In this episode, Neil tackles the issue of ‘getting the buggers to practice’. In an online poll, it is identified as the challenge that stands between students achieving what they want to achieve and is the biggest source of frustration for their teachers.

Listen in to hear about some practical tips and strategies that will work for all your students.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• If someone is paying me money to come and spend time with me, to learn what I know, to get what they want, why are they not doing the thing that will bring them success?
• Students don’t like being given orders, they see the practice as grey and boring.

I restructure the language and with younger students insist they don’t practise at all. This will result in a push back as they will want to do the opposite.

• I will ask students to ‘explore this, muck about with this’

Identifying the motivator for students will enable you to get them to comply with what you want.

• There are two kinds of motivation;

Motivation towards something

Motivation away from something

• Away from gets you moving in the short term but try to work out what the student really wants, and then try to put in any small action that moves you in the right direction towards their goal.
• I look at the long-term picture for students. I am trying to grow a love affair between them and the instrument.
• One of the most compelling things you can do to gain compliance is to encourage a student to do what they want to do. Give them content that is interesting and exciting to play.
• Notice what is working for them and reframe it in a positive way, being flexible in your approach. Try to make it interesting and inviting for the student.

BEST MOMENTS

‘I want them to do what they want to do’

‘We have to work on building trust’

‘Do everything you can to lower the resistance’

‘Slice it up – the thinner the slice the easier it is to get compliance’

‘Ask them to do things in very short bursts’

‘The more often a human being returns to an activity the more impact it has on progress’

‘If you push too hard you will just get ‘turn and churn’ and that’s not good for business’

VALUABLE RESOURCES

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Weird-Things-Guitarists-Do-Misconceptions-ebook/dp/B01M2YRARG/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-tutor-podcast/id1369191372?mt=2

www.Neilcowmeadow.com

ABOUT THE HOST

Neil Cowmeadow is a maverick peripatetic guitar teacher from Telford with over 19 years’ experience in the business of helping people. Learn how to start, grow and love your business with Neil’s invaluable advice and tips without the buzzwords and BS!

CONTACT METHOD

[email protected]