Good vs. Great Teachers..........

May 9, 2011 at 3:13 AM

What traits does a good teacher posses? How about a great teacher?

I have had about 6 instrument teachers thru out my music career, starting with the trumpet in the 5th grade. For the most part, they were all good teachers. They were patient, communicated their ideas well to their students and for the most part got their students to play the way they needed to. But you could tell that as much as they enjoyed teaching, it was a job. Sure, the great students stood out in their memories, but nothing else.

Now what about a great teacher?

The violin teacher that I currently have, falls into this category. He knows each and every one of his students on an almost intimate level. He knows exactly who practices, who is late to their lessons, who is behind on payments, who is shy, who is outgoing, etc. He takes the time to really get to know his students.

Alex knows when I am getting frustrated and changes things up, or suddenly has me working on a few fiddle licks. When I hit a part or technique that I can't figure out, he takes me thru it as slow as I need. Or even thinks for a second to come up with a different approach to the problem. What makes this all the more incredible, it that he is typically thousands of miles away! Yes, I take lessons over the internet thru skype.

Many people think that the only way to take lessons is from a person in the same room as the student. While this is the best method, great teachers are able to overcome the miles and still get their ideas and methods across to their students.

Alex truly is a great teacher and an incredible friend.

From Heather Schuetz
Posted on May 9, 2011 at 7:31 PM

A great teacher truly makes all the difference. I have been playing (cello) for five years, and have had 6 teachers in that time (not counting my first and only violin teacher I studied with for a short while as a very young child). Seems a bit excessive, and it surely has not afforded me any favours. It has been very difficult, at least for me, to develop a strong fundamental technique when every new teacher was always quick to tear me down upon our first meetings and change every little thing (or in some cases, completely neglect certain aspects). Alas, the circumstances between teacher-moving were varied and always out of my control.

In this time I've met just about every pedagogical personality that one can meet in the music world; impatient taskmasters, those who saw me only as another paycheck (who would also flaunt favouritism of another student openly in front of myself)...yellers, great players who were not necessarily great teachers...etc.. But upon coming to my university, I have finally met a truly "great" teacher. Much like your own, he is an active, brilliant performer and has enjoyed more than a bit of musical acclaim. I came to his studio thinking I was fairly advanced for my time spent playing...which was an attitude he promptly corrected! Ha.

Yes, once again my technique has been torn down, and I've spent the last two semesters working it up from scratch, really paying attention to all those little things past teachers let slide. He promptly found the reason for my right hand pain when other instructors could only shrug. He communicates his technical ideas and thoughts clearly and efficiently, and never lets me get away with skipping any sort of step. Best of all, he's of the patient, non-degrading type, and seems to truly love teaching as much as loves performing. His students are all treated as individuals, and everyone has walked out of his studio this year having made great strides.

Even though my ego has been flattened into the dust, having been assigned "student concertos" in place of advancing my rep, and such...I have emerged from this year an entirely different player for it. I am beyond thankful I ended up with him, very much by chance I might add!

I only wish I had had him from the very beginning! Would have spared me a lot of heartache. But that is neither here nor there. All I know is that, when I begin taking serious students of my own, I am even more determined than ever to follow my current instructor's example and set them off on the right foot from the start.

I'm glad you have had the extreme fortune to finally meet your own Great Teacher, and I wish you the best in your continuing adventure. I do enjoy reading your blogs. :)

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Good vs. Great Teachers..........

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