Show your students their greatness.
Proper technique + individual expression
This isn't a toxic positivity post.
You have to critique, change course, say “Do this”. This is necessary to grow and improve.
A lot of teachers only do this, though. I feel this is a mistake.
Every single person who wants to express themselves through an instrument could sound unique, like a music fingerprint. But because we (as teachers) instruct, “Do it this way” since that's what we were taught by people with degrees, we often miss the moment where we can encourage our student's perspective to rise to the foreground and alter how a song can be delivered to the world.
Proper technique helps avoid injury, helps make learning pieces easier, and helps with feeling confident. True.
Proper technique + individual expression = potent combination.
This is what I mean by “greatness”. What is that unique way of expression that wants to emerge? That's what we ought to look for within our students.
Think of it this way:
The song Nature Boy by Eden Ahbez has been covered by many artists.
Nat King Cole's version is very different from Miles Davis’ version which is different from Ella Fitgerald's version which is different from Bobby Darin's version which is different from David Bowie's version.
Why? It's the same song no matter who performs it.
Each person, with their superb technique, brings their greatness into it.
Listen for that greatness when your students play, when they’re working on that technique, and bring that out.
We teach this.
