I prepare my lessons. I now think long and hard about what my students will study. I’ve never been a cookie cutter kind of teacher, every one gets a tailored lesson, yes, just like it says in the pamphlet. But there are just about a thousand directions a player can go. It is not easy to prepare for every eventuality. I’ve been writing pages of exercises and songs to play along with for the last three years now. I’ve completely revamped my teaching in the process. I’m going much slower and more detailed than before. The students appreciate it, I can tell. They can see how they will be able to build their skills, which tools they will use, which method to go with. I try to put myself in their shoes and imagine what it feels like to learn how to do a roll or a trill. I try to remember how I learnt my own skills, what worked and what didn’t.
I have written close to 2000 pages in 3 years, and that’s a low estimate. I’ve written hundreds of songs to accompany the written material. It is a lot of work, for sure, but I enjoy it, I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. Besides, I notice that people respond to my efforts. The lesson are now much more relaxed and easy going than before. I would invite you to come and see for yourself the new method I just described, only I don’t have much room in my schedule right now, I’m afraid I would have to put you on the waiting list.
