Comments on: Interviews Before Taking New Students? http://www.pianoteacherblog.com/2009/02/10/interviews-before-taking-new-students/ Relax, Share, and Laugh! Sun, 11 Dec 2011 20:39:03 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Natalie Wickham http://www.pianoteacherblog.com/2009/02/10/interviews-before-taking-new-students/comment-page-1/#comment-1967 Natalie Wickham Wed, 11 Feb 2009 03:38:09 +0000 http://www.pianoteacherblog.com/?p=391#comment-1967 Rebecca~ I always do interviews with new students, even if it is a sibling of a current student. Here's a link to the forms I use: http://musicmattersblog.com/2006/07/10/student-interviews/. This is such a helpful way to get to know the student and plan an appropriate course of instruction for him/her! Rebecca~

I always do interviews with new students, even if it is a sibling of a current student. Here’s a link to the forms I use: http://musicmattersblog.com/2006/07/10/student-interviews/. This is such a helpful way to get to know the student and plan an appropriate course of instruction for him/her!

]]> By: Julie http://www.pianoteacherblog.com/2009/02/10/interviews-before-taking-new-students/comment-page-1/#comment-1966 Julie Wed, 11 Feb 2009 03:13:02 +0000 http://www.pianoteacherblog.com/?p=391#comment-1966 While I haven't held any true interviews with prospective students, I do email or discuss on the phone before registering the student what the child knows so I get an idea of what I'd be dealing with. If quite young (5-6) I ask if the child knows his/her alphabet, can count to ten, write their letters and numbers, and can focus for 5-10 minutes at a time. I've also started to ask if there's anything I should especially know about their child's learning styles so that I might tailor the materials to the student or can teach most effectively for the student's success. In the last year, I've acquired a handful of students with learning disabilities/struggles, and a couple of students with Asperger's. It helps me to know if the child has any special learning needs so that I can maybe help the student's music experience be a positive one, instead of me thinking "this kid will never get it!!" Once I found out one of my long-time students had Asperger's, I researched it and am beginning to find ways to effectively teach him in a way he's able to handle. We're much happier. :) Before long, I believe I will hold interviews with prospective students so that I am able to get insight (for young ones) how well they are able to focus for 5-10 minutes at a time, how well they are able to write (displays their fine motor skills), and whether they can imitate rhythm patterns, etc. For transfer students, I would hear a piece they know to determine their playing skills, see how well they can sight-read, ask about a few musical terms...things I already do, but once I've already registered them. What is your own criteria in mind for your interviews? While I haven’t held any true interviews with prospective students, I do email or discuss on the phone before registering the student what the child knows so I get an idea of what I’d be dealing with. If quite young (5-6) I ask if the child knows his/her alphabet, can count to ten, write their letters and numbers, and can focus for 5-10 minutes at a time. I’ve also started to ask if there’s anything I should especially know about their child’s learning styles so that I might tailor the materials to the student or can teach most effectively for the student’s success. In the last year, I’ve acquired a handful of students with learning disabilities/struggles, and a couple of students with Asperger’s. It helps me to know if the child has any special learning needs so that I can maybe help the student’s music experience be a positive one, instead of me thinking “this kid will never get it!!” Once I found out one of my long-time students had Asperger’s, I researched it and am beginning to find ways to effectively teach him in a way he’s able to handle. We’re much happier. :)

Before long, I believe I will hold interviews with prospective students so that I am able to get insight (for young ones) how well they are able to focus for 5-10 minutes at a time, how well they are able to write (displays their fine motor skills), and whether they can imitate rhythm patterns, etc. For transfer students, I would hear a piece they know to determine their playing skills, see how well they can sight-read, ask about a few musical terms…things I already do, but once I’ve already registered them.

What is your own criteria in mind for your interviews?

]]>