“If everything was perfect, you would never learn and you would never grow,” said Beyonce Knowles, an American singer, songwriter, and actress.
Whether you are a professional music teacher or just someone looking to show your friends how to play a musical instrument or learn how to successfully teach others a music major, you’ve come to the right place. Below is advice on the most specialized methods to give aspiring players the best start in the industry.
Plan everything:
Whether you’re teaching an entire class professionally or tutoring an accompanist in a more casual way, whenever you’re trying to pass your musical knowledge on to others, you need to have a plan. Your plan should include:
- What chords, riffs, or even songs can you try based on the experiences your students are currently having?
- What tools should be used to familiarize your students with the assignment?
- What kind of climate needs to be created to meet the evolving needs of your students?
Be positive in everything you do:
Positivity is key in teaching others to play a musical instrument. As you enter each session with mental strength, your students will definitely benefit from the energy. Make sure you stay positive throughout the lesson, no matter how awkward it gets, because hostility or fear on your part can cause your students’ morale to plummet.
Embrace direct engagement:
When it comes to learning a musical instrument, a hands-on approach is always beneficial. In this particular subject, your students will succeed if they have the opportunity to make use of their decision-making tools. Therefore, you should not forget about direct involvement from the very beginning of the process.
Give them homework:
You may not be a teacher and you may not work in a music school, but that doesn’t mean you can’t give your students homework. This will prove to be a positive benefit for them as it allows them to follow their progress when they are away from you. This will help them enter each session with the right mindset.
The homework you give depends entirely on the instrument being taught. Regardless of whether the data you provide them with flows, all things considered, by giving them homework your students will see that you are serious about teaching them.
Teaching someone how to play an instrument will always be a difficult situation, but you can make it easier by following the suggestions above.
Dr. George Freundlich has been in the musician career for more than 25 years and retired from the award-winning Timmins Symphony Orchestra (trombone). In 2005, Dr. George Freundlich Matheson received an Award of Appreciation for 10 years of dedicated and valuable contribution to the orchestra.
About Author
