Private teaching is a job like no other. It is rich with varied experiences, and fulfilling through the personalities you meet and the talent you shape along the way.
I often reflect on the most rewarding moments in my career, an exercise which unveils my outstanding success stories.
Contrary to what you may be thinking, my biggest success does not always come from the student who wins the Rose Bowl, or the student who wins the largest prize.
While I take enormous pride in the talent and accomplishments of these top winners, success also comes in unexpected and subtle ways, through unassuming accomplishments that may not make headlines.
Here is this years' biggest success story.
Several years ago, a very young student began lessons with me. She had already taken lessons, but was a rank beginner in my eyes, as she had not yet developed any beginning piano skills such as the ability to read music. She was precocious, and was not keen to concentrate and learn. Or practice! In fact, 1/3 to 1/2 of her lesson was wasted before settling down to actually play the piano.
By the end of the first year, slight progress was evident in her ability to learn music and play the piano, but she did not fall in love with it, and her parent and she decided she quit, and try a different instrument.
As the new teaching year approached, this parent and student changed their minds', enrolled again, and gave the piano one more try.
The student studied for 2 more years, and progressed with just enough practice to get by.
Then, something happened.
Magically, this lukewarm student of minimal interest was on fire. Competition pieces were learned and memorized months before the date. She was hanging on to every word I said, and week after week impressed me with her progress.
I planted the seed, and patiently waited. It took 3 years to sprout, but, when it did, the result was an up and coming musician to watch out for.
Who do you deem to be your greatest success story?
I often reflect on the most rewarding moments in my career, an exercise which unveils my outstanding success stories.
Contrary to what you may be thinking, my biggest success does not always come from the student who wins the Rose Bowl, or the student who wins the largest prize.
While I take enormous pride in the talent and accomplishments of these top winners, success also comes in unexpected and subtle ways, through unassuming accomplishments that may not make headlines.
Here is this years' biggest success story.
Several years ago, a very young student began lessons with me. She had already taken lessons, but was a rank beginner in my eyes, as she had not yet developed any beginning piano skills such as the ability to read music. She was precocious, and was not keen to concentrate and learn. Or practice! In fact, 1/3 to 1/2 of her lesson was wasted before settling down to actually play the piano.
By the end of the first year, slight progress was evident in her ability to learn music and play the piano, but she did not fall in love with it, and her parent and she decided she quit, and try a different instrument.
As the new teaching year approached, this parent and student changed their minds', enrolled again, and gave the piano one more try.
The student studied for 2 more years, and progressed with just enough practice to get by.
Then, something happened.
Magically, this lukewarm student of minimal interest was on fire. Competition pieces were learned and memorized months before the date. She was hanging on to every word I said, and week after week impressed me with her progress.
I planted the seed, and patiently waited. It took 3 years to sprout, but, when it did, the result was an up and coming musician to watch out for.
Who do you deem to be your greatest success story?
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