It’s time for another Teaching Tactic!
Teaching Tactic #2 – Have the student point at the notes as you demonstrate the piece
Many teachers like to play the piece for the student as an introduction to the piece. This can be a great approach to help the student get the correct sound in their head for the piece before they begin to dive into teaching the piece. It can also help the student become excited about learning the piece! I like to give my students something to do while I demonstrate so that they stay focused during piano lessons. Something what works really well for my young students is to have them pretend to “be the teacher” and point at the notes as I play (as I often do for them while they play). This can be really eye-opening for me, if they don’t stop and wait on whole notes, forget a repeat, or get lost. And it also helps keep the student engaged while you demonstrate.
We hope this Teaching Tactic is useful in your studio this week!
Author: Spring
Spring Seals, NCTM, teaches 60 piano students ranging from age 3 to 70 in Fort Worth, Texas. She also serves as the Director of Certification for TMTA. She is passionate about helping teachers become more effective in their studios through professional development, new resources, and fresh ideas.