I am beginning teaching kids. I have teached 4 or 5 friends-adults before in the last years, but always for free and just because I liked it.
In the last 2 months, i have taken the decision to begin teaching professionally. This is something I have always been wanting to do. Though I am 35 years old and I am still studying in the Conservatory, finishing my official music studies (only left 2 years to obtain the tittle of "Music Teacher"). I've been reading this forum for the last 2 months, and I have learned a lot about teaching here!.
I've choosen the Bastien Piano Basics Method to teach kids. I live in Spain and though I would like to choose the Faber&Faber method there is no spanish version, as far as I know. I have bought the premier, first and second level piano books and i have begun teaching my own sister (5 1/2 years old) with them. I like the method. I also bought the book "How to teach piano successfully" and I am learning a lot with it.
Next week I will begin teaching my first 2 kids. They are 6 and 7 years old. I have talked with the parents about one hour lessons, 2 days per week. I think about doing a first 20 minutes for both (group lessons) and after that: 20 minutes for each of the kids individually.
I am worried about keeping the attention of the 2 kids during lessons. The 2 kids have been learning for a year with another teacher. The parents said they were a little bit bored about the lessons and decided to change teacher. I plann to do a few games for fun, singing and ear training in the first 20 minutes of the lesson (group lesson). What do you think?

I am glad to be here and I will try to post often. This new period of teaching is very exciting to me.

I think your arrangements might work out well, but don't be afraid to make adjustments if you find it's not working. Have a lot of options to switch activities if you feel you're losing them. Change where they're learning too. For example, you might have them doing an activity at the piano, then when you switch to something else, move to the floor, or another corner of the room for that activity. Also incorporate some sort of movement, like marching to the beat of a song, dancing in different ways in response to music (short sounds and long sounds, for instance). Incorporate as many different learning styles as you can for one concept (visual, auditory, tactile) to help reinforce them.

At this age, don't be afraid to do lots of repetition, but not so much that they are bored. You will probably get bored with repeating something before they do, however.

mcpepe, welcome to the forum.

Sounds like you're off to a good start.

I've found there is usually a big jump in learning and focus between 6 yr olds and 7 yr olds, so keeping them together, while beneficial to the younger student may be helpful and challenging to her, it may cause the older girl to "coast" as we say. You might want to check up after 3 or 4 months and see if they shouldn't be on separate tracks.

Just a thought.

Best wishes, John

That's an interesting point, John. However, I think that the older child can learn from being the leader, setting a good example for the younger and also help explaining to her, and if the teacher lets her know this (and perhaps reminds her if she goes astray), there will be less chance of misbehavior due to boredom, and it will reinforce what the older student has learned by being the teacher's "assistant". But definitely monitor things in case this set up needs to be altered.

McPepe,

Welcome!

I like your approach which I sometimes use in a family group situation - having the entire lesson viewed by all participants.

The results I've gotten have been very interesting in that each student has been comfortable in sharing their time, of course, the common denominator is that they have known each other all their lives.

It is important, I think, to keep the progress balanced while providing different materials for each student if they are of different age groups or levels.

If the "group" is of the same level, I have both play the same music packet (my own music selection not from a method), but they would not play the same songs during the same lesson. I think they get a little competitive if the same music is for both and the level is the same. It would be better from my point of view, that they each have their own set of different songs each week. And, they get to hear more songs, rather than repetitions of the same. Ultimately both will have accomplished the same material in the same time length. So I recommend selecting enough music and making lesson plans for a time frame such as 10 weeks, or 13 weeks which equals a "semester".

I feel your good, enthusiastic spirit and wish you much success and enjoyment with your students.

I would also recommend that everyone do some singing together and alone, and that you play your guitar for them from time to time. If you have hand held rhythm instruments, this could be a lot of fun for them, too.

Keep posting here! I'm going to be very interested to hear from you!

The music is very important, and so also is the relationship you develop with your students.

Betty

Morodiene - a very valid point. That's why I issued it as a caution. I've seen it work both ways.

Thanks for the help!

All this advices are helping me a lot. I will keep you updated!

Yesterday i teached my first lesson with the 2 kids. I am really happy. It was a lot of fun! We did 30 mins with them together, with flashcard games. Afterwards, we played the piano for 15 mins each one. Total: 1 hour.
They have a lot of methods and songs (Alfred and some other methods). They were already playing songs about the level 1 of Bastien Piano Basics, but they played with a lot of errors, stops, so I think I will have to do a lot of review before getting into level 1 again.
The 7 years old child has been playing for 2 years and the 6 years old child has been playing for 1 year. But there is not too much difference in level between both.
I am very happy to be teaching.

mcpepe,

I bet that makes you want to jump into the air and click your heels!

Ole!

Betty