My giggly teenagers drove me nuts tonight.
By The Horse
@TheHorse (220068)
Walnut Creek, California
August 5, 2021 12:22am CST
My guitar teaching week ends with two 15-year-old girls who are best friends. I work with them together for an hour, and they have been fun over the last several months, but they're also driving me to drink.
One understands music much better than the other. But the other has a better sense of rhythm than the one who understands music. I can tell that neither of them practices much during the week, but they ARE both learning. I am teaching them electric bass, not guitar.
Should I separate them and give each a more individualized lesson? Should I let them have fun and hope that they learn to practice when they're not with me? Should I start buying wine in cases? Should I jump off a cliff?
I invite your thoughts.
11 people like this
8 responses
@Butterfingers (66583)
• India
5 Aug 21
I think it would be better to let them have fun and enjoy and that may help them learn quicker
5 people like this
@Butterfingers (66583)
• India
5 Aug 21
@TheHorse yes we can hope that they move forward and progress
2 people like this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
6 Aug 21
@Butterfingers I will report in again late next week. --Horse Woodward
2 people like this
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
5 Aug 21
It is not your responsibility to make them want to excel. Not every 15 year old is Paul McCartney. Some will return to their instruments later in life and regret their lack of discipline. At some point in our lives, we all regret our lack of discipline about something. But even if one is not proficient, it's nice to revisit our musical aspirations.
5 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (47618)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
5 Aug 21
Did you ask them what their intentions were? Do they want to get into a band or do they just want to have fun? Seems like the latter.
2 people like this
@41CombedaleRoad (5952)
• Greece
5 Aug 21
they obviously enjoy having the lessons together so I would suggest that you have alternate lessons, one for them together and one for them separately. Or maybe you could divide some lessons giving one something to practice while the other has a normal lesson and then vis versa - whatever suits you best.
3 people like this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
5 Aug 21
The alternating "sending one off to practice" sounds like a really good idea. I may try it. I have had a couple of "20-20-20" sessions, where I worked with each for 20 minutes, and then both of them together. Maybe I'll try sending each off to practice something for 15 minutes or so so I work more closely with each of them for part of the session. Thanks.
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
5 Aug 21
Check out @41CombedaleRoad's comment and my response. I may actually do what she suggests. I want it to be fun for them. I want them to love playing music. But I also want them to learn.
2 people like this
@aureategloom (11094)
• Bosnia And Herzegovina
5 Aug 21
should i jump off a cliff? 
maybe you can see how they're doing when they have separate classes and tell them that they'll play together when you notice they're practicing, maybe that could motivate them.
and then - if they're doing it just for fun, let them have fun 
maybe you can see how they're doing when they have separate classes and tell them that they'll play together when you notice they're practicing, maybe that could motivate them.
and then - if they're doing it just for fun, let them have fun 4 people like this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
5 Aug 21
I'm going to focus on fun for now. At least they come every week. But see @41CombedaleRoad's suggestion. I may try that as well.
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
6 Aug 21
@aureategloom I will report back. --Horse Woodward
@aureategloom (11094)
• Bosnia And Herzegovina
5 Aug 21
@TheHorse i just did and i think that's a good idea. good luck!
1 person likes this
@m_audrey6788 (58472)
• Germany
5 Aug 21
I think you have to give them separate lesson where they actually need to understand more or somehow to focus on their weaknesses 
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (80635)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
6 Aug 21
If they cannot be serious when together it might be best for them to have separate lessons so they can learn more and better,
1 person likes this
