Opinion: Reset, refresh, restore

When a teacher nurtures a music student it is always important that they reflect on their development as a person. After a pandemic during which online teaching was essential and societal upheaval monumental, this is arguably more important than ever.

Periodically, I have found it important to elicit feedback from students, especially if I feel that progress is slowing or that enthusiasm is waning. The last thing I want in the world is for lessons to be dull or to feel like a chore. If it’s not fun for my students, there is no way they will want to practise away from the lessons, or that teaching them will be fulfilling for me.

Students tend to find it challenging to be asked by their teachers whether they are enjoying their lessons: after all, the teacher is in a position of authority and surely must know how best to teach. They are likely to hesitate, to scrutinise the teacher in the hope of guessing the ‘correct’ answer – or to worry that if they say ‘no’ it will be marked as a negative by the teacher. Phrasing the question in a different way is likely to lead to more useful responses. For example, asking a student what they most enjoyed in the lesson may be more illuminating through what is omitted…