Are (Piano) Students Really Different Today?

Music Teachers National Association: October/November 2006

"Are (piano) students really different today?"
"Yes. And we all are different today. "

Most of us would agree that the answer to this question is definitely "yes." The world changes very quickly and each of us adapts to these changes in our own way. What does this "change" mean to the teaching professionals? What do they mean personally to us as teachers and to the students that we teach on a regular basis? These changes should serve as catalyst for each of us to examine our teaching on a regular basis and then determine what adaptations are needed to effectively teach music to today's students.

Today's students seem busier than ever. With today's high speed social environment, the life simply demands people to stay in fast track all the time. People walk, run, and work with high-tech gadgets. We have "something" in our hands all the time whether it's a cell phone, i-phone, i-pod, computer keyboard. We constantly check e-mails, schedules, news, and so on. We no longer do one thing at a time. With technology, the entire world (so are we) expects things instantly. This need to have information so quickly is influencing students' attention spans and how they want to receive information in all learning situation. Such instant gratification makes it difficult for some students to practice the piano in an intelligent and patient manner.

E. L. Lancaster, who is well-known piano pedagogue, talks about how, we, teachers can help students to achieve their artistic goals through effective teaching ideas and materials.
The following list by the professor includes options for effective teaching.

• Choices: interesting repertoire selection beyond the traditional repertoire
• Musical style: expansion from current traditional repertoire and genre
• Teaching Listening: MP3, now i pods can help students to improve their artistic listening ability.
• Making connections: teach music by patterns, not in individual concept.
• Integrate learning: lead students to see that technique and functional skills are related.
• Make music fun and rewarding: it does not seem to happen in college level very often. Once they graduate high school, the fun and interesting environment in music class does not exist.
• Meet students where they are: subject matter in beginning methods need to be relevant to daily living.
• Make music fun and rewarding: we should be able to stimulate students' creative and artistic sides in fun and interesting learning environment.
• Make music social: organize groups for extra musical activities such as going concerts and giving performances.
• Incorporate technology into teaching: today's students grew up with high tech gadgets. Give them the tool, they'll do the rest.
• Performance venues: find venues for students to perform.

Yes, the world in which we live is changing quickly, and our students are different. They come from different backgrounds and expectations. Change is necessary; change is irreversible;change is difficult. How music fits into this changing world is the teaching profession's responsibility.

Let's meet the challenge with energy, enthusiasm, and new ideas!