I hate those “tweeny-bopper” magazines and I wouldn’t dare let one fall into the hands of my own daughters. And yet, when I’m waiting in a doctor’s office and the table is strewn with nothing else but those magazines and a National Geographic from 1968, I can’t help but be tempted by those darn quizzes they always contain. Some part of me just has to know how I measure up…. do I actually have Bieber Fever? Because If so, I’d like to know!
With two young girls, I seem to be in Doctor’s offices more frequently, and I got to thinking the other day that a piano teacher quiz would be fun. So, grab your pen and prepare to see how you measure up!
Discover Your Piano Teaching Personality
Are you so strict you make Mrs. Knucklewrapper look like Snow White… or are you so “chill” you make Snow White look like Mrs. Knucklewrapper? Get a pen ready, record your answers to the following questions, and let the cards fall where they may:
1. Sweet little Emily forgets her piano books… again! You immediately…
a. Send her packin’! No piano book means no piano lesson. Period.
b. Pull a loaner book off the shelf, but not before having a little chat with Emily about the importance of being prepared for piano lessons.
c. Tap into your Top 40 sheet music and have a rockin’ good time.
2. You listen to your voice mail and hear the following, “Hi, sorry we missed today, Colten had a dentist appointment, is there another time we can come later this week?” In response you…
a. SEE RED! And then immediately email your studio policy that clearly states, “No Make-ups For Any Reason.”
b. Let Colton’s parents know that you’ll squeeze him in if, and only if, a timeslot opens up later in the week.
c. Phone back immediately to schedule a make-up on the weekend.
3. Jessica is ready for a new piano book. You…
a. Order the next level in her exam prep program.
b. Celebrate with a week or two of “Popular” tunes.
c. Wonder what this question is talking about… your piano lessons are guided by the latest lead sheet.
4. Roger shows up to another piano lesson without having cracked open a book for the entire week. To deal with the situation you…
a. Make him suffer through an entire piano lesson that starts with scales, continues with scales, and ends with scales. Revenge is sweet!
b. Look for creative ways to inspire him… like Teach Piano Today’s, Shhhh… Your Piano Teacher Thinks This Is Practice (shameless self-promotion… I know)
c. Don’t even bat an eye… hey, life’s busy!
5. Before you sign up a brand new student you…
a. Hold an entrance interview with the prospective student and her Mom, Dad, Brother, and Friend’s Cousin’s Dog’s Breeder.
b. Schedule a trial lesson to see if the teacher-student relationship will be a good fit.
c. Do nothing… let’s get this party started!
6. Katie’s Mom asks to sit on her piano lessons. You decide to…
a. Say no! You are a trained professional with years of experience and you don’t need anyone judging or critiquing your skills and techniques.
b. Allow it for a lesson or two, but then suggest that you be able to develop a relationship with your piano students that is independent of her parents.
c. Figure, why not! In fact, you begin each lesson with a Mother-Daughter duet.
Here’s Where It Gets Really Exciting
Look at your answers to the above questions. Each time you answered “a” to a question give yourself 1 point; “b” equals 2 points, and “c” equals 3 points. Now add up all of your answers to get your final piano teaching personality score. Compare that score to a piano personality descriptor below 🙂
(6 – 9 Points) The Duke or Duchess of Drills: Piano lessons are not for the faint of heart. You are not afraid to lower the piano teaching boom. Your time is precious and if your piano students won’t tow the line then you’re quick to cut them loose. Don’t be afraid to let down your guard every once in a while; people are drawn to the “tough guy” with the soft side.
(10 – 13 Points) The Maestro of Moderation: I’m betting dollars to doughnuts you were your class valedictorian; after all, everyone loves you! Piano parents appreciate your organized, no-nonsense side; while piano students think it’s cool you can bust out both Pachabel and P-Diddy. Way to walk the fine line!
(14 – 18 Points) The Conductor of Cool: As the song goes, “We’re here for a good time, not a long time, so have a good time…” Piano lessons with you are an absolute blast! It’s hard to tell who’s having more fun, you or your piano students. But be careful, in your quest to be Mr. or Mrs. Popular your piano lessons risk losing structure and eventually piano students… because in the long term, kids really do love structure.
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Catherine says
really enjoyed this, between teaching lessons today! Guess what, I’m all for moderation in all things! (and when my younger students have taken an exam, they get a present- a choice of a new book from various appropriate level books of anything from Adele, to Beetles to latest chart hits, to musicals etc- it works wonders for motivation!)
Hope Noar says
I am the queen of moderation! I am flexible and kind, but I do have rules. One of my students forgot to cancel her lesson because she had a conflict, and I was waiting for her. So I just told the mother that I would see her next week. I did not have any intention of making it up. Today, my best student came at the wrong time, but the student in her slot told me she would be 15 minutes late, so we had an abbreviated lesson. The correct time was written in her notebook, but I just think June is a busy month for everyone, so I fluffed it off. At least she got some of her lesson in, luckily.