Teaching a class

[Sussex Pipes]

Up to now, I have only taught individual students in one-on-one lessons. As the 5 current learners are now more or less at the same point on the learning curve, I'm thinking of taking them all together in a class, and while they may lose some of the specialised attention, I expect that peer pressure might act as a spur. Any thoughts from others who've tried this?

Peter.

[EquusRacer]

In practice, it's generally OK in getting them started. But then the cream rises and you end up with different potentials and levels.

In such a case, keeping them together very often leads to "lowest common demoninator" teaching, which cheats the ones of higher potential from progressing further and/or more quickly.

Conversely, paying attention to the quicker ones cheats those with perhaps equal potential, but need more nurturing.

[Scott.Williams]

I too prefer to have my students come for individual lessons, especially in the early stages where I often have to use a hands-on approach - for example, actually placing fingers over holes, and repositioning them as they slip this way or that way!

When I do group students, I try not to have more than 2 or 3 in a group, and I try to keep my grouping flexible, occasionally moving students around to try to be sure that each one is getting the best instruction I can provide in a group situation.

I find the slower learners will plod on at their own pace. If the better students get bored as you spend time with the slower learners, they are the ones that are most apt to quit. Be sure to move them to a faster group if that is possible, or encourage them to come for individual lessons.

[Richard Mao]

What do your students think?

Peer pressure as a SPUR???? If I knew this is what the instructor thought of me.... that that's what I "needed" ..... and I feel I've been playing my guts out? up to now?

I'd be VERY discouraged...

what better encouragement to progress than the support of my instructor in a one-on-one environment setting personalized goals from week to week?

"...more or less on the same point on the learning curve...."???? you will run the constant risk of discouraging the behindest student to the point of dropout.... and boring the most advanced student.....to the point of...

Peter.... if you need more instructing slots... five separate sessions are a strain on your schedule.... and combining into an hour and half session (the typical schools of piping of which I'm aware.... allocate class time at about 15 minutes per student in the class plus 15 minutes for group instructions with a max of five students per session)..

explain it to your students....then go for it...

Hopefully you've sat in group piping classes and have observed stuff you didn't like (and you'll avoid those)... and observed stuff that worked... and will embrace those....

observed how instructors dealt with laggards.... without demeaning them.... shaming them to tears/embarrassment in front of their peers...

The teaching skills and tools are definitely a different skill set than one-on-one.... don't hope to learn group teaching skills on the fly and make this puir group yer first guinea pigs...

Cheers

I used to have a number of theories on playing bagpipes... Now I have a number of bagpipes.... and no theories.

Richard Mao, The Peking Piper ( PekingPiper@mao.org )

[Roger Huth]

Who doesn't occasionally sit round a table with other pipers on the practice chanter is missing out on one of piping's high points I feel.

I find the odd group lesson is good socially as well as lifting those who might otherwise lag behind.

And everything everyone else has written above :thumb:

[Brian Erbe]

My adult students all started out in a group and it has really built a good comraderie between them. They are now taking individual lessons once after they started diverging in ability and one started on pipes. Now that two are on pipes and have a couple of tunes down I am starting to bring them back into the group, but this time with our Grade V class.

While it may have slowed them down a bit compared to individual lessons from the start, the comraderie they built has been great, not just for them but for the band as a whole. They were able to build and keep eachother's enthusiasm up, which being witnessed by the rest of the band has been somewhat contagious.

And best of all, when the lesson group broke up into individual lessons they got together and had a small party in thanks for me and got me an engraved flask.

It may have slowed them down a bit, but I think I was worth it, especially in seeing the overall enjoyment they are getting.

[Gary Guth]

Sussex,

I would take your five people and work on building a small ensemble. Have a list of tunes that you want them all to play together. Play down the tune list when you meet.

There's only 1 law that you need to educate them on: No faking allowed!

If they don't know the tune they can't play it with the ensemble. Their goal is to be able to play that tune at your next meeting with the group. You can excuse them to another area to practice on their own. Each persons goal is to be able to play the next tune on the list with the group. By doing this, you build the group from the top down. Your new people will always play up to the groups level and not visa versa.

Cheers,

Gary

[Richard Mao]

Originally posted by Gary Guth:
Sussex,

I would take your five people and work on building a small ensemble. ......

Cheers,

Gary While this might be a worthwhile activity...

realize you are changing the premise of your role with this collection of students.... away from teaching ... to creating a band...

again.... my advice is to get feedback from your students...

I used to have a number of theories on playing bagpipes... Now I have a number of bagpipes.... and no theories.

Richard Mao, The Peking Piper ( PekingPiper@mao.org )

[Gary Guth]

Part of teaching is planting a seed (dream) of what could be. Ensemble playing is part of the educational process whether a band is formed or not. Most people don't know what they like until they have a taste. From that it could go two ways.
1)They like playing in a group and a band is formed someday.
or 2) They decide from the experience that they will only be solo players.

Could be a good experiment and a learning experience for Sussex.

Gary

[EquusRacer]

"Ensemble playing is part of the educational process whether a band is formed or not." That may or may not be. I agree with Richard; and to that end, we need to agree what what we're discussing.

In our area, we created a very successful junior band about 13 years ago. We did not create it, however, by assembling and teaching pipes and drums in ensemble. We took area students and brought them together in the interests of teaching "band dynamics".

And while their ability to play ensemble--in all of its aspects--has been critical and a focus, they each learned individually and it's been a requirement for each and every member of the band to continue with both their individual instruction and solo competition.