What is a music teacher?

'What is a music teacher?' Does this sound like a stupid question?

Your answer may be...

'A person who educates other people about music and how to play a musical instrument'. 

But this answer is too simple and leaves out the human part of teaching music.

My answer includes a more holistic approach. In reality, any kind of good teacher is someone who knows their students beyond the content that they teach. A music teacher, especially someone who teaches one-on-one, develops a healthy relationship with their student. The teacher has to know how to adapt their approach based on how the student learns. Everyone learns differently. When you are teaching a class of many students, you aren't, unfortunately, able to cater to each student specifically. As much as a good teacher may try, there will always be someone in that group that thinks differently to the majority of the learners. This is why teaching individually is so impactful when teaching a musical instrument

Not only are they an educator, but can also be a counselor. If student has doubts about their abilities, or had a rough day, they may need an objective ear. They may need someone to hear them out, get something off their chest, and then help them to re-focus on playing their instrument. This makes a music teacher an encourager, someone who helps a person believe that they can achieve their goal. They may need that teacher to go beyond just a skill developer, but one who instills structure and accountability for the student.

When someone says that they are going to teach themselves how to play an instrument from online tips, I have no doubt that will get them started, but I question how long they will continue.

As much as we have access to so many tools on the internet, I feel that nothing can replace a teacher. 

Letting go

There is nothing more difficult for a teacher than to see a student struggling over a piece just before an exam. When you have gone through it with them in so much detail, and they have made every effort to take on what you have said and to practice really hard and yet still they can't quite achieve what is expected. It's at this time when you as a teacher have to let go. You have to know that you have done your best, and so has your student. And you both have to trust that they will do the best that they can, because they really deserve to do well. It's also when you have to realise that making music is not about perfection, it's about expression, and when your student has discovered music in their late 50's, it goes without saying that this student has found a new way to express themselves. That in itself is beautiful and inspiring. It reminds me that that is why I teach. To assist other people to be able to express themselves through music. This is what makes it worthwhile.

All good things time

'The more I practice, the luckier I get'

They say that patience is a virtue, but sometimes we just want something now! I guess that's one of the greatest thing that we have to learn from music. That all good things take time...and perseverance...a lot of patience...and a lot of hard work!

Sometimes it can be very frustrating when we have to wait on others for our dream to take the next step closer to being realised. It shows that we do actually need other people to get where we want to go, even if it means that it may take longer to get there. It will probably end up being far better than we could have imagined, and hence, worthwhile in the end. The most important thing, I am learning in this instance, is that we have to stick to our guns and continue to play our part to the best of our ability. It can be tempting to either give up or just get incredibly frustrated while waiting for things to happen. But learning to overcome these feelings and remember the long term goal is what is necessary. 

Innate or habit?

As a teacher of many different age groups I have noticed a trend with all of my students, while playing a piece, that they should have practiced. When they make a mistake, they almost always want to go back to the beginning and start again. It can sometimes be a bit frustrating as a teacher, but I have been starting to analyze why this is such a trend. I do teach my students how to break down pieces when they practice, I also give them a new piece or sightreading most lesson, so that they become used to reading new music, but they all want to start at the beginning if they make one little mistake.

So, my question is, is it an innate thing that makes us want to have perfection? Or is it habit as human beings to strive for perfection, and so once you have made a mistake you need to wipe the slate clean and start again?

For those who are not musicians, the reason this can be a problem when playing through a piece or sightreading, is that it is important to move on and keep playing music even if you make a mistake. You might do so while performing one day, or playing with a band, and you certainly can't stop and go back and fix a mistake. Yes, while learning, you can then go back over the parts that you don't know so well, but that is a different exercise in itself.

The in-between state

I firmly believe that change is as good as a holiday, but as we say goodbye to our old home, we are not able to move directly to our new place, so the change feels delayed. Now that we are staying with my parents, I am able to focus on my current state of being, rather than just focusing on the next step and moving forward. While I was secretly dreading this in-between stage and had hoped to avoid it, I realise that it has been the most healthy thing for me, to stop and reflect on where my work journey and home life is going. It has been most refreshing. 

I am a doer, I dream and then I do my best to move in the direction I feel that dream is taking me. So it has been hard to have to stop and not feel like I am moving forward with our new venture, and having to wait has proven to be tougher than I thought.

The reflecting aspect has meant that I can see the dream in a broader context. I have been able to put certain things into perspective, but most significantly, I have felt affirmed that I am heading in the right direction in order to achieve my goals.

The most exciting thing however, is to see how much support I have had from both my students and friends, and the fact that my students are eager to get started with lessons again, proves to me that I am fulfilling my role with what I am actually offering as a music teacher. It tells me that my core roll in this industry is meaningful and worth something, and that is the nudge I have been needing to propel me to the next level.