Supporting Educators • Promoting Learning
Written by ANDREW EALES
“Advice is like the snow. The softer it falls, the longer it dwells upon and the deeper it sinks into the mind”
Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834)
One of the key roles of a piano teacher is to help their students make direct improvements in their playing. To do this we must identify the priority areas that need attention, hopefully without turning into the scolding teacher in the photo above!
In this article I will share some suggestions on how to offer helpful criticism, encouraging positive progress and enthusiastic learning.
I will cover the following points:
- Why Accuracy Matters
- The Piano Teacher as “Critical Friend”
- Golden Tips for Giving Constructive Feedback
Listening to our students play and offering suggestions for improvement is certainly not the whole of a piano teacher’s work, but in many lessons it will be a central feature…
Continue reading Piano Teaching and the Art of Criticism