Is it possible to Is it possible to do it all?do it all?ISMTA ConferenceISMTA ConferenceDeKalb, ILDeKalb, ILNov. 12Nov. 12thth, 3:20-4:10 p.m., Room 101, 3:20-4:10 p.m., Room 101LeAnn Halvorson, IMTF Chairman, ISMTALeAnn Halvorson, IMTF Chairman, ISMTA

Not always, but our goal is Not always, but our goal is to always tryto always try

Combining activities Combining activities The “All in One Assignment The “All in One Assignment

Technic/Dictionary”Technic/Dictionary” helps students helps students learn technique fingering while also learn technique fingering while also learning music theory.learning music theory.

Activities requiring thinking about both Activities requiring thinking about both fingering and theory helps accuracy, fingering and theory helps accuracy, saving us time.saving us time.

Example from: “All in One Assignment Example from: “All in One Assignment Technic/Dictionary”Technic/Dictionary”

I couldn’t do it I couldn’t do it because……………..because……………..

Excuses reduce our Excuses reduce our teaching timeteaching time

Students lose focus in the goals we Students lose focus in the goals we set for their practicing.set for their practicing.

Use clear assignments that are Use clear assignments that are

harder for them to lose.harder for them to lose.

Arm them with information that they Arm them with information that they can access during week.can access during week.

Be available for their questions.Be available for their questions.

Example from: “All in One Assignment Example from: “All in One Assignment Technic/Dictionary”Technic/Dictionary”

Piano Parents are not our Piano Parents are not our enemyenemy

Always keep piano parents Always keep piano parents informed.informed. They want their student They want their student to succeed, but don’t always know to succeed, but don’t always know how to help.how to help.

Use a Studio Policy, modify, and stick to it.Use a Studio Policy, modify, and stick to it. Show parents how you assign material. Show parents how you assign material. Inform parents when work isn’t done.Inform parents when work isn’t done. Show parents ways to help students.Show parents ways to help students. Send studio information and bills monthly. Send studio information and bills monthly.

Be available for their questions.Be available for their questions.

Some are harder to help, have funSome are harder to help, have funYoutube: “The Music Teacher and the Parent”Youtube: “The Music Teacher and the Parent”

Example from: “Peer Performance Evaluations” Example from: “Peer Performance Evaluations” and one of my student’s report cards.and one of my student’s report cards.

Meet the StudentsMeet the Students

It is easier to schedule students It is easier to schedule students of the same level together, but of the same level together, but can work with mixed levels of can work with mixed levels of ISMTA Achievement in Music ISMTA Achievement in Music students.students.

Jordan, Senior in High School, doing level Jordan, Senior in High School, doing level 11 AIM. 11 AIM.

Marta, Sophomore in High School, doing Marta, Sophomore in High School, doing level 10 AIM. level 10 AIM.

Gregory, Junior in High School, doing level Gregory, Junior in High School, doing level 7 AIM.7 AIM.

Peter, in 6Peter, in 6thth grade, doing level 6 AIM. grade, doing level 6 AIM.

Both Jordan and Gregory took last year off from Both Jordan and Gregory took last year off from lessons and came back this year after listening to lessons and came back this year after listening to motivational speakers, Alex and Brett Harris, motivational speakers, Alex and Brett Harris, authors of: Do Hard Things authors of: Do Hard Things www.therebelution.com/www.therebelution.com/ Three of these Three of these students had moved to another state with their students had moved to another state with their family several years ago and came back.family several years ago and came back.

Hybrid piano lessons?Hybrid piano lessons?

Hybrid isn’t only for cars or Hybrid isn’t only for cars or computer programs, but can computer programs, but can

also be for lessons.also be for lessons.

60 min. partner lessons 60 min. partner lessons (2-4 students)(2-4 students)

80 min. partner lessons 80 min. partner lessons (2-4 students)(2-4 students)

100 min. partner lessons 100 min. partner lessons (2-4 students)(2-4 students)

Why? More flexibility in the lessons Why? More flexibility in the lessons Theory training during lessons.Theory training during lessons. Learning by osmosis.Learning by osmosis.

2 students can work in the main room while 2 2 students can work in the main room while 2 students work in the side music room on: students work in the side music room on: sight reading, theory, and ear training, etc.sight reading, theory, and ear training, etc.

Hybrid = Easier to teach Hybrid = Easier to teach sight reading & ear trainingsight reading & ear training

Students can work on a lot Students can work on a lot while the other students andwhile the other students andI work in the main room.I work in the main room.

Sight ReadingSight ReadingEar TrainingEar TrainingDuet PracticingDuet PracticingTechnique with the computerTechnique with the computerSolo practicing with computerSolo practicing with computerCompositionCompositionTheory with the computerTheory with the computeretc…………………………………etc…………………………………

Hybrid = Easier lesson Hybrid = Easier lesson schedulingscheduling

Built in ensemble Built in ensemble partners, every week.partners, every week.

Flexibility in ensemble groupings that Flexibility in ensemble groupings that are possible.are possible.

Duet: “Fantasy” by Timothy Brown, Duet: “Fantasy” by Timothy Brown, FJH Publishing, In Recital Duets, FJH Publishing, In Recital Duets, Book 6, Volume OneBook 6, Volume One

No down time if a No down time if a student can’t make it to a student can’t make it to a lesson.lesson.

Somebody is always there to teach.Somebody is always there to teach.

Consolidated scheduleConsolidated scheduleMore students taught in less time.More students taught in less time.

Hybrid = Easier to teach Hybrid = Easier to teach techniquetechnique

Students are more likely to Students are more likely to practice technique if they practice technique if they know they must keep up with know they must keep up with others.others.

S = ScalesS = ScalesC = Chord ProgressionsC = Chord ProgressionsA = ArpeggiosA = ArpeggiosT = Tonic Chord InversionsT = Tonic Chord Inversions

Points are given students for Points are given students for achievements and they pick from achievements and they pick from a “goodie box.”a “goodie box.”

Is it possible to Is it possible to do it all?do it all?Not always in every lesson, but with careful planning, Not always in every lesson, but with careful planning, student and parent participation, in most lessons.student and parent participation, in most lessons.

Special Thanks to my husband, Marty Halvorson, and daughter, Lauren Halvorson Special Thanks to my husband, Marty Halvorson, and daughter, Lauren Halvorson for helping me with the video and power point technology.for helping me with the video and power point technology.