New Music Project

New Music Project

I was recently able to collaborate with Johnny Cowan on his new CD, In the Key of Faith. It was an amazing project that I am proud to have been a [small] part of. I got involved when Johnny's wife, Heidi, started cello lessons with me. So long story short, I went and recorded the cello part to three of the tracks. They turned out awesome!! I then got to play with the band for the release concert. I've played my cello just about everywhere else, but this is the first time I've played in a band. Hopefully, not the last.

The concert was recorded, so he may be putting videos of it on his website, but the tracks are already there and should be up on iTunes soon. They're all good, but you can hear me on Well Done, You Answer Me and Weary Eyes. Check it out!

Being Yourself as a Teacher

Being Yourself as a Teacher

Over the last 17-18 years I have been teaching, I have realized that my teaching has changed dramatically. Mostly, I have become more confident in my own abilities and philosophies. Not every teacher is for every student. Rather than trying to mold my teaching philosophies around what others expectations, I stick to my guns and teach the way that I like. When you do this, you have to openly accept that there are some out there that will completely disagree with you, and that's okay.

For example, I had a transfer student who's mother was insistent that he be in a program like the Royal Conservatory Program he had studied under in Canada. They wanted me to teach him with that method. She thought he needed the structure to keep him focused. I could clearly see that he was above needing a graded method. It would only hold him back. So I didn't teach him that way. In the short time I taught him, he went from Level 5 to the equivalent of Level 7 or 8. However, his mother, who was living out of the country and couldn't see the progress he was making decided to put him with a teacher that used one of these types of methods. In the end, there is no use arguing.

This does not mean you get stuck in your ways and don't structure each students program to their needs. I will teach a boy differently from a girl because they learn differently. The trick is not to get stuck in one method or program. You must understand what it takes to be a good musician and then use the best materials to teach your students these principles. It involves a great deal of flexibility.

Personalities also vary. I remember sitting in pedagogy class (a college class on learning how to teach music.) and hearing my teacher talk about how sarcasm doesn't work and should be left completely out of teaching children. In a way she is correct, malicious, depreciating sarcasm has no place in teaching. However, I find light-hearted almost joking sarcasm works very well for me. As music teachers we obviously would appeal to very different groups of students.

You win some and you lose some. Some students will love you and others will not. You have to be yourself, because every student can tell when you're not being sincere. The point is to teach them the best way you know how, and help them love the music.

Welcome to my music blog!

Welcome to my music blog!

I am excited to finally have this website underway. The Wedding section should be completed shortly. I hope to start adding recordings of my playing soon. The student section will be set up within the next couple of weeks. That will allow students to schedule make-up lessons and see the available times. They will also be able to see where they are scheduled for the week.
This blog will be periodically updated with articles about music, teaching along with links to great music websites. I hope that my students and their parents(for the younger ones) will check back often and find tips on practicing, technique discussions and much more.

Always feel free to comment, or send an email. Click here for my most recent post!

See ya around,
David