The 10 Commandments of a music student
I’ll let you in on a little secret … there are certain things students do that every teacher LOVES. So if you are starting lessons and want to get off on the right foot with your tutor, follow these 10 commandments and you’ll create an amazing relationship with your tutor straight away!
Thou shall be punctual.
Tutors have put aside a part of their day for you. They have many other students and many other things to do in a day. Do your best to arrive to your lessons on time - your tutor will greatly appreciate that!
Thou shall clarify instructions when confused.
Even if a tutor may have a lot of experience teaching and explaining certain skills or concepts, every student learns differently and understands things in a specific way. So if there is something you don’t quite understand, tell your tutor right away! We cannot read people’s minds so don’t be afraid to ask questions or clarify instructions if you are unsure. It shows you are highly invested in your own learning and we really love that.
Thou shall arrive to lessons with all required material.
There is nothing worse from a teacher’s perspective than when a student rocks up without their music books. The plan we had for your lesson falls to pieces. This issue can put dead in its tracks any momentum we had. To avoid this from happening, we suggest preparing your music bag the day before your lesson this way you are sure not to forget anything.
Thou shall practise the assigned homework between lessons.
When you leave a lesson, you should have a series of tasks or goals that your teacher wants you to work on over the week. Completing these tasks means you can progress onto the next thing. So if you don’t get them done, you are not able to progress. It becomes frustrating for your teacher if they have to repeat the same thing for weeks on end because you have not done your homework. Treat your music lessons like any other school subject, with homework to complete each week. You’ll progress faster this way, and your teacher’ll love you for it!
Thou shall not be afraid to communicate thou’s goals.
Whilst your teacher will most likely have some kind of plan for your education, we do also love learning about YOU and what lights YOU up! Tell us about your musical aspirations. What kind of music do you enjoy playing? What songs are you dying to learn? This helps us tailor your lessons to your unique interests.
Thou shall not assume thou knows better than the teacher.
Music tutors have studied music for many many years and are experts at their instrument. Some have studied music at university. Don’t undermine your teacher’s skills, knowledge and qualifications by telling them they are wrong. It’s just very rude. If you think you know better than your teacher, we suggest you stop lessons altogether.
Thou shall respect a teacher’s decisions.
Following on from Commandment 6, show respect for your teacher’s decisions. It is okay to ask questions such as why you are learning a particular thing, but chances are your teacher has set you a particular piece, etude or exercise for a particular reason. The reason may not always be clear, but there is one!
Thou shall respect all studio policies.
A studio that has many students to manage necessarily requires a set of policies and rules for it to function efficiently. We don’t make rules because we’re mean, but because it makes life easier for everybody. It also keeps things fair for everyone.
Thou shall not be afraid of making mistakes.
The beautiful but not-so-enjoyable part of learning music is you’ll make mistakes. Lots of them! So what? Accept them, rejoice in them. You’re LEARNING! Learning is all about making mistakes, dealing with them and finding ways of not making the same one again.
Thou shall enjoy making beautiful music on beautiful instruments.
Let’s be honest - our ultimate goal as tutors is for YOU to enjoy playing! Although the ride may be bumpy and challenging, we do hope that whatever piece you play, you find its beauty and enjoy making awesome sounds on whatever instrument it is you are playing. Don’t forget what music about!
