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In this Case Study Portfolio I will describe my students’ technical, intellectual and musical skills and problems. I will record the progress made over the period of the Portfolio in relation to those attributes, describe the work undertaken and assess the achievements. I will put emphasis on good practising regime and clearly-structured lessons that stimulate and develop my students’ musical skills, imagination and knowledge.
Oliver
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10 years old
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has been playing the piano for 6 months
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taught since November 2014
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lessons once a week for 1 hour
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passed Grade 1 with distinction (April 2015)
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working towards Grade 2 (June 2015)
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also working towards Grade 4 in violin
I’ve been lucky to start working with a student that has been playing another instrument for the last 5 years and had some kind of musical knowledge before our first lesson. Unfortunately his violin teacher didn’t show him how to practice effectively, how to approach a new piece and what a musical expression is. After being asked by Oliver’s mum to recommend a violin teacher, I was happy to give her my friend’s details and since then he’s been musically supported by someone else as well.
Oliver is a very bright and hard working child. While accompanying him for his Grade 3 exam in violin I noticed that he wants to play everything as fast as possible and doesn’t actually listen to the sound that comes out of his fingers. When it comes to his violin playing, he finds playing in tune difficult but unfortunately he doesn’t react or intend to correct it when he doesn’t play something accurately. He treats progressing to the next grade as a challenge and a way to compete with his younger sister.
My general aim for the first 6 months of our work together is to evoke Oliver’s interest in piano and music in general. I would like him to start listening to the sound that comes out of the instrument and react to it. I think that it would be useful to work on his aural skills. It would be helpful not only in the listening and singing section of the grading exam, but also in his violin playing. I hope that it would influence Oliver’s perception and sensitivity towards the sound (rhythm, melody and harmony).
I’ve been teaching piano for over six years and have been constantly developing my skills as a teacher. If you would like to start Piano Lessons in London, please get in touch with Edyta Lajdorf – piano lessons London instructor – for more details.