Lessons With Jeff

So I realize that it has been a while since I've posted anything because I am not in Piano Ped anymore but that doesn't mean that I've stopped giving lessons.

A friend of mine asked if I wanted to give her friend Jeff lessons and that he is a sophomore here at Wayne State. I jumped at the chance to get into a real lesson setting where I'm not being graded but I'm doing it for me!

My first lesson with Jeff went fantastic! He is an awesome student and is more than willing to practice and learn. I did go to Dr. C and ask her where I should start becauase even though I like to think I know what's going on...I really don't always :) She gave me some great ideas and starting points! Thanks Dr. C!!!

BACKGROUND INFO:
Jeff took piano lessons for three years and then quit, that was back in Jr. High. He told me that he really wants to learn and get back into lessons because piano is something that he can take with him wherever he goes and it's something he can do for the rest of his life. That made me one happy piano teacher.

We started the lesson sight reading some elementary level stuff and he did a great job. He can look at the notes on the keyboard and name them all day long but when he sees the notes on the page he has to think for a minute and sometimes count the lines. I had him take a piece that he is not playing and write in all of the notes so that he has a little more practice in naming them. I think I'm going to continue doing this until he is able to look at the note on the page and name it right away.

I have him started on Hannon exercises as well to help build his technique and we'll eventually get into scales. He's already picking it back up very very well and we've only had one lesson. I think this experience will be great for both of us.

The only thing I am worried about is that it is already pushing March and we're out of school in May so I hope that he'll want to continue when we get back in August. We'll see how it goes. I am very excited about this and I can not wait to watch him progress and myself progress as a teacher.

So in conclusion....I think I am going to keep up on my blog so that I know what is going on and I can look back and see what steps I took with a student that already kind of knows what is going on.