‘Be the person to teach them how to learn’ - Training an apprentice

Over the past two decades of violin making, I have become a professional learner. In my role as head of a workshop, I need to work alongside my colleagues while at the same time maintaining the role of team leader. In the process, I have discovered how this mindset of leader–partner translates from industry to industry, and from teacher to student. (Given my other role as a trainer of horses, I’ve even realised how it extends to different species!) Before training as a restorer more than 20 years ago, I worked for a time in human resources where I was exposed to matters such as ‘training scales’ and the ideas I explain in this article. They have helped me during my own apprenticeship, through to owning my own shop and my participation on the board of the Violin Society of America. I also found it helpful when I was setting up my own musical charity.

I believe that the rules and guidelines described here can inspire learners to participate fully in workshop matters, and grow more quickly by preparing the way both psychologically and developmentally…