Now that the end of the school year is FINALLY over, I hope to get into a more regular writing schedule. This post is a continuation on a series about what I am a member of the PMTA and why I think you should join a similar association in you area. If you missed the first post in this series you can find it here.
The Pensacola Music Teachers Association offers many different student events throughout the year to its membership. For many, including myself, these events are what initially interests prospective members. I knew that these events would be good for my students, but I had no idea how good. There are several reasons why these events have become essential elements of my studio.
1. I like to keep my students busy! I am looking to creating long term music students, and the best way to do that is to make music a part of their identity. I want music to be a normal part of life for them. The more they perform and compete, the more I hope it becomes a part of who they are. It is this personal connection to music that is necessary for a student to go from "made to" to "love to."
2. It has helped me develop a more well-rounded teaching repertoire. I know this is blasphemous, but I am not a huge fan of baroque music (duck and hide!)! All teachers have the temptation to teach according to their personal preferences, but fortunately for me, we have a great event to help me move beyond my prejudice :). Our Baroque Festival is a great event that promotes the teaching of Barque music and reminds teachers like me of the importance of this literature. The Concerto Contest is also an important one for me. I was never taught concertos as a young player. The contest has opened a whole new world of repertoire to me, and a whole new playing experience for my students.
3. It helps me evaluate how I'm doing as a teacher. I get to hear the students of other teachers and see how my students compare for their age, level, etc. When I notice great consistency from a teacher's studio, I often ask permission to observe a lesson or two to learn from them. Some events have written evaluations from judges that help me see how other teachers see my students' playing. I also get to see if I am thoroughly preparing them for performance anxiety, performance etiquette, etc.
4. Parents love it!!! Parents love seeing their children's names on certificates and watching them get medals, ribbons, and trophies. Students get a chance to have their talent appreciated by their parents, and the parents feel like they're getting some return on their investment.
5. It builds confidence in the students. Learning to face your fears is one of the great life lessons that music lessons can teach a child. Each successful performance shows the students that they can accomplish anything they want to if they work hard.
I'm sure there are more benefits to these events, but these are the ones that stick out to me. What are some of your favorites events for your student to participate in?
The Pensacola Music Teachers Association offers many different student events throughout the year to its membership. For many, including myself, these events are what initially interests prospective members. I knew that these events would be good for my students, but I had no idea how good. There are several reasons why these events have become essential elements of my studio.
1. I like to keep my students busy! I am looking to creating long term music students, and the best way to do that is to make music a part of their identity. I want music to be a normal part of life for them. The more they perform and compete, the more I hope it becomes a part of who they are. It is this personal connection to music that is necessary for a student to go from "made to" to "love to."
2. It has helped me develop a more well-rounded teaching repertoire. I know this is blasphemous, but I am not a huge fan of baroque music (duck and hide!)! All teachers have the temptation to teach according to their personal preferences, but fortunately for me, we have a great event to help me move beyond my prejudice :). Our Baroque Festival is a great event that promotes the teaching of Barque music and reminds teachers like me of the importance of this literature. The Concerto Contest is also an important one for me. I was never taught concertos as a young player. The contest has opened a whole new world of repertoire to me, and a whole new playing experience for my students.
3. It helps me evaluate how I'm doing as a teacher. I get to hear the students of other teachers and see how my students compare for their age, level, etc. When I notice great consistency from a teacher's studio, I often ask permission to observe a lesson or two to learn from them. Some events have written evaluations from judges that help me see how other teachers see my students' playing. I also get to see if I am thoroughly preparing them for performance anxiety, performance etiquette, etc.
4. Parents love it!!! Parents love seeing their children's names on certificates and watching them get medals, ribbons, and trophies. Students get a chance to have their talent appreciated by their parents, and the parents feel like they're getting some return on their investment.
5. It builds confidence in the students. Learning to face your fears is one of the great life lessons that music lessons can teach a child. Each successful performance shows the students that they can accomplish anything they want to if they work hard.
I'm sure there are more benefits to these events, but these are the ones that stick out to me. What are some of your favorites events for your student to participate in?