Back to School!

There are a few different kinds of lessons I give when it’s back to school time. I have first lessons with brand-new beginners, students who took the summer off, students who are coming back after a year or two away from lessons, and lessons with the students who took lessons through the summer.

I thought it would be nice for you to see what to expect.

First Lessons with Brand-New Beginners

I had a ton of first lessons this week. We talk about proper form on the instrument, I go through my practice incentive program, the students show me how they like to goof off on the piano, I assign the first few pages of the lesson book, and we start a rote piece. It’s a lot of fun and they’re very high-energy.

One aspect that I don’t want to gloss over is that the new students show me how they like to goof off on the piano. This is actually a very important step that sounds like it’s not important at all. It helps me see what kind of music they enjoy and will be naturally good at.

1. Do they bang on it or do they lightly play?
2. Do they try to make melodies or do mostly harmonies (well, let’s admit it, it’s note clusters)?
3. Do they try to make patterns with their rhythms or their melodies?

First Lessons with Students Who Take the Summer Off

This kind of lesson isn’t as high-energy as beginner lessons, but it’s still pretty high up there. We have to catch up a little with how the summer went and the student is really excited to get back into the routine of practicing and seeing my smiling face every week.

I do have to see how much the student forgot or gained over the summer. Some continued to practice, others didn’t touch their piano. The ones who continued do practice might have worked farther ahead in their lesson books.

The students who didn’t touch their piano might have to back up a bit in their lesson books. Nevertheless, it’s important to back up for them so they become more confident in playing rather than pushing them forward too fast.

Finding the right spot takes a ton of work on both our parts.

First Lessons with Transfer Students or Those Who Took a Year or More Off

These can be a little tricky. I have to double-check their form and make sure any mistakes didn’t creep in. If the form is really off, I create a plan on how to improve it. I actually really love this part because I’m creating a plan to make their lives better.

Then I work with them to see where they are in their lesson book or their repertoire, just like the students who take the summer off.

First Lessons with Students Who Didn’t Take the Summer Off

These are the most calm lessons of back to school week. We continue to work on what we’ve been working on, in the same order – theory, scales, technical studies, etudes (lesson book), and repertoire. I may be a little higher-energy than normal because of the other lessons, but it feels like sinking into a comfortable, familiar place.

I know that within a month, all of my lessons will feel like this.