Some students are eager to learn, while others need encouragement. Some can be given instruction once, while others need to be told many times. Some students learn better by doing, while others learn better by observing. Some have the discipline to practice efficiently, but struggle to step out of their comfort zone. Others excel at spontaneity and playing what they feel and hear, but lack the focus to really master a challenging detail in a piece of music. A student can also be any age, with any kind of background or experience.
WE ALL have our strengths and weaknesses.
Regardless of what these may be, WE ALL have the ability to LEARN.
I believe that my job as a Suzuki teacher (and also as a parent!) is not to conform a student to one way of teaching, but to shape the teachings around how each student learns. I am excited by the student that does not adhere to an explanation that I've successfully taught to previous students. It forces me to think outside the box which in turn, forces me to learn something new. The more I learn, the more students I can reach. It is incredible to break down the door for a student and make a concept click, especially if done so in a completely new way.
What I've realized over the years is that we can also LEARN HOW TO LEARN, and how we learn can be influenced by the following factors:
Environment
Consistency
Time
In my next practice series I'll discuss what I've discovered about the importance of these three topics in regards to practice, parenting, learning and life.
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