You won’t always know what’s going on with all of your child or teen in their music. You should try! Talk to them, ask them, ask them to play for you, but don’t force it. I know for example for sure that I have a student who is one of the most amazing young piano players that I’ve ever heard, and I know for a fact she doesn’t play for her parents. The only time they hear her play is when they come to one of our events. That’s just how she is. That’s okay.

You may have a child or teen that’s more engaged, more interested, and even working harder than you or the teacher know. This young-man-in-becoming started taking piano with me in a Piano Lab (group class) several years ago, it was before COVID. He ended up moving away and continuing in private lessons virtually. He also takes guitar with Austin, our amazing virtual guitar teacher. He practices, he doesn’t listen as much as I would like, but he’s smart, he’s a good kid, he’s got a great ear, and he’s growing. Every student learns differently. This kid’s ear is so good, that if I let him, he will learn the bulk of his scales and music by ear, and not by theory, using his brain, and the page. Obviously I know this so a large part of how I teach him is keeping that in mind, slowing things down, and being very careful to make sure that he’s not simply figuring it out. You got to know your kids / your students, and their natural tendencies. I’m also always encouraging with him that a great year is an amazing thing. But we’ve got to wanted to do both, be able to read, and use our ear.

I found out yesterday that he entered some kind of local Fine Arts competition and did so well that he was selected to participate in the regional competition of the same organization! Super proud of him.

He also just finished mastering all of his 48’s! A next and really important step for him will be learning his modes of major. This will be a great opportunity for me to allow him to use his ear a little bit, coupled with his theory. As I have him play his first Dorian scale, I’ll ask him, how is this one different from D natural minor. Surely he will recognize which pitch is different, the challenge will be for him to associate a number and scale degree with that note, and to determine if it’s raised, lowered, flat, or sharp, not just “oh it’s not a black key.” Understanding how a student learns and then nuances they need for best practical understanding and application, are super important.