I still remember the lesson notebooks my piano teachers dutifully wrote in every week. When practicing, I would often check their notes for gems of wisdom, all too often hidden within illegible handwriting. (Some of my students still accuse me of having terrible handwriting–they’re right…) Fortunately, technology now allows us to send these lesson notes much more efficiently via the internet in order to create even more clarity with our weekly lesson assignments as well as (hopefully) greater student and parent engagement in the process.
One of the features of Music Teacher’s Helper that I’ve found most useful is the ability to send lesson notes when a lesson is reconciled. But in order to do this, you’ll need to get to an internet-equipped computer. Some of us do indeed have internet-ready computers in the studio. Others have wifi connections that allow them to use a laptop during lessons. Depending on teaching circumstances and certain types of students, it is not always advisable to use a computer in the studio. Some teachers feel that there is a partial disconnect when dividing attention between the student and a computer, instead feeling more comfortable with the old-fashioned (but still effective) tool of the student notebook.
What do you do in your own studio? Click on the link below to visit the poll and answer the question.
Music Teachers: How do you write lesson notes for your students?
This is a multiple-choice poll, so you are welcome to select more than one answer if applicable. If none of the answers reflects your situation, you can also add a new answer. As always, your input regarding your favored lesson note writing system is welcome–just leave a comment to get the discussion started.
Nice idea of writing lesson it gives me an idea.
Thanks for the post.
I often wondered would it would be like if I were taking trumpet lessons today with a teacher like I had 30 years ago. His notes and lesson plans were long and laborious. Good Blog, by the way.
I print out my Daily Summary Report from MTH, leaving a wide margin so I can jot down notes to type into MTH later. This allows me to see on the summary what we did last time, how much the student owes or has credit for, phone numbers in case I need to contact a missing student, and as I reconcile the lesson notes later, I also can send materials by email if called for. I don’t mind jotting notes down during a lesson but would feel detached using a computer or palm pilot. For a few younger students I also write notes into their notebook, especially when the lesson notes are emailed to their parents instead of to them.
I enjoyed reviewing the results of your poll.
I stopped using a dictation book last year and opted instead to use my eensie laptop (it sits beside me on the piano bench). At the beginning of each lesson, I either start an email to the student (and cc the parent) or I go to my ‘sent’ folder and pull up their lesson email from the previous week.
I can then either add to the email or change what I need to change as the lesson progresses. Exercises that seem to help stay in the email for several weeks at a time and are added to at will (no re-writing on the next page!) while notes about particular things to work on in repertoire can be changed if required or deleted when accomplished.
Any notes or reminders (such as a lesson time change or recital location, etc.) I add in BOLD at the top of the email with a specific note to the parent.
At the end of the lesson, I click ‘send’ and -voila- lesson notes appear in the student’s inbox (and in the inbox of their parent, if the student is young enough).
I am a very fast typist and a very messy writer. This is the easiest, most convenient way to communicate effectively with most of my students (and their parents).
What an amazing post! I would like to thank you for sharing your ideas. You are putting very good effort into the stuff you post. Keep up the good work
I use a practice log that I make for each student that they can also tick off the tasks required as they do them when they practice.
Does anybody find if you email notes then the students don’t print them out and use them? If it is in a separate book, they can have it with them when they practice.
Good to know that information technology and music education were integrated to enhance more the given lesson.
Interesting idea,informative and thanks for your great work.