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Learning to love or learning to loathe music

Psychology for my students #15

Learning to love or learning to loathe music: 

You know those pupils who try to control the lesson, insisting on doing this and refusing to do that, and you worry about their progress and what their parents or other teachers might be thinking?

Controlling behaviour is borne out of a deep, often unconscious, fear of being unable to cope – of impending chaos and catastrophe, if they can’t succeed.  So, stay with your pupils in their enjoyment, following their lead, and finding opportunities to reinforce their confidence, while very gently extending their skills. 

Enjoyment = engagement = learning with the love that will last a lifetime.