May 2018
SOUNDTEACHING NEWSLETTER FOR LESSON TEACHERS @ MUSIC & ARTS
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How to Succeed as a New Teacher
Developing Relationships with Colleagues
In The Arts with Laura: Teaching vs Performing
Teaching Students to Perform
How to Succeed as a New Teacher BY RACHEL KLINE, VIOLIN INSTRUCTOR IN HILLIARD, OH
aural skills, technical skills, clear tone,
introduce yourself and create a sense of
musicality, and many other concepts.
openness between you and the parent
Studying music education theorists
in which you can discuss troubles the
and methods like Gordon, Kodály, Orff-
student may have either in playing or
Schulwerk, Suzuki, Dalcroze, Piaget,
personal life.
or Bruner can also help to develop an informed, research-based curriculum.
In a world of so much technology, there are tons of options open to enhance
Another important note for your
teaching and communication with your
curriculum is developing a valid and
students. I personally love using the
reliable aptitude test for new students.
Tonara music lesson app.
My name is Rachel Kline and I’ve been
An aptitude test allows you to assess
teaching violin lessons for five years. I
how much the student already knows
started my position at Music & Arts in
and what he or she needs to work on. It
Hilliard, Ohio in May of 2017, and it’s
also determines what stage your new
one of the best things that has happened
student falls into with your curriculum.
to me as both a teacher and musician.
I try to keep aptitude testing pretty
In my reflection of the past year, I have
casual and I share the purpose of
It has many interesting features
thought about what sets my teaching
it with the student before starting.
including a chat system, practice
now apart from when I started, and what
In the assessment, I ask students
logging, and play-along songs and
I wish I had known from the beginning
about different types of articulations,
scales. My favorite feature, however, is
to help me succeed. From this reflection,
dynamics, instrument parts, and have
the easy way to send recordings, which I
I’ve developed three elements that make
them demonstrate good posture, tone,
use all the time with my students. I’m a
a music teacher successful, and I hope
and have them play several passages.
firm believer that students develop good tone from hearing good tone. Any other
they can help you to develop a thriving studio that you love.
Communication with Students
messaging system should work, but I do
and Parents
prefer ones that don’t require younger
Developing Your Curriculum
Strong communication with anybody
students to give me their direct contact
Although it is important to be able to
involved in lessons is extremely
information.
analyze a student’s playing and give
important for building trust and
feedback, a strong, comprehensive
relationships. It may seem obvious,
Building Your Teaching Personality
curriculum can provide so much more.
but students are more likely to stay
Just like all students are different, all
A spiral curriculum, or curriculum
in your studio and work harder if you
teachers are different and have qualities
that builds upon itself over time, often
go out of your way to show concern
that make their lessons unique. A great
revisiting past concepts, is the best way
for them, their interests, and their
way to establish yourself as a teacher
to build a strong foundation in music,
schedules. Communication outside of
is to find your teaching philosophy
just like in any other subject. After all,
the studio is also essential to becoming
and live by it wholeheartedly. Your
you can’t learn to read a language if you
a successful teacher. Finding a clear line
philosophy should be something that
only talked about the alphabet in class
of communication between the teacher
you’re passionate about and strive to
for 30 minutes. Your spiral curriculum
and parent should be established on the
fulfill in every lesson. It could be focused
may include scales, note reading,
first day of lessons. It’s a great way to
on a certain attribute, like reaching
2 | S O U N D T E A C H I N G | May 2018
students through compassion, or could
completely change the atmosphere
opportunity to teach at Music & Arts.
be focused more heavily on music, like
of your teaching. I like to bring in
It’s helped me to find who I am as a
molding the next generation of students
motivational posters, whiteboards
teacher, and I love working with all of
into musically sensitive players. No
with messages, brightly colored post-it
my students. I look forward to using
matter what message you want to bring
notes, and other little things to create a
all of my new skills and experiences as
to the world, bring it fiercely, honestly,
visually stimulating environment that
I continue studio teaching and when
and make others want to believe it too.
my students and I can interact with.
I become a classroom music teacher.
A different way to develop your teaching
It helps to establish the room as your
Every student I have taught has also
personality is to personalize your
personal teaching space and makes
taught me and shaped me into who I am
teaching environment. A little bit of
students more comfortable.
today.
color and some positive messages can
I am so happy that I’ve had the
R A C H E L K L I N E is an emerging teacher in the field of music education. She is working toward a B.A. in Music Education from Wright State University, anticipated in Spring 2019. She began teaching violin at Hilliard Music & Arts in Spring of 2017 after teaching lessons for four years prior. Rachel had the opportunity to advocate for music education and speak with state representatives of Ohio on Capitol Hill in NAfME Hill Day 2017 and plans to attend again in June 2018. She strives to make a difference in the lives of students as the President of the largest Collegiate NAfME chapter in Ohio and in the future as an elementary classroom music educator.
Developing Relationships with Colleagues professional. Students, colleagues, and
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Teach concert etiquette to your
all those you deal with expect that of
students and audiences. Many
you. Your administrators are interested
of your students will go on to be
in your success and proud to share in
successful, urban adults and attend
your accomplishments, especially if you
concerts, plays, or operas. They will
carry out your tasks in a professional
be thankful for your guidance.
manner. Here are some ways to enhance your professionalism:
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Join professional organizations such as NAfME, your state
Whether you are teaching in a small Dress the part. Hardly any schools
music educators association, and
school in suburban or city system, you
insist on a faculty dress code any
subscribe to journals. In doing
have colleagues. You are not an island
longer, but students want their
so, you surround yourself with
in the vast ocean of education. (You
teachers to look like professionals.
successful people and ideas in
school in a small rural district or a large
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your field. Invest in your career
may feel that way some times, but that Be on time for work and
by attending state, regional and
music teachers within your school or
appointments. If you expect
national conventions/conferences,
school district and nonmusic teachers
students to be on time, you must
workshops, clinics, etc., to recharge
within your building.
be early. You need the extra
your “batteries.”
is normal.) Your colleagues are other
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time to prepare for rehearsals or The music teacher is often the only
performances. Start performances
The above excerpt is adapted “Survival
professional musician in town. He
on time. Parents will appreciate it,
Techniques for the Band Director,” by
or she needs to act the part of the
and they expect it.
Dennis Granlie, Great Falls, MT. May 2018 | S O U N D T E A C H I N G | 3
M&A Spotlight: Alan Day B Y A L A N D AY, M & A S R C AT E G O R Y M A N A G E R - G U I TA R S , A M P S & K E Y B O A R D S
it, and then I got my own for Christmas
serious military-minded musician
that year. There is a picture somewhere
with a real resume and an actual adult
of me sitting in front of the Christmas
audience. Fred showed me through his
tree with a brand new electric guitar in
teaching style that my ego was clouding
my arms and a big grin on my face. I still
my ability to cross over from being a
have that guitar!
mediocre player to a really outstanding player. I realized I needed to make
At twelve, I, of course, had no idea how
a decision to challenge myself to be
to play a guitar, so I was signed up for
humble about what I didn’t know. It was
lessons in a music store somewhere in
a pivotal, make or break decision for
Alexandria. That’s when I realized how
me. I could choose to continue on the
utterly boring music lessons can be. The
path of being “halfway there” or I could
We reached out to Alan Day, a former
teacher was really uninspiring and didn’t
be honest with myself about not really
Music & Arts teacher to speak about his
really do much to show me, the student,
knowing everything, and actually pursue
journey from teaching to becoming a
much more than how he did riffs, and
learning to be a stronger musician.
Sr. Category Manager at Music & Arts,
then would periodically help me out
selecting combo equipment for stores
when he remembered I was sitting there.
To mark the change in paradigm, I
to sell and models that will encourage
It was a big block for me and I was
cut my hair and focused on learning
students to stick with their lessons.
pretty frustrated. So, I quit the lessons. I
whatever I could from Fred. The
It’s his expertise from teaching that he
didn’t however, quit playing guitar.
knowledge transfer taught me that
brings to his current position that makes
“discipline” was key in attaining success.
products in the store, really stand out to
I enrolled in the area community college
Learning to master the physical
students.
and started a major in music, studying
constraints of the instrument was as
music theory. I found myself in a guitar
important as understanding chordal
“I guess it must be the white hair, but
class studying under a high-profile jazz
scale relationships that relate to applied
people have been asking me lately about
player in the area. Fred Chapin was very
theory. The culmination of this was an
when I started playing music. For me,
strict and formal in his teaching style,
acquired perception of understanding
everything started in around 1967, in the
having been a military man, and a very
how to play real music and not just
Washington DC suburbs, which was a
well-known musician. It was studying
“songs”.
much simpler time and place, for a lot of
under him that I came to the blunt
reasons, than it is now.
realization that I really knew very little
Some years later, after playing
about music.
professionally for a while and having
I was twelve years old the year my older
some life experience behind me,
sister got a guitar for her birthday. I
I knew that Fredrick “Fritz” Chapin was
including traveling across the country
had a passing interest in music but she
a big name in the music business in
to play on the west coast, I became a
was the one that got the guitar, which
those days, but what I didn’t know until
music teacher myself. My own approach
I suppose my parents thought was a
I studied under him was how disciplined
was a little different from Fred Chapin’s,
good thing to give a teenager. Well, I
he was. I guess the contrast was pretty
in that I was considerably less tough on
was pretty jealous. I kept trying to play it
obvious, because here I was, this cocky,
my students. I realized that a balance
since she really didn’t do too much with
arrogant kid, and there was Fred, a
needed to exist between Fred’s very
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I taught on Saturdays in our Oakton,
music, that music makes more sense. My
McLean and Ellicott City stores for a
suggestions were communicated to the
number of years.
other guitar teachers in the company.
I feel that my own life experience
As I look back, I proudly count myself
assisted my approach in working with
having been at least a small part of the
my students. I have always believed
DC music “scene” in its heyday in the
that when you are teaching someone
1980’s and 90’s and having performed
something, you get better at it yourself.
and composed in various bands for
As I taught theory, scales and melodic
many years since then. At one point I
patterns, and their relationship to
was asked to record some guitar work
structured approach and empathy: a
chord progressions, these concepts all
on an album by the late recording artist
recognition of people’s differences in
strengthened and enhanced my own
Eva Cassidy, and my byline appears on
how they approach music, and how
playing and composition.
her final album, Time after Time. For me, music has been consistently rewarding
the differences in capability, home life, and physical limitations are part of
I am fortunate to have been able to
and part of that has to do with sharing
how they grow as serious musicians.
impart some of my personal ethics
it with a couple of generations through
Styles and preferences are important
and creative philosophy to what
teaching them to play. Over the years
to contemporary music and solidify
we have grown here as part of our
I have seen my students grow up and
the goal of retention in any lessons
business model at Music & Arts. I had
many have continued with music. Quite
program. In this regard, the fact that
a conversation with M&A founder Ben
a few of them are playing professionally
students actually prefer “songs” as their
O’Brien about the lessons program once
today, recording music and following
objective needed to be allowed, but I saw
I became a teacher, because I seemed
their own musical journeys. I think often
the need to ensure that they knew why
to have a high retention rate. I advised
of Fred Chapin, who passed away in
songs worked.
him at the time that to include music
2012. Fred made me a better teacher and
theory, chords and scales along with the
musician, there is no question in my
When I was in my early years at Music &
student’s choices and tastes resulted
mind about that. Good music education
Arts, which was at that time in Rockville,
in a well-rounded and excited student
improves students, by making them
MD, I was approached by a VP and
and helped with retention. If a student
better musicians and sometimes even
was asked to teach for the company in
understands why a chord progression
better people.”
addition to my regular full-time job.
works, then when they hear their favorite
May 2018 | S O U N D T E A C H I N G | 5
In The Arts with Laura: Teaching Versus Performing BY LAURA ZOLFO, M& A REGIONAL LESSON MANAGER
I want to make sure it’s a positive effect.
decision. Remember though,
So how do you balance the two?
if inconsistencies become too regular, you risk wearing down the
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You’ve probably been asked by your
relationship. The cost is students
District Manager or Store Manager
lose interest in learning, or working
to commit to a teaching day. We
with you, and they quit. So these
do this to ensure we’re honoring
change-ups should be irregular.
what customers are asking for: a teacher committed to their student’s musical growth.
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Last-minute conflicts don’t go over well. The only thing families dislike more than inconsistency is the
Look for performance opportunities
last-minute phone call that we’re
instrument, the opportunity to create.
that don’t conflict with your
changing their schedule. Between
It’s an aspect of music that drew us in
teaching schedule. While many
teachers and students, we’re all
long ago, and what keeps us connected
families are impressed by your
juggling work, lessons, school,
to why we create every day. Some
performance resume and it initially
sports, vacations; the list goes on.
people achieve this high through
makes you attractive as a teacher, it
I recommend a minimum 1 week
preparing a meal, playing a sport, or
creates a rub that eventually wears
notice, but the more lead-time the
meaningful conversation. It’s the high
on people. We ask customers to be
better. There are a lot of variables
of connecting with ourselves, mankind
respectful of your time by arriving
to consider.
and the world around us. And we all
timely, being present regularly,
achieve it in different ways. It’s a human
and taking it easy on the schedule
We want you to remain motivated and
experience that we all desire on some
requests. To keep a happy studio,
connected to both music and teaching.
level. As an educator, my hope is that
we must do the same.
This makes you better equipped to love
As musicians, we feel drawn to our
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teaching as your work and your passion.
you achieve this in some way through your teaching as well.
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Keep in mind, you’re one of many.
We all thrive when we can agree on this
We have over 2,700 teachers
commitment.
So why the mushy preamble? We wear
nationwide with varying interests.
the hat of both musician and educator.
In all likelihood, someone keeps
And when those two priorities collide,
a different schedule, and we try to
you may feel conflicted on which part of
balance you with other teachers.
yourself should win: the educator or the musician. And with a music company,
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If an opportunity does conflict with
we’re well aware that another motivation
your teaching, communicate with
may be to perform on your instrument.
us! Some opportunities you really
It’s my belief that you should be able
shouldn’t, or don’t want to pass
to do both. Being an active performer
up. We can work out a solution
absolutely affects your teaching.
so long as you involve us in the
6 | S O U N D T E A C H I N G | May 2018
Teaching Students to Perform BY ALISSA CASTRO, PERCUSSION INSTRUCTOR IN COLUMBIA, SC
build confidence and motivation. Of
recital attendance because the family is
course, the students need frequent
involved in the process!
performing opportunities and that is why I encourage all of my students to
Performing is Not the End Goal -
participate in recitals as well as any
But It’s Part of the Process
other local opportunities at their church,
Our job as music educators is to
school, or local events.
provide our students with a plethora of knowledge and experiences. Performing
Involving Parents in Practice and
is part of that and taking the time to
Performance Preparation
be intentional about preparing for
Parent involvement is a really useful tool
performances, teaching students and
Why I Take Time to Teach Students
for students to establish good practice
their parents HOW to prepare, and why
to Perform
habits as they are often the person that
they are so valuable is key in the way
I have been teaching for over 10 years
will be making sure it gets done! The
that I approach teaching.
at this point. I have spent time teaching
younger the student, the more critical
general music, high school and middle
this involvement is. It is very helpful in
We want these students to have
school band, choir, percussion, private
ensuring that students are practicing the
the confidence to share their skills
lessons on piano, voice, and even
proper things throughout the week, and
and talents with the world. It starts
collegiate level percussion. I work
working on some of the skills that are
by taking the time to teach about
in many different environments and
crucial for development.
performamce and providing them with many opportunities to have positive
something they ALL have in common is performing!
Talk with parents about the practice
performance experiences!
process you are helping the students After working with almost 2,000
develop. It is helpful to show parents
students at this point, I’ve noticed
what I am looking for, explain what is
that teaching students to perform is
going on developmentally, and HOW
really crucial. We have an opportunity
they can help. It takes time to explain
in private lessons to address this on a
this but it pays off in the end. I love
more individualized basis. So I spend
explaining my process with parents, and
a lot more time addressing how to
when we are in preparation mode for
perform, having the students reflect on
recitals I even challenge my students
their performances, and my favorite,
to practice their performances using
practicing visualization. Of course, I
their family as their audience. Having
spend time with the students building
parent involvement for recitals and
a foundation, but at the end of the
performance preparation is really helpful
day it is up to me not only to provide
for making sure the student continues
the students with the technical skills
on the proper path to becoming ready
that they need but the skills needed
for the performance. Not only that,
to have successful performances. This
but it helps boost excitement for the
is an opportunity for the students to
recital and is very helpful in boosting
A L I S S A C A S T R O is a freelance performer and music educator currently based in Columbia, SC. Alissa had a unique upbringing in a musical family. She is most known for percussion and singing, but plays a lot of other instruments as well. She recently graduated with her Master’s in Music Performance from the University of South Carolina studying with Dr. Scott Herring. Alissa has been teaching with Music & Arts for under a year but teaching for almost 11 years in a variety of settings. In addition, Alissa is Percussion section member of Augusta Symphony in Augusta, GA. She is also passionate about health & wellness and incorporating it into her teaching and everyday life! May 2018 | S O U N D T E A C H I N G | 7
Thoughts on Rewarding Students In a student’s musical development, it
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Did a student finish a book level?
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Did the student achieve your goal?
is important that they feel successful
How about a trophy? You can
How about they can decide the next
every step of the way! Try some of these
find small, inexpensive, generic
song to learn (with your guidance,
simple ways to reward students for
examples at giftshops and trophy
of course!)
achieving goals and a job well done:
stores. •
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Stickers are fun for younger learners
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Playing a duet with a student
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is highly motivating. Do you remember playing music with your •
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Having a recital or performance?
How about a framed picture of the
How about a group tune? Everyone
student and teacher performing?
plays a part (no matter how simple),
Food! Believe it or not, but a small
and performs together at the end of
piece of candy works wonders!
the recital.
Words of encouragement are
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Let parents know they did a great
teacher?
enough of a reward for some. “I’m
job! The combination of teacher and
Certificate of achievement awards
proud of how far you’ve come” or
parent praise raises self-esteem and
are wonderful for students AND
“You did a great job today” work
confidence.
parents!
well.
Upcoming Performance Opportunity! One of the best things to keep a student excited about lessons is to perform what they’ve been learning. For instance the Exton, PA store held a piano recital with students from Tom Alberici’s studio. Get your students involved in the upcoming National Open House Event on the weekend of June 22-24th. This event features an Open Mic on Friday starting at 6:00 p.m. EST and two free guitar classes on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. All are encouraged to participate!
8 | S O U N D T E A C H I N G | May 2018
Inside The Lesson Studio with Hannah BY H A N N A H B E S T, M & A R E G I O N A L L E S S O N M A N A G E R
website right now. That means half of
availability for students and reduce
you are missing. Think about how many
competition between teachers by having
students you’re missing because of this.
you teach your primary instrument.
If you’re not a technology person, that’s
We’ve also reduced the amount of
okay. Speak to your Store Manager to
guitar teachers by day significantly.
help you get your profile on the website.
We may have asked some of you to move to another day so we could help
Speaking of having a profile on the
you get more students without sharing
website, please post an appealing, high
the demand with another teacher. We
quality photo of yourself. If you have
actually do this with all instruments, not
an blurry image, one that’s too close or
just guitar. Having too many teachers
too far away, or just not you at your best,
teaching on the same instrument, on
ask the Store Manager to take a better
the same day, doesn’t create more
photo of you. We can see how many
opportunity for you unless we have
clicks each teacher receives on their
enough availability after school, for each
profile. Bios without good pictures or
instrument. We take this so seriously,
without a photo of you, they get skipped.
three people from the local market and
Customer’s just don’t look twice at your
myself or Laura personally review the
the employees in the store are the most
credentials.”
studio mix regularly for every location
effective group to help you gain more
Q “I feel like there are too many
Q “I really need more students. Please help!”
A “I have some effective tips for this, most definitely. First, you need to build a relationship with the Store Manager. It’s good to reach out and let us know how you’re feeling about your studio, but
students in your studio.
nationwide. This is to ensure you have the best chance for success.
guitar teachers on the schedule,
Second, participate in the store’s lesson
competing with me. What’s M&A
Today, we have 166 locations offering
events. Many of these are designed to
going to do about this?”
lessons and over 2,500 teachers
help you interface with musicians that
A “You know, when I started in my
would benefit from lessons. This also sends a strong signal to the store team that you’re a team player. One of the best events you can participate at, is the National Open House Event. On average, teachers receive three new students from this event. That’s over $1,000 dollars in lesson income annually in your pocket for a couple hours of
woodwind, percussion, and brass (in
7 or more studios in a single store had
that order), based on the community and
four guitar teachers per day. Now, we
customer interest.”
don’t have the demand from interested students to support this and we’ve noticed. We’ve also noticed that piano lessons and violin/viola lessons have taken the space of those added guitar spots.
The next thing you can do is a have a
So, what have we done about it? We
over 18,000 inquiries for lessons each year. Half of our teachers are on the
are piano, then guitar, then violin/viola,
position five years ago, stores that had
work in the store. Not a bad deal.
profile on the store’s website. We receive
contracted with us. The vast majority
hire teachers typically to teach one instrument. Even if the teacher can teach other things, we spread out the May 2018 | S O U N D T E A C H I N G | 9