Category Archives: Teaching

Teaching

Cardinals Game

I forgot I wanted to post a couple pictures of the Cardinals Game last Monday.  Chris and I went to see them play the Phillies.  It was a high scoring game–the Phillies got ahead at first, but the Cards came back, and came back with a vengeance. I think the stadium is really a nice looking stadium (then again, I suppose most are!)

It started out very hot and humid that day, but the weather turned out to be really quite nice.

A few weeks ago, when I returned from Suzuki Institute, I ordered a “grab bag” of various dice (all different colors and sizes) online.  FINALLY today I got them!  I have regular dice in a variety of colors, dice with many different sizes (12, 20, etc), dice that counts in 10’s, purple dice, multi-colored dice, and probably more–seriously I got about 50 dice.  Why, you ask?  Well, for teaching, of course.  I am told that kids LOVE rolling dice to see, for instance, how many times they need to repeat something, either in the lesson or at home.  I’ll start incorporating this tomorrow.  I’m sure I will come up with many more uses for the dice as well.

Books, Food, Teaching

Japanese Lessons

I finished the book “Japanese Lessons” by Gail Benjamin yesterday.  It was recommended to me by a colleague (from Suzuki Institute).  The author spent a year in Japan with her family, and describes how the Japanese schools are run (and the differences between the US and Japan).  I found the book to be pretty interesting.  I just spent ten minutes trying to write a summary of my thoughts on the book here, but decided to just delete the whole thing, because I can’t write a summary.  Quick summary:  schools in Japan are very different than schools here, but the answer isn’t in more Math and English classes but in more free time, recess, arts, and leaving the students alone to do their own thing.  Which jives with everything we learn about how children learn–it is NOT in 1 1/2 hour periods studying one thing, sitting still at a desk, and trying to be quiet for hours upon hours.

I played a wedding at the Hyatt Regency Downtown yesterday.  Here is the view from a window (this is the famous St. Louis Arch!)

What a beautiful day it was!  It was not as humid as it had been the past few days, so Chris and I sat outside at a sushi restaurant afterwards…delicious sushi!  (fits in with my Japanese theme, right?)

Teaching

Target’s Onespot

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I made the error of going to Target today when I didn’t really need anything.  I did need to make a quick return and pick up shampoo, so naturally I spent quite awhile at the onespot (where everything is $1).  Even though I am in the process of reading a book about how giving rewards to children doesn’t work…I purchased quite a few stickers and pencils.  There were BATMAN stickers!  And pencils!

I had a student today who came in with his mom and both were upset as they had been having a lot of trouble practicing.  Practicing is always the challenge–playing the violin is great and fun.  Practicing the violin can be super dull, like pulling teeth.  I didn’t have as much advice as I wished I did.  (This is a fairly new student for me, had three or four lessons).  I gave him one of my practice charts where you do the list, check it off, and then (though you can practice more) technically you are done.  I tried to be very specific with what he should do, in the hopes that, even if he didn’t enjoy the practice, the finality of the short list would make the practice session go by easier.  It seems that this student has never been “into” practicing, so this will be an ongoing project.  The student is (I hesitate to say it, but) very talented, and a quick learner. The problem is (naturally) he gets bored quickly, learns easily, and doesn’t want to spend extra time perfecting things.  I can see my challenge will be to keep him feeling like he is doing new things while continuing to work on old things.  My other challenge is to keep the family happy enough that they stay with me, as I am really enjoying this student.  (Of course I like all my students, but it’s nice to have a child who is not one of my beginners!)

The one thing I didn’t suggest was any form of bribery/rewards.

Any practice suggestions from my readers?

Books, Teaching

Did you say something, Susan?

I’m currently reading a book by that title. The author is Paulette Dale. I’m not generally one for “self-help” books, but this book is written to help women gain confidence with assertive communication. I am fairly assertive, but sometimes I find myself agreeing to things or letting people get away with rude behavior and then later kicking myself. The author gives advice on how to deal with various situations and people, and how to assert yourself without being rude or pushy. I like to be agreeable and generally consider myself to be a nice person, but of course that leaves me open to getting walked on. I also sometimes have trouble asking for what I want or need, or at least without using a lot of unnecessary apologies. I find in my life that men generally just ask for what they want and get it, and women beat around the bush, hemming and hawing, and then complain when we don’t get what we want.

I’ve gotten better at asking for money and telling people what I charge for things (lessons, weddings, etc), though I still feel apologetic about it. I shouldn’t, I know, and I also know that my rates are really too low for what my expertise is, but I am working on stating the rate without using a question or being apologetic.

Unrelated:
I love coming back from Suzuki camp and then teaching…it’s so inspiring! I have been having the BEST time with my students as of late and really trying to incorporate some new ideas into the lessons. The time really flies by–*starts saving to go again next year*

Food, Teaching

Guy and Mae’s Tavern

Tonight we went out for dinner with the whole Book Four class.  We decided to go to a nearby “town” for barbecue ribs, to Guy and Mae’s Tavern.  We split some ribs, and had potato salad, baked beans, and spicy pickles.  It was all very delicious!  The restaurant is in a tiny town called Williamsburg.  I am continually (I don’t know why, but I am) surprised by how far apart towns in the western half of the US are, and how those towns might not contain much.  But that was some excellent “barbecue.”  Of course, it’s not barbecue as I know it from South Carolina, but that is another story entirely.

Lesson from dinner:  students should chew gum during lessons to keep their jaws relaxed.

Main lesson of the day:  Lighten left hand fingers.  You don’t want to press down too hard.  Try to slide a business card between the fingers and the fingerboard.  You should be able to touch the fingernail and feel it vibrating.

Performing, Teaching

Technique first

It’s been a long two and half days so far here in Ottawa.  Here’s the main thing I have learned with Susan Kempter (who is just WONDERFUL and brilliant!).  Teach technique first–the songs are merely a means to an end.  We want to be able to teach the music, but without what she refers to as the “basic six,” the child is not going to be able to progress properly.

Basic six:

1. Feet

2. Trunk

3. Neck

4. Right Hand

5. Left Hand

6. Eyes

I would expand upon those more, but I’m exhausted after a 14 hour day!  I will try to do so later, but mainly that those aspects of the body must be in alignment and free of tension.

14 hour day you say?  Well, breakfast, 2 1/2 hours of teacher trainer class, followed by 1 hour observation, 1 hour lecture, lunch, 1 hour recital, 2 hours observation, 1 hour of an enrichment class about how to motivate various personality types (by Ruth Meints of Omaha, NE), dinner, evening concert…wow!  I also tried to get in a bit of a walk so the day wasn’t totally sedentary, though today I only managed 30 minutes.  I’ve got my alarm set for up so I can get that out of the way first tomorrow.

Three more long days to go.  Much more scribbling on note paper ahead of me.  Must sleep.