Yo-Yo Ma in Masterclass
Approach with caution.
Coaching the young musician is both a joy, and an intense challenge.
No one told me that they were so impressionable.
Nothing was said about how sensitive they tend to be.
Again. Approach with caution.
I continue to be stretched and challenged myself as I coach young musicians. Yet, I am continually encouraged – even invigorated by the talent these young ones possess! (Gosh, I feel like an old pedagogue. Trust me, I’m not. I feel all of 29 years. Again, trust me, I’m not.)
I want to highlight 3 best practices when working with young musicians. Each of these have not only brought me a smile, but one for the young musician too.
Best Practice No.1: Be Enthusiastic
Take a cue from world renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
His enthusiasm as a performer is obvious – and contagious. Young musicians who have had the privilege of being in his presence at a masterclass have often marveled at this intoxicating enthusiasm of his.
Your enthusiasm for music and life will translate to the student musician you coach. They will take away from the coaching session more than just tips on performance or musicianship; they walk away envying the zest you possess and possibly even aspire to be as enthusiastic as you.
Start the session with a hearty greeting!
If you’re meeting the young musician for the first time, get to know him/her a little more than just: “So, who’s your teacher?”
Be enthusiastic over the music itself! It’s refreshing – and the student will gain something from it!
One more thing. Be enthusiastic, and you might save a young musician from falling by the wayside and wasting his talent.
Best Practice No.2 : Be a Source of Encouragement
Honest encouragement and affirmation only strengthens the young musician’s efforts. A positive, nurturing environment in a coaching session reaps its rewards in good time.
Listen when they apologize for mistakes – then assure them that they are in a “safe zone” to make all the mistakes they want. Be sure to tend to those mistakes, and provide solutions. (Make some “mistakes” of your own – and then say, “Don’t you just LOVE it when teachers make mistakes?!)
Be attentive to their playing, and offer praise for aspects of their performance you genuinely find praiseworthy. If all else fails and their performance abilities are lackluster, create little ways for the student to succeed. And then praise.
Best Practice No.3: Be Professional, not Petty
Many of us serve as music coaches to students who do not belong to our studio. Their private teachers entrust these students to us to help them polish their performance skills.
This is a trust we cannot and must not break.
By this I mean: be professional when you encounter students who might have performance issues, who might show little or no knowledge of the fundamentals.There is a strong tendency for us to point a blaming finger at their teacher – don’t cross that line. It isn’t professional, and serves only to undermine the trust and respect the student might have already forged with the teacher.
Instead, take time to BE a teacher even in the coaching session. Unlike Liszt, who told his students to “do their dirty laundry at home”, take time to suggest solutions for challenges that the student might be encountering – then and THERE at the coaching session.
Instead of criticizing, take time to CORRECT. The student’s teacher will THANK you!
Respect the fact that the interpretation or technical solution which the student has embraced may have in fact been the suggestion of the teacher. Work with it and offer your musical opinion as just that – an opinion. Ultimately it is the young musician who must make the choice.
Coaching young musicians has its rewards. Being enthusiastic, encouraging and professional only serve to secure these rewards. Happy coaching!
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