A note to those who are taking lessons with me
Music is such an enriching additive to our lives and even more so when we learn to create it. It is probably one of the most impactful things we can do as people. I wanted to just touch base on the name of my blog and why I am using this as a part of my lessons.
I created this blog because I know it can help someone out there who is pursuing music professionally. It is a different world when it comes to pursuing music as a career because it is an extremely competitive field and there are a set of norms. To keep it as short as possible for this note, it is a whole different world than just taking lessons for fun or personal development.
My goal and purpose in life is to reimagine the music world as something that everyone can enjoy and benefit from, regardless of what that means to the individual. A quick example is how we consume orchestral music. Is it meant to only be held in a symphony hall with complete silence from the audience? Or is the only way to learn music in the context of private lessons?
Because of how regimented the music world can be, it can be anxiety-inducing. Especially to those going in blindly as I did many years ago. I decided to go with the title “The Anxious Musician”. Majority of my content is geared towards the musician stepping into this world, artists wanting to manage their anxiety in performance-based settings and artists who are recovering from music school burnout. I have dedicated this section solely to my younger students. A part of preventing an anxious musician or at the very least coping with anxiety, is the need for a calm and positive environment. I pride myself on being a trauma-informed teacher and creating spaces that are safe and comfortable.
You are more than welcome to read anything else on my blog or lesson plans because it is a free resource, however, my suggestion is to stick to the lesson plan I give to you and the student during lessons/via email. I choose certain lessons and activities because I am tailoring the lesson uniquely to your kid(s) and adjusting my language so your student understands advanced concepts. I often work outside of lessons to find things for my students and converse with my colleagues on different methods of teaching. Needless to say, I am fully aware that a 5-year-old is not going to focus for 30 minutes straight every single lesson and I need to constantly learn new ways to redirect their attention back to music. The brain has several different developmental stages and there are some things I just expect to happen in lessons. The way I would teach a 16-year-old is not the same way I would teach a 4-year-old or even a 4-year-old versus a 6-year-old! All of this is to say that I will take charge of the lessons, you are more than welcome to ask for more resources but I have always found that less is more at the beginning stages of music.
I want you to know that I am well versed in teaching students of all ages. My purpose as a teacher is to help your student achieve their personal success. While I do believe that technology is a really helpful tool in education, I also acknowledge it as such— it is just a tool. Nothing can replace in-person instruction. There are several benefits to learning from a teacher such as:
Avoiding bad habits: Bad habits can lead to physical ailments such as poor posture, carpal tunnel, and just poor technique.
Tailored lesson plans and structure:The internet is not going to know how to troubleshoot your student’s particular issues. My goal is for your student to advance in a comfortable and effective pace.
Accountability: I make sure students work on everything, even the things they don’t like. Of course, I will try to make it as palatable as possible but sometimes we have to get through the tough (and boring stuff)
Motivation: Even the best of us lose motivation and we need that pick me up from someone. That’s were I come in!
Soft skills Development: I think this is often overlooked but I think it’s one of the most important reasons to work with a teacher. Some things your students will be developing are patience, perseverance, creativity, communication, discipline, problem-solving, time management, attention to detail, team collaboration, openness to feedback, stress management, and confidence; to name a few.
Connections: Your kids have a chance to interact with other students and other teachers on a personal and professional level. While it may seem this can happen anywhere, there is a unique experience to music lessons and classes. In most cases, the student meets up with the teacher, at least for several years— that holds a ton of weight for something as simple as a strong recommendation letter for scholarships and colleges or even a referral for a job. Whatever it may be, these connections are crucial.
