I’ve had the giggles this week, especially while teaching.
It all started with the electrifying performances at the 13th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition (www.cliburn.tv). The poise of these young performers is almost unbelievable, and their death-defying acts of pianism are inspiring, amazing, exciting, and rejuvenating.
I can’t tell you how many times in the last few days I’ve heard a [...]
Archive for the ‘Teaching’ Category
Irony in the Teaching Trenches
Posted in Music, Performing, Teaching, tagged linkedin, van cliburn competition on June 7, 2009 | 6 Comments »
The Artist-Teacher: Studio Policies
Posted in Business Issues, Teaching, tagged studio policy on October 8, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
When I started teaching, some of the first advice I got from other teachers was to implement a “studio policy.” I’d never heard of a studio policy, and at first it seemed a little unnecessary: Like everyone else, I started with only a few students. It seemed ridiculous to implement and enforce a rigid policy when in [...]
The Artist-Teacher: Getting the Job
Posted in Business Issues, Teaching, tagged Teaching on October 1, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
So, how do you get a teaching gig?
First of all, have a clear idea of which kids of gigs you want to go after: A school, private teaching, community college, whatever. Imagine your ideal situation: Would you do your creative work in the morning? Or are you a performer who needs to work nights? When and [...]
The Artist-Teacher: The Teacher-Student Connection
Posted in Teaching, tagged Teaching on September 30, 2008 | 3 Comments »
What defines a successful teacher?
Student progress? Student adulation? Parental response? Professional reputation? Results in juried contests? Fame of former students? Placement of students in prestigious programs? Daily job satisfaction? Obvious progress in instilling skills, confidence, and a love of the art form?
The definition of “success” is as varied as the teachers who might try to [...]
The Artist-Teacher: Intro
Posted in Teaching on September 29, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Earlier in the month, I talked about teaching, and since so many of us do it in one form or another, I’d like to spend the next few days on the challenges of the Artist-Teacher, which I define as someone who makes his or her living both by teaching AND by working professionally in a chosen art. (Someone who is [...]
When It All Comes Together
Posted in Creative Communities, Music, Performing, Teaching, tagged Add new tag, Crissey Farm, open mike on September 17, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Sometimes, something happens that sort of pulls it all together, and lets you see where what you’re doing makes sense.
It’s been an incredibly busy week. David and I got back from Nashville on Sunday night, and went right to work teaching on Monday morning. Then I started on some article writing while he drove up to Pittsfield to pick up some [...]
More Thoughts on “Can Do, Can’t Teach”
Posted in Teaching, tagged can do can't teach on September 5, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
I ‘ve been thinking more about the whole “doing-teaching” thing, maybe because this week was the first week of the school year, and I’ve got a bunch of piano students trickling in after a summer spent doing everything under the sun — EXCEPT piano.
Those of us who choose to teach — acting coaches, writing instructors, [...]
Can Do, Can’t Teach?
Posted in Teaching, tagged can do can't teach, Teaching on August 24, 2008 | 2 Comments »
Here’s a flip on that old saying, “Those who can do, those who can’t teach.”
“Those who can — CAN’T teach.”
I discovered this little anti-cliche today, and I’m wondering about it. It made me think of a guy I once had as a teacher in a bike repair class — one of those public classroom sorts of programs they [...]
Those Who Can, Do; Those Who Can’t, Teach????
Posted in Teaching, tagged Teaching on August 22, 2008 | 2 Comments »
We’ve all heard people say it, maybe we’ve even said it ourselves…
But is it true?
Let’s see, Beethoven had students. Chopin had students, Franz Liszt had students. The great Renaissance painters had studios full of students (although they were probably more likely to call them apprentices). My friend, the actress Karen Allen teaches acting at a college, my [...]
