So, long story short: I’ve been a musician for pretty much all my life. After a massive hearing loss, I picked up drums about a year ago and I’ve had so many great teachers myself. Now the local music school asked me if I could teach drums to their kids. They lost their former teacher due to old age.

I have rarely dealt with children. Sure, I was a tutor for some when it comes down to languages, but teaching music? That is so new to me and I’m actually afraid.

I am all gauntles right now negotiating the deal here: I want espescially girls to learn a new intrument. They must be bored out of themselves just playing the flute, organ and piano.

So, my approach is probably this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VL5oBbriJuQ

:D

Any hints or tips you can give me? Please?

I’m a 38 years old lesbian with basically no clue whatsoever when it comes down to dealing with kids… ^^

EDIT: I’m afraid the girls want me to play pop music on the drums, and I get easily bored by that.

Watch one of my drumming teachers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHl_gsd0OR0

XD

  • littleomid@feddit.orgEnglish
    10·
    7 days ago

    Mate if you get bored playing pop songs, it’s not the job for you. I am a former drum teacher, and 90% of the students only remained at a basic rock beat level, because they either don’t have drums at home or that they won’t practice. Prepare yourself for lots of monotone hours playing same grooves and same songs. Look for some very easy songs and make a playlist, so you can cycle them.

    The dealing with the children part is the easy part in 1 on 1, as opposed to in school. Just treat them like you would treat an adult, but be a bit gentler and softer. Because you are a Woman, you will automatically be less menacing. Just take it easy and talk to them.

    • TotallyNotSpez@startrek.websiteOP
      6·
      7 days ago

      Thank you so much for your input. :)

      Yeah, I do get a lot sidetracked, when I feel a song is too boring, but I’d love to teach some young ones the basics and then go wild afterwards.

  • ZDL@lazysoci.al
    5·
    7 days ago

    I taught classroom EFL for 16 years and have continued tutoring on the side even after I got back into marketing. A couple of pieces of advice leap to mind:

    1. In tutoring treat the students with the respect and gravitas you’d give an adult, with perhaps a slightly firmer hand in direction, and a slightly gentler hand in voice and word selection.

    2. Never presume to paint a picture of their future in your head because … well, for now well over 50 tutored students, I’ve had 3 who got the fire of what I was teaching. The rest just did the bare minimum needed to pass their exams and move on in their lives. When you find one in whom a passion ignites, enjoy that and cater to that. For the rest, just do the job you’re hired to do.

    3. If the lessons are interesting to the students, you have the greatest chance of igniting that interest. Which means if they want pop, give them pop. (Don’t ask me how many times I’ve had to play and teach “Yesterday Once More” here, despite me finding it the single sappiest song in all of existence!)

    • TotallyNotSpez@startrek.websiteOP
      3·
      7 days ago

      I am so in awe of what you wrote. I want to ignite that spark in children, and I know it’s a private school, so there’s that, at least. All the kids are there because they want to learn music, not being dragged there or anything.