A Shift in Perspective

Author: admin

28 May

Sometimes it’s good to look at things from a different angle- like your students!

The week before a recital, I have my students ”practice recital” during lessons. I sit on the couch as an audience member, make noise as distractions, clap when they finish, etc. They take a bow at the end and go back to their seat (my chair set far away from the piano.)

I noticed yesterday while I was doing this that one of my students bounces when she plays! I never noticed the bouncing from my position in my chair at the right side of the piano. But sitting behind her helped me to see. It was an eye opener for me because I realized that she counts with her body while she plays. As a result, her songs always sound a bit choppy and unfinished.

Now I know how to help her create a more smooth and flowing sound- just from watching her from a different angle!

It makes me think I should get up and move around more often! What else will I discover?

Filed under: Solutions to My Problems, Trial and Error Tips

6 Responses for "A Shift in Perspective"

Cristina May 29th, 2009 at 9:59 am 1
I have a student sort-of like that too – he counts with his arms, which makes him look like he’s doing the chicken dance while playing. At first I tried to get him to stop by telling him not to count with his arms, but rather to count out loud. That didn’t work very well though. So I told him he looked like a chicken when he played (I know him really well, so I knew he wouldn’t be insulted) and he thought that was really funny. Now whenever he starts bouncing I just have to say “chicken” and he stops.
Heidi May 29th, 2009 at 1:04 pm 2
That’s really interesting! I really like your idea of practice recitals. The first recital I had my students didn’t know when to bow or anything! I think it would have helped so much if we had practiced that!
BNC Education: June Blog Carnival-Your Students | BNC Education June 1st, 2009 at 5:15 am 3
[...] A Shift in Perspective–Rebecca Brown discovered how a simple change her physical proximity to her students has a dramatic effect on how she sees those students. Her pre-concert routine is something that can be adapted for any performance ensemble. (The Piano Teacher’s Retreat) [...]
Mindy June 1st, 2009 at 9:42 pm 4
I will move sometimes as well. Also, moving helps to get your mind out of the same teaching rut and you’ll notice new things.
At every group lesson we practice our bows and clapping and I will make them do it over and over until they do it right. Then it is no big deal for the recital.
Dana June 2nd, 2009 at 4:50 pm 5
One thing that used to catch me off guard (now I look for it) is when students pedal with their heel off the ground. Very embarrassing to notice it during a recital when they’re up on stage!

Also, their posture. Now I like to take (with their permission) quick photos of “BEFORE” & “AFTER” sitting posture at the piano. A picture is worth a thousand nagging words.

Dana
Tammy June 27th, 2009 at 6:02 am 6
We start “practice recitals” 3 weeks before the recital. I start going over recital etiquette (an actual handout I give them and their parents) 4 weeks prior, so they can share the info with everyone at home – this includes everything from how to behave at a performance, what to wear, when cameras/video are OK, how the recital itself works, warm-ups, etc. The 3 weeks leading up to the recital, at the lessons themselves, I have every student practice announcing himself and his pieces, playing, I clap in between, and they take a bow at the end. There will be plenty of ‘unknown’ on recital day, so I try to eliminate as much as I can control ahead of time. All that preparation is worth it when it’s recital day.