Question about teaching kids and beginners

[tbdana]

Where can I learn how to teach kids and beginners? What to do, what not to do, what books or pieces to give them, what to avoid.

I've only taught college students and adults who have played for years. I have no idea of a good method and approach for beginners. Where can one learn to be a good trombone teacher for kids?

[imsevimse]

Difficult question. I was that teacher for 13 years and here it takes a college degree to do that. Then the question how to be a good one? Here we are employed by the community in the public music school as a public music school teacher in brass (if you are a trombonist). I do not think you can be just a trombone teacher anymore, maybe 40 years ago that was possible when interest for music education was bigger. Obviously you need to know the instruments you teach. This is Sweden so probably everything I list is not the same in US, but to know your instrument must be fundamental to succeed. Then the question is what is a good teacher? Here it was a teacher who could keep the kids interested enough so you could be fully employed. If less students then you loose your job eventually. Yes that was my life as a music teacher. I did not like a lot of things with my job but liked to teach and my kids didn't quit.

What makes a good teacher for small kids?

Five things is important basically (some right away, some over time)
1. they need to like you
2. lessons need to be fun.
3. they need to be in a context.
4. they need to perform their music
5. they need to do progress.

1 and 2 is essential right from the start and has little to do with music. You need to be interested in them, talk to them, and care about them. You also need to interest them. You can play for them and let them know they can do what you can do if they practise. Let them have a dream. This all have to do with trust.

3. is they need friends. Start an ensamble or an orchestra so they get to know other kids who play.

4. Conserts and goals. They need to perform and get applauds.

5. They need to see they are doing progress. After some years they need to be able to play music they like. They need to be proud of what they have achieved.

Not all things above need to be there, but if everything is there they will not quit. That's my experience. Use any material you like, there are lots of it. It's not in the books.

/Tom

[BGuttman]

I would suggest you get a typical school method like Standard of Excellence or Essential Elements and see how they introduce different skills, notes, etc. They will have some simple tunes that you can play with them. Add additional books as you think necessary to make the lessons fun. That may be different for each student. Don't unleash Arban's until they have a fair amount of skill.

[Savio]

Where can I learn how to teach kids and beginners? What to do, what not to do, what books or pieces to give them, what to avoid.

I've only taught college students and adults who have played for years. I have no idea of a good method and approach for beginners. Where can one learn to be a good trombone teacher for kids?

I have done this for 40 years, but can't say I have any good or accurate answers. You just have to jump into it. My own experience is to be yourself and be honest to your own values. Be polite and respectful like we try to be to all people. I did some faults on my way; with very young kids I tried to be a little childishly my self. Doesn't work. Kids are clever to see through you. But I'm born a little childish so I don't have to act.

The first lessons are very important, to set the good habits. Holding the trombone, embouchure, standing straight, etc. Even opening the trombone case.

So many methods and beginner stuff out there. Google? I try to see what each individual needs. I did some faults and used same method to all kids. Doesn't work so good. But it's easier to do so I still go into that trap.

I like the above answers from Bruce and Tom. Jump into it! Do it your way. Let them perform regularly, in the beginning just for the parents. So they have a goal ahead.

My god, this is a big question when I start think about it. I have done many faults and it's not easy when we get tired. When I had 12 kids in a row and number 13 comes in the door. And he/she is a noisy kid....

Leif

[harrisonreed]

Start them at the back of the Arbans book and tell them that those are the rudiments.

[Savio]

Start them at the back of the Arbans book and tell them that those are the rudiments.

In fact a good idea! Why not? It's a goal. We have to be open in this game?

Leif

[cmccain]

I work in education, though not music education, and I can tell you one piece of advice when it comes to working with kids in any environment:

Kids can smell insincerity from a mile away. Much better than adults can. They may not be able to fact-check your literal words, but kids, including younger teenagers, are astoundingly accurate at figuring out how invested you are in them.

The others are right that no matter what you do, you have to be yourself. And the kid is going to learn a hell of a lot better if they believe you are invested in their success. I would go so far as to say that, in the long-term, the method you use is going to matter less than whether you listen and respond with consistent sincerity.

I don't know if that's the kind of answer you were looking for, but research consistently demonstrates that children from age 3 to age 18 learn significantly more from a just-competent teacher that they trust than they do from a masterful teacher that they don't.

[Wilktone]

What age range are you specifically interested in? Elementary school students are a bit different from middle school, who are different from high school. In Buncombe County, NC I think most students can start band at 6th grade.

Contact a band director working in your area and volunteer in their program in some capacity. The best thing to get better at teaching beginners is to get more experience teaching beginners.

Education students in college spend time observing professional teachers, so another idea might be to ask to observe some rehearsals. Teaching private lessons is different from teaching in a classroom setting. I generally find it easier one-on-one, but you'll get some good strategies watching a band director start students at the beginning of the year. And if I were a band director I wouldn't mind having an experienced volunteer hanging around to help out.

As far as method books and repertoire, that can be tricky with beginners. A lot of the standard books band directors use to start beginners are compromises to make it accessible for students on all the instruments. I also feel that they tend to start beginner brass students too low for their first lesson (I like to see if I can get them playing a middle Bb on their first lesson).

I didn't think that I would enjoy starting beginners and avoided that for a long time. Over the years, I found myself in a position to do more of it and now I enjoy it immensely. It has different challenges and different rewards, but for me it's been worth the effort.

Dave

[timothy42b]

Be more of a cheerleader than a coach.

[afugate]

As far as method books and repertoire, that can be tricky with beginners. A lot of the standard books band directors use to start beginners are compromises to make it accessible for students on all the instruments. I also feel that they tend to start beginner brass students too low for their first lesson (I like to see if I can get them playing a middle Bb on their first lesson).

IMO, most standard band books are terrible for trombone players.
--Andy in OKC

[WilliamLang]

I do like the Essential Elements books for absolute beginners. There's a lot of good material in it.