According to Jeffrey Krugler, author of the The Sibling Effect, 95% of parents have a favorite, or “Golden” child.
Despite being the middle child and having stiff competition from a tall, dark, and handsome older brother, and a cute, perky, “I’ll do anything for anyone” younger sister… I am still certain I am my mother’s “Golden Child”…
At least that’s what I like to think! 🙂 I’ll know for sure later today after my mom (who still religiously reads every single blog post I write) phones to confirm what I already know.
And, just as I KNOW I am my mother’s “Golden Child” (nudge, nudge, wink, wink) I am betting that you as a piano teacher have that “Golden Student”; that student you just seem to really click with. Whether it be a shared passion for classical music or a similarly quirky sense of humour, some piano students are simply easier to get along with than others.
It’s not a knock against your other students; sometimes certain personalities just jive better than others. So, today in the comments section, we’d love to know what makes some of your piano students more enjoyable to teach than others.
Leave a comment below by completing the following sentence: “It seems I connect best with piano students who …”
Anna L. says
I tend to connect with students who are hard practicers and serious about their instrument. I was that way as a student, so I suppose I can relate more to them than any other because I know what they’re “putting themselves through”; it’s not anyone else’s job to make sure they do their practice, but they take it as a joy and a privilege to practice and progress to newer heights!
David Barton says
Students who practise well are always enjoyable because inevitably, practice makes progress, and progress makes enthusiasm, which makes more progress etc. etc. Overall though, the best ones are the ones who are enthusiastic about music and who really want to learn about it.
Bev Conway says
My “favorite” student varies from year to year. I tend to enjoy the older ones who have hung-in-there for years but I also favor the wonder-struck beginner who can’t believe they’re really playing a song they know! Right now, my favorite student doesn’t practice AT ALL but he comes every week to practice with me and works very hard during our time together. He has a wonderful sense of humor and enjoys my teasing him.
Emily Davidson says
I like the adventurous ones who want to rewrite the endings of their pieces and love to improvise!
Cross-Eyed Pianist says
It’s inevitable that one will have favourite students or “golden children”. The ones who practice and put the effort in away from lessons, who listen and take on board suggestions and ideas, who do not sit mutely while teacher speaks but who offer their own ideas and thoughts about how the music should be played, the one who arrives having learnt the whole of Adele’s Someone Like You and plays it beautifully (pedalled too), or the 10 year old boy who declares a love of Bach. Having said that, there are only 2 students out of my studio of 20 who make my heart sink before the lesson….. maybe the subject of another blog post?!
jenn says
my favourite student isn’t always the student who practises the most (although i sure like those ones too!!). i really appreciate a student who is always ready and willing to try something new and keeps a good positive attitude throughout the experience. these kids are the ones who keep playing long after lessons are done and they’ve moved on in their lives. maybe not in a serious way, but it’s still rewarding for them. they’re the ones willing to try new instruments and join in at a jam.
Hope Noar says
I tend to favor the students who work hard and show respect to me. They are so enjoyable to work with! I have a few rebellious students and they are more of a challenge! But I really love all of my students, as they all have something unique to offer at the piano!
Chris says
My favorite students are the difficult ones. The ones who have a hard time focusing. The ones who are afraid to learn new things. The ones who are afraid to make mistakes. I love the challenge of finding the games, tricks, music, and techniques that will make music click for them.