PROGRESS...Can It Be Seen?

What a treat it was to have our UMTA State President, Cheryl Rytting, here to present to our small local chapter!!!  All in attendance came away with a platter full of inspiration, motivation, and additional ideas to take advantage of!  Here are the highlights:

1.  Mindset:  The PERCEPTION of PROGRESS is key to the student, the parent and the teacher.  What is being perceived?  Is the student aware of the progress he has made in the past 6 months?  Is it pointed out?

2.  Communication:  Three-way between student/teacher/parent.  Using technology to our benefit can help!  Take a phone video of the student working on the scales the way you want them done...then send to the parents (if young child) and/or the student.  A quick little note saying, "Susie is doing great with her scales!  Keep it up!" or other encouraging thing is very helpful.  Email and texts are great, too.

3.  Give students some control.  "What did you work hardest on this week?"  "What would you like me to hear first?"  "What would you like help on?"  When getting ready for evaluations or upcoming recitals, picking three pieces for the student to choose from, helps them feel involved in their music.

4.  Make progress more visible.  This can be done with charts, or with verbal recognition in front of the next incoming student or parent, or highlighting "breakthroughs" like "Wow!  Those crisp staccatos are sounding exactly the way I want you to play them!"  Or something similar.  Write it in the notebook...or a text to them and parents.  Lots of avenues to use!

5.  Visualize Future Goals:  What do they want to accomplish this month?  6 months?  For the next recital?  A year from now?

6.  Recognize/honor them.   Help each student feel like they are YOUR FAVORITE STUDENT!


Rachel France mentioned using the Positive/Negative Cycle to help students/parents SEE what their choices get them:

NEGATIVE: I didn’t practice I didn’t do well at my lesson My teachers mad I didn’t do well at the recital I’m embarrassed I not good at playing the piano I don’t want to practice STUDENT QUITS PIANO

POSITIVE: I practiced I did well at my lesson My teacher is NICE! I performed well at the recital Lots of compliments I’m good at playing the piano I want to practice more! STUDENT LOVES PIANO

We've all seen this take place in our studios!!  

HOPEFULLY, we can help our students recognize their progress so they will continue developing this very important and rewarding talent!!

(See you in April for our Jazz Chapter Meeting with Larissa Cope, our UMTA President-Elect!