Workshops and Private Lessons

[Jim Woods]

Okay instructors, have you ever been teaching a workshop and looked at your students and thought "They are just not getting it?" If so how did your over come this and make the "light" go on that Joe was talking about?

This is where class size becomes important. in a large class you have to try to teach the median. In a small class you can take some time to probe individual students to see what they are getting and what they are not.

[Jeff Hames]

well everyone its that time again...time to say goodbye

thanks again everyone for yet another great forum....just a reminder this is the last forum for 2008.

So we will see yall back here next year hope everyone has a great thanksgiving, christmas, and new years!!!!!

[Lee Cagle]

As a student, would instructors prefer that students enroll in a class that especially "challenges" them , one in which the student knows he is not excelling, or a class in which the student is comfortable but perhaps not as challenged. In which case does the student tend to absorb more information?

For me, the best case would be that the student need some challenge. That is, that they not be bored bcz they already know the information. But if a student is totally lost bcz they chose an intemediate level class but have only been playing for a month or so, I end up feeling bad. If a student has an open mind and good attitude, they can learn something, even if it is something small, from any class they attend.

[Jonathan Dowell]

As a student, would instructors prefer that students enroll in a class that especially "challenges" them , one in which the student knows he is not excelling, or a class in which the student is comfortable but perhaps not as challenged. In which case does the student tend to absorb more information?

Cool question. I admire students who are willing to stretch themselves. Try something for which you are not ready from time to time, but you don't have to make a steady diet of it.

Similarly, I try to make the class material have a range. So that everybody could get something, but that somewhere in the class there should be something that ought to be challenging to all the students. It isn't too difficult to provide that range of material in a couple of short examples, songs or exercises, in a one-hour class.

[Joe Collins]

As a student, would instructors prefer that students enroll in a class that especially "challenges" them , one in which the student knows he is not excelling, or a class in which the student is comfortable but perhaps not as challenged. In which case does the student tend to absorb more information?

It depends on the purpose for attending the workshop. If it is to learn, I think there has to be at least some challenge. Challenge, however, can be excessive, and thus inhibit learning. On the other hand, if it is to spend a great afternoon with people you love and music you love, then come on and let's have fun in the workshop!

[Tull]

Okay instructors, have you ever been teaching a workshop and looked at your students and thought "They are just not getting it?" If so how did your over come this and make the "light" go on that Joe was talking about?

Oh yes, that happens. I usually try and pick out a few "designated canaries" in each class - like the canaries the coal miners would take with them into the mines - if the canaries stopped singing and/or passed out, that would be a clue that there wasn't enough oxygen, and it was time to "come up for air". When I notice my "student canaries" are about to pass out, it means it's time to slow down, back up, and/or try a different approach - or even move on to something else and come back to it later.

--Tull

[Jonathan Dowell]

well everyone its that time again...

Happy holidays, Jeff. Thank you so much for providing this forum.
MTFBWY...