Giving lessons.

[Speedy Fingers]

Hey, I was wondering if there are any experienced teachers here that could give me a few tips on teaching private lessons on the piano. I have a friend that wants to learn and seeing as i've never taught before, I decided to make her my "guinea pig". Also, another good piece of advice would bea good rate to charge per hour (in £'s).

DANKE!

[crazyguy832]

Before I start, please note that I never have (and don't really plan on) teached piano before. I am fairly experienced in it, however.

I don't know exactly about pounds, but in CAN I think I pay around 30/hour or something...

However, the teacher's fairly experienced. I don't know about you... but probably 8-12bucks/30 minute lesson would probably be fair. Talk to some other teachers in your area, cause depending on what other ones there are will change your price, most likely.

Also, on teaching lessons itself, bear in my mind the person's age and how long he/she has been playing. If they haven't been playing along, keep it simple. Don't use technical names and phrasings (i.e. raise the 5th for a minor chord), keep it simple (i.e. move your pinky up one note to make it a minor chord). Also, keep it fun. Point out their mistakes, but do it in the middle of saying what they did right. If they messed up absolutely everything, well... find SOMETHING they did right. Even when I've utterly failed at a piece, my teacher's found something I've done right (even if I didn't know it o_O).

Be critical, but don't be mean. Those people are paying you to teach them, not bitch at them. Most of all, keep it fun! Find interesting pieces for them to play, find out what they like to do, what they like to play, and tailor your lesson slightly to each student's taste.

If you teach kid's, give em a chocolate bar or something at the end of each month if they practice at least 3-5 times/week.

;)

[Diatonic Dissonance™]

Hey, I was wondering if there are any experienced teachers here that could give me a few tips on teaching private lessons on the piano. I have a friend that wants to learn and seeing as i've never taught before, I decided to make her my "guinea pig". Also, another good piece of advice would bea good rate to charge per hour (in £'s).

DANKE!
:naughty:

But yeah, just buy those beginner piano books, and learn all the songs and take her through them all step-by-step, etc.

Of course, make sure you ask her what she wants to know.

[Hells Bells]

Before I start, please note that I never have (and don't really plan on) teached piano before. I am fairly experienced in it, however.

I don't know exactly about pounds, but in CAN I think I pay around 30/hour or something...

However, the teacher's fairly experienced. I don't know about you... but probably 8-12bucks/30 minute lesson would probably be fair. Talk to some other teachers in your area, cause depending on what other ones there are will change your price, most likely.

Also, on teaching lessons itself, bear in my mind the person's age and how long he/she has been playing. If they haven't been playing along, keep it simple. Don't use technical names and phrasings (i.e. raise the 5th for a minor chord), keep it simple (i.e. move your pinky up one note to make it a minor chord). Also, keep it fun. Point out their mistakes, but do it in the middle of saying what they did right. If they messed up absolutely everything, well... find SOMETHING they did right. Even when I've utterly failed at a piece, my teacher's found something I've done right (even if I didn't know it o_O).

Be critical, but don't be mean. Those people are paying you to teach them, not bitch at them. Most of all, keep it fun! Find interesting pieces for them to play, find out what they like to do, what they like to play, and tailor your lesson slightly to each student's taste.

If you teach kid's, give em a chocolate bar or something at the end of each month if they practice at least 3-5 times/week.

;)

Good advice ;)

The books are a great place to start, they're structured and designed to teach students certain techniques. Keep a good balance between theory and actual pieces, and get her to pick some pieces she wants to learn.
Also, my piano teacher never did this with me, but since I've been playing on my own I've found this really helps; burn a cd with the songs she's learning so she can hear how they're supposed to be played.

[crazyguy832]

If you can find them, DEFINETELY use the Bastien books for grades 1-4. Grades 5-6, at least (I think they do higher ones, as well...), the Celebration series is quite good.

EDIT: I've talked to my piano teacher a bit, and she says one of the most common problems around is that people hit the keys too softly. You should probably help new piano players to gain their confidence and play louder. Of course, with me... the problem is the other way around.

:thumb:

[Diatonic Dissonance™]

^ Haha, same here.

Whenever I'm told to play quietly, I instinctively hit the keys softly and in doing so, sometimes I don't hit hard enough to make the hammer hit the string.

[crazyguy832]

^ Haha, same here.

Whenever I'm told to play quietly, I instinctively hit the keys softly and in doing so, sometimes I don't hit hard enough to make the hammer hit the string.
O_O

I have the exact same problem... especially on the higher notes...

:smash::smash:

[Hells Bells]

hehe yeah, the higher notes are harder to hear though, and you have to hit them harder to get a good sound out of them.

I have an electric piano with a crappy touch response, and so I've gotten used to hitting the keys hard. I'll go play a friend's piano that's actually decent, and almost jump off the seat at the shock of how loud it sounds.

[Speedy Fingers]

I don't have this problem of playing too loudly/quietly. I don't think I ever did either.

The lesson went rather well. She said I taught pretty well and did a good job of explaining things as well as showing how to do them and letting her do a few of her own things. We're going to d oa few more, and then if I feel i'm ready, then i'll start giving proper lessons.

[Diatonic Dissonance™]

I don't have this problem of playing too loudly/quietly. I don't think I ever did either.

The lesson went rather well. She said I taught pretty well and did a good job of explaining things as well as showing how to do them and letting her do a few of her own things. We're going to d oa few more, and then if I feel i'm ready, then i'll start giving proper lessons.
Yeah, well... **** you! :upset:

crazyguy: :chug:

[Firecracker]

My sister taught me loads of stuff when i was younger and just starting, probably because there was a large jar of chocolates and sweets on the shelf behind the piano, and she would give me one if i behaved. It was ace. That is definately a good insentive.

[crazyguy832]

Yeah, well... **** you! :upset:

crazyguy: :chug:
haha!

:chug:

Meh, I don't really have MUCH of a problem playing softly... just a bit.


:P

<_<

>_>

*runs*

[twintwin]

make sure you teach the notes round the piano and how to read sheet music