Buckle up because I’ve got a story for you that’s part comedic, part cautionary, and entirely true.
It’s about one of my students (or tow, or three of my students) who, unbeknownst to me, was leading a double life in the world of music education. Yes, you read that right – one student, two teachers!
Long time ago, I would have felt like dealing with a cheating husband. I am fortunately not married to these types of students.
It happened again long time ago, and my younger me let that student go instead of doubling the student’s lessons (and the payments.) I am wiser now. I learned to be diplomatically unaffected and to educate rather than to judge behaviors coming from cultural differences in education.
Musical Espionage: My Student’s Secret Lessons
Picture this: a dedicated music student diligently slowly learning under my wing, everything progressing smoothly, but very slowly. Then, one day, I discover a startling secret. A little tiny assignment book misplaced in her bag. “Oh, yes… these are the homework of my other teacher!”
This student was also taking lessons from another teacher, juggling two different teaching styles, two different techniques, two different types of instruction. No wonder she kept playing with flat fingers…
It was like a scene from a spy movie, only with piano scores instead of secret codes!
This revelation got me thinking about a crucial question in music education: is it better to stick with one primary mentor or to experience a variety of teaching styles?
In my view, having one main music mentor is like having a personal culinary chef who knows exactly how to cater to your taste buds. They know your strengths, your weaknesses, and yes, even those little quirks (like your inexplicable love for the C-sharp minor scale).
Don’t get me wrong, a dash of educational variety can add some jazz to the learning process. Occasional masterclasses, workshops, and guest lectures can provide exciting new perspectives. However, without the consistent guidance of an excellent primary mentor, a student’s musical journey can become a bit like a jazz improvisation gone wild – thrilling, but perhaps a bit too chaotic.
Back to my student’s secret musical escapades. It was like watching a game where the rules kept changing. One moment, they’re immersed in my teaching style, and the next, they’re adapting to another’s. It was like trying to blend Mozart with Metallica – individually fantastic, but quite the mix when put together! How is she supposed to practice, if I try to teach her to learn in a certain way, and the other teacher is forcing her to do quite the opposite?
This experience taught me that the essence of teaching music isn’t about imposing a strict regimen. It’s about helping students find their unique rhythm in a symphony of diverse experiences. It’s about guiding them to mix their own musical cocktail – a bit of classical here, a splash of contemporary there, creating a melody that’s uniquely theirs.
Conclusion
So, what’s the moral of the story? While exploring different musical avenues can be enriching, having a primary mentor provides a necessary foundation in a student’s musical development. It’s about finding the right balance between focused guidance and exploratory freedom. And to my adventurous student – kudos for the enthusiasm, but let’s stick to one maestro at a time, shall we?.
Until next time, keep your music playing and your adventures daring!