What a difficult question to answer... However, I see it was an easy one for the parents of my piano students that had to come to a meeting. To The Meeting where I was supposed to hand them out the final scores how well my students performed on piano. After receiving just a few parents, I realized that the majority of them have chosen the first option, as who is willing to come to have some paperwork done, one Friday early afternoon, when the sun is giving its best to attract people to the pool or beach. Silly question, after all.
Engagement...
The meeting was not set only because the scores had to be given out. The director of the school had the idea that meeting individually with the parents can have positive effects. It is a nice approach, and it is following the philosophy of this small music school, which is based on the personal musical needs of the students. We do follow a general curriculum, but we adapted it. With the parents, we have also very amiable communication, with some of them, I became close. But yes, the engagement level of the parents yesterday showed not to be perfect for that day, but I completely understand. Spain in a pretty hot early summer afternoon! Chilling out in the pool, I would choose the same, if I could. But I had to host the meeting :)
Coffee time...
With those who came, we had a friendly chit-chat moments. As we had time, we talked about everything, not just about music and piano lessons. I felt good having some more socialization with people I don't have the opportunity to speak with every day. There is one mum I especially love to talk to. We touched on topics like travelling, health, adolescent children, school, masks, fear, media, coffee and cats. As there is just one coffee machine, we had to satisfy our love of coffee from a cardboard cup. But it was good, in good company everything is great.
Motivation...
She complained a bit that her son was not practising enough at home. However, the last semester he got a piece that he liked a lot so he was more active around the piano. It was one piece called Sur le fil from the movie Amelie, composer Yann Tiersen . He played it a lot at home so she was happy to see that improvement and thanked me. Motivation is the key, indeed. It can be a word, a tune, a feeling, exam or ultimately blackmail ;D This last one is something I don't use, or at least try to avoid as a teacher. But allowing students to play music they like can be a good thing. You would like to play too this kind of music, wouldn't you? Listen to this one and tell me the answer.
Pool and sea time...
So, the school year is finished, the meeting is done, music is played, now the only thing that awaits me is chilling out! My turn :)
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