For those who dont have a clue who i am, I am 19 years old (twas my bday last week!) and I've been teaching for over two years. I have 5 students now, who are 6,9,9,17,17.
I've only just accumulated the 6 year old. I only taught him from last week. I posted a topic about what to do with him, because he was too young in my opinion and i was scared about what to do
So, little John (not his name but hey) comes on saturday beeming, a bit nervous but still doesn't quite know me.
Last week in brief, i started him with notes and actually looked at a piece of music (thought a bit fast for the first lesson but i thought next lesson we'll go slower with the material) I gave him three flashcards, treble clef C-D-E.
Little John comes in, tender age of six. I greet him, we sit, and I hold up the flashcards. His reply was:
"treble clef, and thats middle C" (absolutely correct)
"treble clef, and thats E" (correct)
and he also got D right.
My face lights up and i present him with 3 stars, saying "well done, you genius" to him, praising him with every word i say, I dont actually remember saying treble clef a lot last week, but it must have settled in his mind.
So, piece of music in front of him, a little tune. He points out to me "thats middle C". Another star. We sing this tune together, first humming, then put the words together. I give him a million and one stars lol.
We start on some rhythm work, he's tap tapping away getting the rhythm's right. He correctly taps the rhythm of the piece we've just sung.
Then, grand finale, using the finger numbers, he plays the piece. Admittedly not with the right rhythm, but you cant expect miracles with a 6 year old! But EVERY note was correct.
Again i stick a million and one stars on him. His face is beeming. I ask him questions about high and low, and quick and fast. He gets more stars.
Finally i give him new flash cards, before i have a chance to speak, he says "thats the bass clef". Genius, i tell him. More stars. For the second lesson he's ever had in music, pure brilliance.
I tell him to practice the piece and learn the flashcards.
The doorbell goes. Dad's at the door. Out comes little Johnny, plastered in star stickers
I tell dad, little Johnny's a genius. His face beems.
You know what, 6 year old's can be clever if you give them a chance to be. They will get it.
Sounds great! And success really breeds success at that age. He'll have gone home thinking "Hey, my teacher says I'm brilliant" and be dead keen to live up to your expectations. Well done! 