Teaching Instruments to beginners

Mark Wilson and Paul Wood share their advice

One of the most important things when teaching beginners is not to overload them by introducing too many new concepts at the same time. This is something we’ve learned over many years as teachers and was one of the key principles behind our string method, Stringtastic. So, for example if you are introducing a new rhythm, make sure that you do it while using a finger pattern that the student already knows – and vice versa.

You should also not be afraid of detail. Teachers so often worry that they will bore people with attention to detail, but in fact this is not true! You can say the same thing in many different ways. Take the time now to get things right to make teaching easier later on. It is crucial to establish precise and accurate technique as early as you can – to avoid frustration for the student later in their learning journey! Take time to consolidate and build strong foundations, and don’t be afraid of the detail.

Sometimes, building technique can appear boring, but it shouldn’t be! We like to think that we have made it possible to learn technique in a fun and entertaining way, through the pieces we have written. We had the idea of ‘open string melodies’ which we use right from the start, so that even in the very first lesson the student can end by playing a proper piece and feeling a sense of accomplishment!

Try asking students in one of the early lessons what they think is the most important part of the body for playing their instrument – answer, the brain! No matter how much physical technique you practice, the information needs to be processed and used in the right way

This is why it is important to create a positive learning environment. There is no such thing as failure, it’s an opportunity to learn. People want to do things instantly and be perfect, but it’s more important to create an environment where failing is good. Think about ice-skating – if you fear falling over, you will never get to be very good! Make this clear to your students from the start and encourage them to get comfortable with failure and never be paralysed by perfectionism.

Ensemble playing is one of the most valuable tools for teaching. It is all about teamwork – working together, breathing together, celebrating success together, reflecting when things don’t go to plan. On the technical side, it’s a chance to practise intonation, rhythm, shared musicality, and conveying emotion. It can teach life skills that are crucial in later life – duet-playing teaches us how to take responsibility and be independent while still reacting and listening to our partner. Knowing when to lead and when to follow – learning that you can’t lead dictatorially or follow passively.

As a teacher, its also really important to take time to schedule in time for personal reflection at the end of term. How have your students progressed? Are there several of them who are struggling with the same thing? If so, this may be a sign that you need to tweak something about the way you are teaching – try using different language, order of teaching, or spend more time consolidating. It has taken us many years to refine our own teaching methods and strategies – so don’t feel bad about getting things wrong! This is all part of your teaching journey