inspiring our students through joy

March 5, 2010 Jennifer Boster

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I know I already posted about joy in teaching, but I just had to add this. 🙂

When I think of the word “joy” in the context of teaching, I think of my dear piano teacher, Bonnie Winterton. She is definitely one person who has truly inspired me in my life. She always exemplified joy and love in her teaching, and through her positive example inspired me (and I’m sure countless others) to become a teacher. When I went to her as an awkward, somewhat unsure of myself thirteen-year-old to audition for her studio, she said to me, “I teach teachers.” And the way she said the word “teachers” made it sound like the noblest, most important career you could ever have. I think that really made an impression on me.

Her joy and love for teaching has everything to do with her love for her students, and I believe that this is something that truly instilled us with confidence. Whenever I performed at a much-prepared-for recital or concert or audition, no matter how I played she would always come up to me afterwards, look me in the eye with a big smile and say, “Be happy!”

To me, this is the kind of teaching I want to strive for; teaching that is full of joy and positivity, that instills in my students not only a love and appreciation for the music (and for teaching, if they choose to teach one day), but a confidence that will change their lives for the better.

Bonnie & I during my senior year of high school

why I love teaching piano

February 26, 2010 Jennifer Boster

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I just love teaching piano. It can be so rewarding and fun and energizing. Especially when my students love and enjoy it, too. In my mind, joy is a great indicator of how the lessons are going (obviously there are other factors – but really, if both you and the student are dreading lessons, I think it’s safe to say they’re not going so well…). If, overall, both you as a teacher and your students find joy in piano lessons, then I think you have success.

Think about it. What about teaching is a joy to you? Here is my little list I have compiled from my experience:

receiving cute thank-you cards from my students (aren’t those the best??)
having a parent tell me their child has progressed so much with me
working on a challenging piece with an advanced or adult student, and helping them to really make music
when my students come to lessons with their practice card all filled up – they practiced every day – seriously, who can’t love that?
when you realize your students look up to you, or they laugh at your jokes and think you’re funny
when a student reaches a level where they can play really fun pieces
seeing that boost of confidence in a student when they have learned a piece well or achieved a goal
helping my students to LOVE music & the piano
feeling so energized and excited after teaching a great lesson

These are the things we should strive for! Let’s be honest though, this is the ideal, and lessons don’t always go this way. On the flip side we’ve got times like these, where teaching is not so much a joy:

when that one teenage boy is ten minutes late AGAIN and didn’t practice yet AGAIN (even though you know he really has talent!)
when, despite your many efforts, a teenage student arrives to lesson with attitude AGAIN, and acts like she hates you (and I thought I was likeable…)
when the student doesn’t even want to be there
when an overbearing parent tries to veto your assignments you’ve given the student (for no good reason) (yes this has happened)
when you send an oversensitive little student home in tears (after the nicest possible critique)
not being paid by the parents, and needing to physically go knock on their door for the money (that is a whole post in and of itself!)
waiting for no-shows (which I am doing at this very moment…)

For me, teaching should be a joy or there is no point. When teaching is not a joy, it becomes a chore and it is hard, let’s be honest! However, I think that when we work harder to become better teachers, to be more organized, professional, prepared and positive, then the chances of it being a joy go way up. And that is what we should be continually striving for, right?

That is our hope with this blog – that by sharing insights, experiences and ideas, we will all be able to become better teachers for our students, that we will be able to bring the JOY back into teaching piano.

What makes teaching a joy for you? Any great stories to add to the lists above (I’d seriously love to hear them)? What do you think we can do to achieve more joy in our teaching? I’d love to hear from you!