direction again.

So, fellow teachers, I’m interested to know how you approach the issue with students that seem to be dropping off the practice. I’d love to know your approaches.

Are you committed?

Nicole Neal1 Comment

Ooh the big C word – commitment! Mwah hah hah! Yes, this word can strike fear into the very heart of the otherwise bravest soul. Ok maybe that’s overdoing it a little….. So what does commitment have to do with playing the guitar, I hear you ask. Well, thanks for asking, I shall tell you.

The concept of “commitment” (which means to make a decision and to stick by it, it means to be fully dedicated, to fully apply ones self) features largely through various aspects in the journey of learning the guitar, mastering the instrument and performing with it.

We decide we want to learn the instrument. We decide to play a certain piece. Practicing. Deciding how we want a piece to sound. These all require commitment at one level or another.

Yes, very good. But why is commitment going to help me and my playing?

Ok, here we go.

The students that I teach, who from the very outset have made the decision that “yes, I absolutely want to learn how to play the guitar to the very best of my abilities” are the ones that tend to progress, learn and develop most quickly.

They’ve made that decision for themselves and stuck with it. They’re committed. Their actions indicate their commitment – they make time in their busy schedules for lessons to become a normal part of their life, they lock it in. They turn up for lessons week in-week out, they’re on time or early for their lesson, they’re not making excuses for no or little practice – they’ve done the practice (they also recognise that life happens sometimes and practice becomes challenging to squeeze in from time to time, but that’s ok in the bigger picture), they put themselves into uncomfortable or new performing situations in spite of feeling nervous.

And as a natural result of these committed actions they begin to see results. I’m not talking necessarily about setting the world alight and going from one grade to another in the space of a couple of months. I am talking about making noticeable and marked improvements week to week. And this as a teacher makes my heart sing! Knowing that you’re actually listening to what I’m saying and taking it on board is great!

And that’s a commitment too. Committing to take on board the advice from one’s teacher, committing to take on feedback and direction to help improve your playing, even if its not quite what you think or want to hear. You could choose to filter it out and say “nah”, or you could say “you know what? I’ll listen to what the teacher is saying, really listen, change what I can change and work very hard at it”. Might just work…….

We also make a commitment when we’re learning and playing a piece, and this particular gem I have to thank my own guide, mentor and super-teacher, Ben Dix, for. Decide exactly how you want a piece, phrase, bar or note to sound. Commit to it. Decide on exactly the dynamics you want and commit to it. The audience will feel a bajillion times more comfortable and settled with your playing (as will you) if you’ve already made the decision and said “yes, this is how I’m playing this”. The audience know where you’re going, and will go with you.

So commitment. Yup, can be scary sometimes, but what’s the alternative? As a rather famous sportswear brand say, just do it.

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