my teaching style

I've been teaching private violin lessons for about 5 years now, 

and I think that I've officially figured out what works for me as a teacher.

A few years ago, a violin teacher at BYU taught me that the best way to teach a student is 

for them to teach themselves. 

I don't mean that they should be sent home with all new material to learn all on their own, 

but that the student should use their own problem solving skills to fix 

whatever they might be playing incorrectly.

How I do this is by asking my students questions.

Instead of just telling them what they played wrong,

I ask them to look closely at the music and to tell me what was played

incorrectly.

Then they have to play it right! 

Its not a perfect science, but I have found a great deal of success with

this method of teaching.

My students fix mistakes almost instantly if they find the mistakes themselves.

Teachers, try it out and see if it works for you!

There is usually a bit more "silence" during lessons when my students are thinking.

But I think it is SO good for them to teach themselves.

Good luck!

Let me know what you think!