DECORATIONS. I don’t normally decorate for the holidays but this year, I spent a couple hours in Goodwill, choosing from some holiday decorations that not only aesthetically complement my piano studio but, I felt provided even more of a sense of nurturing and comfort for my piano students, such as, a little reindeer popping out of a stocking that greets students when they walk in the door. I feel that this will add to their sense of feeling cared for.
LISTENING. I listen deeply, to everything. Even when I need to redirect a very chatty student to our next task, I always communicate that they were heard, and what they said had value. And truly, everything a student does and says, gives me valuable input on how to teach them better. Our best and most productive lessons, are when the conversation flows easily, alongside the learning. My students feel cared for. I think that this makes them feel safe to tell me anything from, what they like or don’t like doing in a lesson, to something special that happened in school that day.
REWARDS. I give a number of different rewards in my studio and, share with the student in their sense of accomplishment. There is no timetable on these rewards. They are rewards based on progress, or simply just participating in our piano lesson. I think this adds to emotional safety because, I’m meeting every student where they’re at, always looking at the “wins” and the “what they did well”.
I’m Virginia Smith and I’ve been teaching private piano lessons to adults and kids 4+, since 1996. My professional studio is located at Randall Rd. & Rt. 20 in Elgin, IL. Come for a free trial lesson, and see what a difference 30 years experience makes! 
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