I would really appreciate any ideas for activities to use in the first piano lesson with a 13-year old boy next week.

I've never taught a teenage beginner before and the activities I would normally use in a first lesson with a beginner are not really appropriate for someone of his age. I want to make sure he feels comfortable in the lesson, but also challenged and enthusiastic right from the start.

I don't like to use tutor books and notation to begin with, rather to be more creative with improvising, composing and other such practical activities.

Any practical suggestions?

I would suggest showing him a few little tunes to lern first which he would recognise. For example:

Yankee Doodle
Blue Danube
Lullaby

Oher than that, I think he would enjoy listening to you play too! Show off to him a little bit and make him very impressed with what you can do first. He would like that, and think that your a cool teacher!

Good Luck is all I can say.

Why not discuss with him what kind of music he would like to learn - and then play him some in different styles. No good trying to impress him with Beethoven if what he's after is Pam Wedgwood! (or vice versa )

I would talk to him first & get an idea of what he'd like to aim for. It's great to do improvising & composing, but sometimes this age group can surprise you with what they want.

I started a boy of 14 recently at a music centre. His application form said he had no musical experience beyond elementary recorder some years ago & he didn't yet have an instrument (his dad immediately went out & bought him one). I must admit I did rather expect him to want to do something jazzy or popular, but he turned out to be a very serious, studious type of boy & when I asked him about music he said he preferred classical. He had just started a GCSE music course, despite not playing an instrument & was extremely keen to get on & catch up with his fellow students. He was adamant he wanted to get straight on with a tutor book & learn to read. I showed him several & he chose Carol Barratt's Classic Piano Course.

He's only had 5 lessons so far, but he's worked hard & made good progress. It'll be interesting to see how far he's got in the Easter holidays. He's a lovely boy - very able, but inclined to constantly say "sorry" for every little mistake (I'm trying to train him out of it!)

I have two or three who do this and no matter how many times I tell them they don't need to apologise they keep saying sorry. They're all 'inherited' pupils - I wonder if their previous teachers made them feel guilty for every little mistake?!?

It's much more likely to be their home environment. If a parent is constantly apologising, or expecting them to apologise, or criticising them negatively, they'll carry on with this behaviour in other environments.

I usually say something along the lines of 'This is a flute lesson. You are allowed to make mistakes. If you did everything perfectly first time I'd wonder what your parents are paying me for'. That lightens the atmosphere a bit, but it doesn't necessarily get rid of the 'sorry's.

I think it's just the child. When my elder daughter is practising she always apologises for mistakes despite me saying that if she didn't make any mistakes there would be no point in her practising (since there would be nothing to improve) and I know her teacher says to her that if she never made any mistakes then there would be no point in her coming to lessons as there would be nothing to teach her.

When my current teacher took me on in year 10, she had to train me out of doing this. I still do this though

I have a student who apologises a fair bit, also stops and talks to himself in the middle of a piece if he misses a rit. or a dynamic marking etc. It's funny but annoying!

I have one of those - she gives me a running commentary as she plays! She often isn't even aware that she is doing it (piano obviously - it would be difficult to give a running commentary whilst playing a woodwind instrument! )