Session 1- Pedagogy 101 for experienced teachers
In the opening session of the WMTA conference I was encouraged to go back to the basics and check the reasons behind why I teach. Do I see myself as a piano teacher or as something else? Why do I continue being a teacher? What do I value most in teaching?
Being a piano teacher is obviously a big part of who I am but I'm also a wife, a mom, and volunteer. Those are big hats to wear and those roles can compete with being a teacher. I'm reminded to be fully present during lesson time and fully engaged with my student and to continue to guard that time carefully.
I continue to be a piano teacher because I enjoy helping my students learn to appreciate the work that goes into performing on stage. When they know that the performer has put in a lot of time to play with excellence, they not only have a deeper respect for the performance, but are inspired to work hard themselves.
I value the time spent with students to watching them grow from week to week. When students come to a lesson excited about a new piece, or something else that really engages them, I am excited too and we dive in together.
Session 2- Smart Marketing
Any person running a business needs to keep their name in front of possible consumers. As a very small business owner I need to do that all the more, using simple, measurable, affordable, and targeted tactics to help potential clients remember the services I offer. One shortfall I have is not asking potential clients how they found me. I know many have found me recently because this web site but I don't know how many have heard about me from friends or by other means.
Session 3 - Behavior and Relationships
In this session I learned that the way I relate to others' personalities affects communication. This session had me thinking about myself and my personality as well as those closest to me. The key to great teamwork is communication and that communication happens many different ways. The more you know about how that communication occurs and what people perceive the better communicators we will be.
In the opening session of the WMTA conference I was encouraged to go back to the basics and check the reasons behind why I teach. Do I see myself as a piano teacher or as something else? Why do I continue being a teacher? What do I value most in teaching?
Being a piano teacher is obviously a big part of who I am but I'm also a wife, a mom, and volunteer. Those are big hats to wear and those roles can compete with being a teacher. I'm reminded to be fully present during lesson time and fully engaged with my student and to continue to guard that time carefully.
I continue to be a piano teacher because I enjoy helping my students learn to appreciate the work that goes into performing on stage. When they know that the performer has put in a lot of time to play with excellence, they not only have a deeper respect for the performance, but are inspired to work hard themselves.
I value the time spent with students to watching them grow from week to week. When students come to a lesson excited about a new piece, or something else that really engages them, I am excited too and we dive in together.
Session 2- Smart Marketing
Any person running a business needs to keep their name in front of possible consumers. As a very small business owner I need to do that all the more, using simple, measurable, affordable, and targeted tactics to help potential clients remember the services I offer. One shortfall I have is not asking potential clients how they found me. I know many have found me recently because this web site but I don't know how many have heard about me from friends or by other means.
Session 3 - Behavior and Relationships
In this session I learned that the way I relate to others' personalities affects communication. This session had me thinking about myself and my personality as well as those closest to me. The key to great teamwork is communication and that communication happens many different ways. The more you know about how that communication occurs and what people perceive the better communicators we will be.