If I had to think of one word to describe my students it would be independent. This means;
- They realize that they’re Chiefs of their own musical village. “Self Teachers”
- They grow to deeply understand musical concepts and could explain them to others.
- They enjoy the holistic, engaging and experimental process that helps to create these results.
It’s probably apparent, I view my students more like detectives. Able to solve their own musical mysteries and take charge of their learning. If one really thinks about it – when children (or adults) learn, they are really teaching themselves, especially with such a mind-body skill such as music. You can’t open their head and stuff knowledge in it or put their fingers on the right notes for them. The result of this view is a child who loves music and loves learning about it – because in the learning process they feel free to take their own path and express their own creativity.
Each lesson is a collaborative effort. Not only does a student hopefully learn about music in their lessons; I learn from all of my students! All of my teaching “techniques” are really solutions – born from the need to solve a particular challenge with any particular student. By viewing myself as a student of the teaching process its self, this allows me to consistently find solutions that work for each individual student and grow as an instructor.
