I’ve been involved in mentoring other teachers for the past thirty years.  Back in the 1990’s I initiated a mentoring program that focused on having teachers observe Master Teachers in their studios.  After gathering names of teachers willing to act as mentors, I matched up attendees with Master Teachers living in the same approximate area.  My intent was to introduce new teachers to view highly motivated and successful lesson strategies.

 

More recently, in the summer of 2018, MCMTA President Alice Ma asked me to create a mentoring program for MCMTA members, called “Musical Camaraderie,” that encourages intimate group meetings to discuss pedagogical issues.  Our first meeting in the fall had over a dozen participants, indicative of the interest in such a program.  Those present decided that monthly meetings would be appropriate and a schedule was initiated.  I took notes of the meetings for future reference.

 

 

Topics have included:

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Repertoire suggestions

 

How to teach specific passages

 

How to deal with small hands

 

How to help weak fingers

 

How to set up a studio policy

 

How to attract more students

 

Setting up a webpage

 

Introducing sight singing

 

Holding group classes for students