Post-Summer Lesson Guide

"Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall."

- F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

As teachers, we have the same extended summer vacation time as our students, which means time to travel, relax, or work on projects we have been postponing all year. I opted to stay in the city this year, teach a few students who stuck around as well, and work on writing solo piano music that I will record this fall. It has been productive in many ways, but most days have been spent at a much slower pace than what I am accustomed to during the year. For a season associated with growth, activity, and peak production in the natural world, it felt more like a long nap with a few good dreams wafting in every now and then.

Now that September is right around the corner, I’m preparing for my students’ first lessons. The main challenge will be to find the most effective way to get everyone back to where they were before the break and then make progress before the end of the year comes. This year, I am implementing a practice calendar and goal sheet to help students visualize their objectives and progress. If they complete these goals and practice a certain amount of days, students can earn a (tbd) prize (with a parent’s signature of course!). I am going to play along as well, the main “goal” being recording the album. Hopefully by the end of the semester, my students will all have more difficult techniques and pieces under their fingers, and I’ll have some new music to share.

A practice chart can’t be the only motivator, however; we all need a little boost in the first few weeks to get back on schedule. Here are a few ideas of things to do to wake everyone up during those post-Labor Day lessons.

Ask students what they did over the summer!

If I haven’t seen a student in 2 months, I feel the pull to immediately start reviewing and assigning new material. However, this can make a student anxious and may start the lesson (and the semester) out on the wrong foot. Spend a little time reviewing their summer adventures instead! They might be really excited to tell you about a trip overseas, or a camp they went to, or about new experiences and friends they made. Let them express themselves and the lesson will be more relaxed.

Don’t do too much, choose a few items to review and give a small assignment for the next lesson.

Remember that all your young students are starting a new grade or even a new school. They have many new assignments from their classes and new teachers. Don’t try to review everything. If the student gets overwhelmed they might be discouraged to practice during the week, and you will be back to where you all started at the next lesson. Choose one or two things to review, like a few pentascales or a couple measures of a new piece, and give them a very clear, but small assignment for the week.

Choose a recital piece.

If a student doesn’t have a whole lot of play for you due to lack of practice, you can always spend some time playing possible recital pieces for them and working out a practice plan. Students will enjoy hearing you play and get excited about what they can accomplish in the coming months.

Once they are in a routine, set clear expectations for them to follow through.

As students adjust to their new homework loads, they must also implement a practice routine, which can be helped along by encouragement by parents and teachers alike. Check in with them at the beginning of each lesson by asking how much they practiced, what they had trouble with, and how they managed their time. Modify the assignment load to fit their routine to ensure success. When students feel good about their work, they will want to accomplish more!

If we view the beginning of the fall as a time of renewal for our routines and expectations and not as an end to our vacation, then we can feel better about getting back into the swing of things.