Transfer Student Interviews - Amazon S3 · 2018. 8. 23. · • Pop riffs and chord patterns •...

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Vibrant Music Teaching Vibrant Music Teaching 2Transfer Student Transitions

Vibrant Music Teaching


When a new transfer student joins your studio it can be extremely challenging. In essence, you have no idea what this student has or has not been taught so far. You may have some idea of the level they’re at – but every teacher will have covered different areas up to that level, and not nec-essarily in the order or manner you would have covered them yourself.

This is what makes the transition into your studio so tricky to balance. As well as figuring out where your student is and what they know, you also need them to feel welcome. They’re probably feeling nervous to be starting with a new teacher, and need to be reassured that you’re here to help them and that they’re not going to be judged or chastised for not knowing something they, or you, feel they should.

Transfer Student InterviewsThe interview/meeting is an extremely important part of a transfer student’s bridge into your studio. Although it might sound like a more formal environment, it actually provides a less pres-surised way for you, your student, and their parent(s) to get to know each other.

What you find out at the interview can help inform how you structure the first lessons with your new student. These questions will give you a starting point and following a simple list like this or making a form is a great idea so that you can make sure everything is covered.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS FOR THE STUDENT

• Why do you want to learn to play music? Why did you first start taking lessons?

• What’s your favourite thing about learning music?

• What’s your favourite type of music to listen to?

• What’s your favourite piece that you’ve learned so far?

• Is there a particular piece you’d love to learn some day?

• How much practice do you normally fit in each week?

• What do you like practising the most? The least?

• What other hobbies do you like? What’s your favourite subject in school?

SAMPLE QUESTIONS FOR THE PARENT

• What do you want your child to get from lessons?

• How do you structure practice at home? Do you ever struggle to get them to practice?

• What type of practice instrument do they have?

• Where is the instrument in the house? What type of bench do they have?

• Do they sit with their child while they practice? If not, are they within earshot?

Asking questions like this will give you an overview of what was expected at their old piano studio. Don’t let your relationship get off on the wrong foot by leaving assumptions hanging in the air. Don’t assume that they have a decent practice instrument, or that any practice is happening, or that it was structured in a certain way. It’s always better to ask so that you know for sure.



Vibrant Music Teaching Vibrant Music TeachingTransfer Student Transitions 3



Five Transfer Student First Lesson EssentialsAfter your interview you should know a bit about the student and be ready to put together a plan for their first lesson. Make sure to include these 5 things so you can ease the transition.

SOMETHING COMFORTABLE

• Ask her to bring along anything she loves playing such as a recital piece, past exam piece, or a pop song she worked out herself.

• Assure her before she starts that you’re not there to judge, you just want to see her style and what she enjoys.

• Move out of her eyeline so she can concentrate.

• Find something nice to say when she’s finished.

• Don’t “correct” anything at this stage.

SIGHT-READING

• You need to see her read something new.

• Make this as friendly and non-intim-dating as you can.

• Start really easy. If your student is supposedly a level 5, give her a level 1 piece to read.

• Ask her questions before she begins to help her with the deciphering pro-cess.

• Explain what you’re doing: this is about getting to know each other and is NOT a test.

GOALS CHAT

• You need to know what she wants from lessons.

• Does she want to learn some pop music? Or jazz maybe?

• Are there any pieces she started with her other teacher that she wants to polish off?

• Does she want to sit an exam or go in for a competition?

QUICK WIN

• Your student should leave her lesson excited to practice.

• Rote pieces from Piano Safari’s Pat-tern Pieces books

• Pop riffs and chord patterns

• Self-composed pieces or chord pro-gressions

• Rich sounding reading music

IMPROVISE AND INSPIRE

• Make your transfer student fall in love with your studio by including some improvisa-tion. Try the series Create First by Forrest Kinney if you need help getting started.


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Finding and Filling the GapsGames are a fantastic way to figure out where your transfer student is coming from, what they know, and what they don’t know.

I have had many transfer student who were already reading at the early intermediate level, but had no idea how to staff really worked, or understanding of note values and rhythm. With games, we don’t need to put our students through weekly drills and quizes to figure out where they need additional support.

RECOMMENDED GAMES FOR SNEAKY ASSESSMENTS

Note Names/Reading

• Lost at Sea

• Piano Puzzle

• Bass About Face

• Legend of the Ledgers

Interval Recognition

• The Step Ladder

• Finger Gymastics

• Interval Sprinterval Shminterval

• Interval Bob

Terms/Symbols

• Pit Stop

• Accidental Abacus

Rhythm/Note Values

• Musical Maths Matchup

• Relative Rhythms

• Honk Time

https://vibrantmusicteaching.com/lost-at-sea/https://vibrantmusicteaching.com/piano-puzzle/https://vibrantmusicteaching.com/bass-about-face/https://vibrantmusicteaching.com/legend-of-the-ledgers/https://vibrantmusicteaching.com/the-step-ladder/https://vibrantmusicteaching.com/finger-gymnastics/https://vibrantmusicteaching.com/interval-sprinterval-shminterval/https://vibrantmusicteaching.com/interval-bob/https://vibrantmusicteaching.com/pit-stop/https://vibrantmusicteaching.com/accidental-abacus/https://vibrantmusicteaching.com/musical-maths-matchup/https://vibrantmusicteaching.com/relative-rhythms/https://vibrantmusicteaching.com/honk-time/



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Teaching VideosDogs And Gates Aural Training Paddles

Vibrant Music Teaching Library RoadmapThis is a suggested order for the use of the resources, taking into account the levels, and repetition of concepts over time.

Keyboard Builder

Finger Twister Silliness Siestas Piano Builder

Musical Meander Star Seekers Rhythm Vocab 1

Music Alphabet Memory Line Space Leapfrog Landmark Landmines

3-in-a-Row Rest Savers Rhythm Vocab 2

Branch Boulevard Christmas Tree Climb Face Flashback

Landmark Xs And Os Take A Rest Symbol Splash

Egg Hunt Blind Bugston Buggy Bingo

Pumpkin Patch Match Grand Staff Twister Pumpkin Pairs

Lions, Tigers And Bears Bananas & Ladders Interval Bob

Reverse Spell-a-Staff Rhythm Vocab 3 Spell-a-Staff

Relative Rhythms Christmas Tree Matchup Diatonic Dominoes

Dynamic Dynamo Piano Puzzle Pentatonic Pig

Fiendish Fishiness Rhythm Vocab 4 Haunted Hillwalk

Signature Sprint Music Maths Matchup Major Elephant

Know It! Minor Bat Note Stem Smash

Ghost Quest Time Signature Snapperoo Silent Lingo

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Transfer Student Interviews - Amazon S3 · 2018. 8. 23. · • Pop riffs and chord patterns •...

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