Showing posts with label community. Show all posts
Showing posts with label community. Show all posts

Monday, 30 April 2018

Communicating With Parents





How many times have you tried to explain yourself online only to dig yourself deeper and deeper into a mess and end up having to resort to emoticons?  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯      

Generally, we don’t have as much face to face communication with people, even our friends, as much as we used you.  Depending on your age, most communication you have with others is done via text; on your phone or computer.  Because of this, you’ll know that things can be easily misconstrued.  It’s really easy to misunderstand someone because of a missed comma, a misdirected attempt at sarcasm or people who continue to use caps lock.  ALL OF THE TIME!

What does this mean for your music teaching?  I’m assuming you teach children.  Children who need rides to lessons, workshops, competitions.  Children who can’t pay your fees. Children who forget to tell the adults in their lives about the lessons, workshops, competitions, fees. 

You need some form of communication with their parents/caregivers.  If you keep parents onside, they will be more likely to support their children, are happier to be flexible when you need it, and are more likely to recommend you to others as the music teacher of choice.  And one of the best ways to keep them onside is through effective communication.

This post gives you 7 tips for better communication with the parents of your students.


Monday, 23 May 2016

Group Lessons - Creating a Community


Learning music in a group is such a fantastic way of becoming part of a community.  For me, this is what music is about.

Wednesday, 13 April 2016

Learn Their Names!



It’s not rocket science – learn the names of your students! (And make sure they know yours!)

Why is this important?  Mostly because it’s basic manners, isn’t it?

Your name is part of your identity.  It aligns you with your family and culture, and at the same time it distinguishes you as an individual.

When we hear someone saying our name (correctly – has anyone ever met Justin Pierce/Perry/Piree…?? I certainly haven't despite many people asking me...) it is meaningful to us.  It means someone has taken the time to get to know us, even if it’s just a little bit.  Saying someone’s name acknowledges their humanity.


So, even if you are just filling in for the regular teacher, make it a point to learn your students’ names.