Make the Content Count

A fellow piano teacher called the other day with several pedagogical questions. This phone call was one of several conversations that the two of us have had regarding our piano students. I certainly don’t have all the answers. But no matter what the question– coming from a friend, or even from myself– I draw from my pedagogical training and make use of that knowledge in the most practical way. This transfer of information can be credited to one thing: CONTENT. We all have content to draw from. Whether it be the content we received in our own childhood lessons, content gathered from a specialized degree program, or content that we build up through personal experience.

As my friend and I discussed ideas and solutions, I was surprised at the amount of content I had to draw from. If that’s our primary source of information, then as teachers we should be loading our students up with all kinds of content. This will set the student up for success now, and in future musical endeavors.

My challenge for the teacher is to branch out from the method book. Vary your lesson. Add plenty of supplemental music. Incorporate scales, theory, and technical exercises. And finally, approach the lesson as another practice session for your student. What you do with your student in the lesson, will inevitably filter their own practice at home. Are you supplying your students with enough content to succeed past private lessons?

Share some of the things that you’ve learned through schooling, or private lessons. What experiential content do you have readily available for your student’s success?

• How do you practice and learn?  Often we forget that some of our most valuable tricks in the practice room can also help our students.  Use your knowledge

• All piano teachers have been trained to some extent. Always consider the lessons you learned in school, or from a musical mentor. If you don’t know, then get to knowing!

• Its never too late to learn! Buff up on your pedagogical knowledge through conferences, classes, books and other resources. For starters, I recommend reading The Well-Tempered Keyboard Teacher.