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Sometimes it is hard to measure success. We try this, we try that, but it's difficult to know what it is that worked, exactly. Maybe it was nothing, the child was just ready at that time, or maybe they learned despite us.
But I had a moment last week when it dawned on me one thing I've done that has been very successful. Two middle school girls have been overlapping lessons for 15 minutes for 1.5 years now. After our last recital, I assigned new music to all students. The girls who have been playing duets, came back with the rhythm rock solid. They had a very clear sense of the pulse, tapped the rhythm, and could count it any number of ways. The ones who have not done many duets definitely have a weaker grasp of rhythm. I have all my students count a LOT, in many ways, but there is a big difference between those who do duets every week, and those who do none or maybe once a year. It does work!

Carol

I play duets with my students on a regular basis. Sometimes it's simply playing their piece with them on a 2nd piano, sometimes I improvise a duet part, or sometimes there is a duet provided. You're right. It's invaluable.

I've been trying to do more of that with my students who have similar abilities. Problem: they are over-extended with extracurricular activities.

These two girls have hour lessons, and overlap for 15 minutes. I actually get paid double for those 15 minutes. It's scheduling duet practice at other times that is really hard. I wish more of my students overlapped!

I think having two students play a duet with each other does more to improve rhythm than playing with them. Too bad more of my students don't/can't do duets. I have two best friends who come together, actually with one girl's younger sister also. They reserve the whole 90-minute block, and all three girls come together, two waiting while I teach the other. So if the best friends are doing a duet, I just use some lesson time from each to have them practice it. They really enjoy it, and it does seem to improve their counting considerably.

very good post, you should film one of your duet sessions

Carol, do most of your students take hour long lessons?

After reading your post I updated my website to list fees for 45 minute weekly lessons and 1 hour weekly lessons (instead of only listing fees for 30 minute lessons). At least parents will see that there is an option for longer lessons. And I've found that hour long lessons are going very well with a 12 year old beginner.

I'm beginning to think that several of my students would benefit from longer lessons.

Eventually, 1 hour per week is not enough. A few of my students take lessons longer than 1 hour.

Of course, I've taught a Level 5 student whose mother refused to pay for anything longer than a 30-minute lesson--and it's not because they can't afford longer lesson times. Some people just don't value piano lessons very much.