Got a job giving lessons--need suggestions

[JayP5150]

I was recently blessed with a job giving guitar lessons at a Christian-based studio.   My 1st lesson was Thursday, and it's this 8-year-old who's practically a genius.  He's been playing for almost 2 years.

Here's the problem:  the last teacher just pumped him full of songs (and chords), but he doesn't know any key structure, or anything.  I think it's time he learn this, and I think he's smart enough to get it, but how do I break this down to his level?

I thought about telling him we're going to write a song using, let's say G C D and Em, and telling him that this is the key og G, etc. etc. etc.  I figured that this would be fun nd get him to grasp the concepts as well.  Oh, he likes classic rock, but doesn't really want to learn leads yet.

Any hints from the experienced teachers?

Oh, BTW, I've played for over 12 years, but have never formally taught (just friends and stuff).  You guys have seen my posts, so you are familiar with my knowledge--I'm just having a hard time watering it down for the young ones!

Any help would be a blessing.  God bless y'all.

[uriahsmusic]

WITH STUDENTS IT IS USUALLY BEST TO ASSESS WHAT THEY KNOW AND DONT KNOW....
MAYBE A SHORT TEST OF SORTS!

IT IS OFTEN GOOD TO REFER BACK TO WHAT THEY HAVE LEARNED AND EXPAND ON IT SO THEY DON’T FEEL OVERWHELMED!

ANYTHING NEW YOU TEACH..TRY TO USE WHAT THEY KNOW AS PART OF THE EXAMPLE OR THE POINT OF REFERENCE.

EXAMPLE
.  HERE IS A SONG THAT YOU ALREADY KNOW.
WE WILL NOW TAKE APART THIS SONG AND SHOW YOU THE THEORIES IN MUSIC APPLY!

LOOK AT ANOTHER SONG THAT HE KNOWS.
LET HIM FIND SOME THEORY POINTS IN IT.   LIKE THE 1 OR THE 4 OR THE 5!

WHAT EVER YOU DO, WRITE OUT A PLAN FOR A FEW LESSONS AT A TIME SO YOU TIE ONE LESSON TO THE NEXT! THIS WAY IT WILL MAKE SENSE TO THE STUDENT.  THEY USUSLLY DON’T REMEMBER EVERYTHING SO YOU CAN START EACH LESSON FROM THE END OF THE LAST LESSON WITH A SHORT REVIEW OF THE PREVIOUS LESSON!

GOOD LUCK!

[JayP5150]

Thanks, that's what I had in mind, and that's what I told his mother, but I was a bit worried just because I don't have any experience teaching young children.  If he was 12 or 13--no problem, I guess I just don't know what an 8 year old can grasp.

His previous notebook is HUGE!!!  But, yeah, I'm just hoping he can grab a hold of theory by doing what you were talking about.

Wanted to make sure I wasn't shooting too high for him.

Thanks.

[uriahsmusic]

..AN 8 YEAR OLD SHOULD BE IN THE THIRD GRADE.
SO BE CAREFUL ABOUT TEACHING THEORY ABOUT THINGS THEY CANT SEE!
FOR EXAMPLE USE A TIME LINE TYPE OF DRAWING TO SHOW THE NOTES IN THE MUSICAL ALPHABET AND HOW IT REPEATS.

   Bb               Db            Eb
l---l----l-----l----l------l------l------l------l------l------l-----l------l------l------
a  a#  b     c    c#     d      d#

KIDS NEED PRAISE!  SO TEACH IN SPURTS...THEN TEST THEM ON A SMALL AMOUNT OF INFO SO THEY CAN GET 100% GRADE. THEY WILL BE MOTIVATED AND WANT TO GET MORE GREAT GRADES TO TELL THEIR PARENTS ABOUT!

REMEMBER A KID CAN RETAIN THAT 1 = 1=2 BUT THEY MAY NOT KNOW WHY!

THEY DON'T NEED TO KNOW THE DETAILS OF WHY EVERYTHING HAPPENS RIGHT NOW SO DONT BE AFRAIT TO GIVE THEM CERTAIN FACTS AND EXPECT THEM TO REMEMBER THEM.
OFTEN THE REASONS FOR THINGS CAN BE MORE CONFUSING THAN THE THINGS THEMSELVES SO FEEL THE KID OUT!...LONG MOMENTS OF SILENCE WITH NO INTERACTION GENERALLY MEANS YOU HAVE LOST THEM AND THEY DON'T WANT TO DISRESPECT YOU OR FEEL STUPID THEMSELVES SO THEY WONT TELL YOU THEY DONT GET IT!  THEY WILL JUST TELL THEIR PARENTS THAT THEY HATE THE CLASS.
..
   DONT BE AFRAID TO ASK REPEATEDLY..."DO YOU THINK YOU UNDERSTOOD THAT?...IF THEY PAUSE...JUST BE PATIENT AND EXPLAIN THE CONCEPT AGAIN...YOU MIGHT TRY A DIFFERENT APPROACH...YOU CAN JUST FEEL THE KID OUT ON THAT!

[JayP5150]

Thanks again, man.  

Our manager told us to have stickers or m&m's or something for kids when they nail an assignment (occasionally).  He complimented my sticker-laden guitar case, so that would be a good reward.  I think I'm being more paranoid than I need to be.  I appreciate the support.

Oh, if anyone wants to view the mugshot and read the bio, it's at www.studio43.org .  Go to "our teachers."  I'm Jeremy (Jay is a family nickname, and it stuck throughout life--it's easier to write anyway!).

Thanks, Uriah.  Later.[/b]

[zdubs]

hey
good job with the new career.
I teach at the YMCA here and it is definetly a new experience teaching young ones. I often ask 2 or 3 questions over and over one after the other so they see the relation or relativity between the different things.  if i were you i wouldnt worry to much about getting any complaints, you seem like a nice guy and making kids smile and want to be there often goes farther than the stuff you teach them at their age. If you see they are getting bored remind them that it is all important and let them know that the not-so-fun stuff will lead to the very fun stuff.  If they get bored maybe start a new topic because as you know there is alot that can be taught at there level and you dont want them to stop taking classes.  Uriahs wisdom will go far and hopefully mine will get you somewhere:).  anyways just make them laugh and enjoy themselves and they will then apply themselves.  I have a class of 5 11 year old girls and they are playing burners im tellin ya.
take care and good luck
zach

[JayP5150]

Thanks!  Unfortunately, it's not a new career, just a supplemental one.  I teach on Thursday evenings at a studio--well, it was actually a recording studio, but the owner moved to Illinois and took the equipment with him, so now it's just lessons (same owner, though).

Good news, I found out that one of my trial lessons from last week is returning! (12 yr-old girl)  So, that's good.  I appreciate all your kind words.

Thanks.  God bless.