Persistence, Repetition, and Simplicity

A teacher once told me that the reason we repeat ourselves so much is the hope that someday our students will listen. Perhaps this isn't the most creative teaching technique, but anyone who has been teaching for a long time can identify with the sentiment.

Why do we teachers feel this way? One reason is that the most important concepts--the ones that really stick--are often the the most general. Even today, I found myself speaking for an extended length of time, only to realize that what I was saying boiled down to: "Listen to each phrase and play it beautifully". These simple ideas might seem general to the point of absurdity, but they take years to flesh out, and demand constant repetition if they aren't to be lost in the details of day-to-day practice.

As evidence of the effectiveness of general principles, I can associate every influential piano teacher I've had with one, maybe two, guiding ideas. Here's a short list off the top of my head:

- Listen to Yourself

- Create a Beautiful Sound

- Practice Intelligently 

I owe a great deal of gratitude to the teachers who mercilessly instilled in me these ideas. The first teacher who got me to really listen to myself did so through a combination of insults, unpleasant language, and threats. It wasn't fun, or even nice, but it changed my playing. It's easy be seduced by complexity--especially when you've been teaching the same thing for several years-- but the most effective teaching often comes from keeping things simple. 

Comments

[Squareberry]

As a piano teacher, I can soooooo identify with this repetition thing! I always reprimand them and tell them their parents are paying me to repeat myself!

As a piano student the same time, I also can identify!! Somehow, I still need constant reminders to do something!

Next, even while practising on my own, there is always a temptation to adopt poor practice habits and I have to repeat to myself not to do the irrational thing!

Thanks for this post- shall share it on my blog of u don't mind !

[Larry R.]

The only way to get good at anything is through repetition. Sometimes hearing it from someone else is what really makes it sink in. Thanks for the solid advice!

[Squareberry]

BTw, your blog post has inspired me to stick a sign above my piano with the three principles.

Maybe I can repeat myself less and I can remember to apply them myself!!

[Sayan B]

Very good article! One thing I would like to point out here, that although repetition is an inherent part of practice and learning is incomplete without it, if a little effort is made to make so-called "exercises" a little more MUSICALLY INTERESTING, then it translates a lot better, and never enters the realm of boredom with learners. I have found that adding a little spice to musical exercises dramatically increased both interest and participation in my students.

[Frideric PianoMan]

great advice, not just for beginners, so articles like this realize the importance of continuous development. The man not only in playing the piano but also in life reaches its limits, but thanks to an open mind which can analyze well can not be interrupted to grow and exceed these limits. Of course, we have stages in life that sometimes hard to jump over and this happens because we mind closes and analyze wnisków does not draw or have a problem with putting them into practice. thank you for the wonderful text

[Kenny]

Great tips! Definitely should follow them.
http://beginnerpiano.blogspot.com

[Rupish Saldi]

Your writing holds punch in it. Nicely drafted dear friend.

[Bob Loblaw]

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[Bob Loblaw]

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[Bob Loblaw]

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[Pianomarc]

I remember the warm feeling in my face when my teacher had carpeted me for being lazy, I was humiliated because it was true, I knew I could have done better. I actually don't think I was that lazy, there was just so much other stuff going on with school work etc. I think the times I let myself down was when I allowed myself to be distracted. I never understood how - but she always followed up with a sweetner somehow, and I always left my lesson feeling better about myself and the progress sped up for a while.

http://www.marc-johnston.com/blog

[Mark Sharpe]

Thank you for this post, I learned through listening to my teachers saying the same things over and over again. I also want to thank my teachers for their inspiration. Mark

[Evelyn]

Great article! It is so important to instill these principles in students, even during the early levels of playing. I always find it exciting when my students finally catch on to the concept of practicing intelligently and discover how much more they can accomplish in a short amount of practice time!

http://www.buffalopiano.com