Blog - Oclef

How do we help our students realize they’re growing?

Oclef teamMay 21, 2016 Teacher No Comments

How do we help our students realize they’re growing?

When a music student first begins, improvements are clear to see. One week they don’t know what a treble clef is and the next week they know the names of several notes. Forward progress is motivation for any student. It helps them to make music...

It’s all in your head: How a child’s mindset changes everything

Oclef teamMay 18, 2016 Teacher No Comments

It’s all in your head: How a child’s mindset changes everything

Teacher

The spring recital is often the time when music teachers give out rewards, honors and special prizes to make an example of their best students. While most parents and students see winning something as the positive outcome, I have a different perspective....

Overcoming performance anxiety in music recitals

Oclef teamMay 15, 2016 Perform No Comments

Overcoming performance anxiety in music recitals

Perform

This weekend we had our Spring Recital. Even though our studio performs monthly, we still have two major recitals a year where students play an extended program. The longer program makes preparation difficult. I normally take a seat front and center....

How can we get students into the deliberate practice mindset?

Oclef teamMay 12, 2016 Teacher No Comments

How can we get students into the deliberate practice mindset?

Teacher

Looking at the cadenza of Rachmaninov’s third piano concerto I’m searching for patterns. Layers upon layers of music are added as I attempt to resurrect this masterpiece. I’ve done this thousands of times before and every time it feels...

What are parents really paying for in music lessons?

Oclef teamMay 09, 2016 Music Education Advocacy No Comments

What are parents really paying for in music lessons?

Music Education Advocacy

I love music. I spend most of my day in and around music. For as long as I can remember I have always dreamed in music. It has brought me all over the world and has taught me more than any other single thing. Music is the lens that I see the world through....

Going beyond music lessons to shape student’s lives

Oclef teamMay 06, 2016 Music Education Advocacy No Comments

Going beyond music lessons to shape student’s lives

Music Education Advocacy

I sent a survey out to my studio this past week. Among a pile of great feedback and static, I found an obvious, but really helpful insight. Parents want personalization for their children. As with any premium service or luxury product, customization is...

Addiction to Performing

Oclef teamMay 03, 2016 Perform No Comments

Addiction to Performing

Perform

His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy” Eminem opens Lose Yourself with the image of someone battling ‘Fight or Flight’. I think this is a battle that we all face. Speeches, performances, interviews or sports are all events...

Facing fear in learning music

Oclef teamApr 30, 2016 Music Education Advocacy, Teacher No Comments

Facing fear in learning music

Music Education Advocacy, Teacher

Balance is a powerful, yet simple force in our world that often goes unnoticed. It’s incredibly beautiful when observed and it hit me this week when teaching. I have a retired student that I teach every week – for privacy let’s call...

The theory of motivating music students

Oclef teamApr 27, 2016 Teacher No Comments

The theory of motivating music students

Teacher

About two weeks ago in my beginning music theory class, I decided to have students assign their own homework. Previously, I would tell them they had to get to a certain point, I’d draw a stop sign and hope they’d finish. This never worked....

The tension of student retention

Oclef teamApr 24, 2016 Teacher No Comments

The tension of student retention

Teacher

A parent who doesn’t normally attend her child’s lesson came into the studio the other day. There is always an awkward air in the room when this happens. Obviously the parent is in the lesson for a purpose. The few times in the past that this happened...