As a teacher, it's easy to point out what students are doing wrong. I want them to improve, so I tell them what they need to fix, improve, work on, etc. But one thing I have been paying extra attention to lately is pointing out what student's are doing right. How often do we think we are doing everything wrong because no one acknowledged the many things we were doing right? How does we feel then? Like we can't do anything right? That we're just bad at whatever it is? What happens when someone points out what you are doing right? How do you feel? Competent? Like you can do it? Like you can improve? Less overwhelmed because you are already doing well and just need to do one or two parts a little better instead of changing everything?
I had a student who understood the concept of playing with curved fingers, but came back with her practice assignment completed, playing all the correct notes at the correct times but with flat hands and fingers. I pointed it out, and asked her to try again with the correct hand shape. She did better that time, and I told her so. The next week, I watched and she had corrected the hand shape for her new songs. I told her she had a beautiful hand shape and was doing great with that. It was never an issue again.
Another aspect of this is telling students when they have corrected the problem you've been working on. "Yes! You got the rhythm right!" or "Now that's how you play legato!" Go a long way in helping students build confidence in their skills. Yes, correct what is wrong, but also point out what is right.
Comments