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bullying at their high school for being such an orchestra geek and attending this after school ensemble you are teaching usually edifies this sad fact. Now you find yourself reaching into your purse for anti-depressants or a noose. Older students can focus better than their younger counterparts so it is easier to get them playing sometime before class time ends. The only problem is that most high schools have poor string programs, so the noise they make is actually noise and is quite depressing. Telling them to play scales is disappointing to both you and them because they do not like attempting to play things they do not understand how to play. Furthermore, you are sad because playing scales is a fundamental they should have already encountered by high school. Everyone's self-esteem is pretty much shot, especially yours when you are quite certain the elementary and middle school groups will probably be ready for a seasonal concert before your high school group. To perk up everyone, allow for some minutes of improvisation while having the latest hip and happening pop music drowning out the noise that is being created.

Individual lessons are the best because you will have time to focus on the strength and weaknesses of each player and this is for the first time you actually see the light at the end of the tunnel. Students progress drastically through individual lessons. You can figure out what motivates them to learn, play, and to feel better about their instrument. However, you can tell if individual lessons are going to benefit the student by interviewing the parent(s). I once had a parent who informed me that she would like to cut her kids individual lessons short on Fridays because it is important for them to take vacations as a family. That translated into never seeing the students for their set lesson times. She then became depressed when her two sons were not progressing in ensemble like the other kids. It was an interesting scenario, I was dismayed by her actions as I was not sure exactly what she wanted from the program.

The Violin is a difficult instrument to play and at the end of the day students make it worse. If you can have robots replacing the students, I think string teachers will become amazed of their own talents as teachers. However, this will never be the case and it is up to teachers to assess themselves. Too many times teachers do not assess themselves and blame the students, but the students are usually giving back to you what you have given them to work with. If your ensemble sounds like a flock of seagulls, let go of your defenses and try to make it work. You never know, SeaWorld may be looking for such a themed album.

Learn more about this author, Danielle Corbett.
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