Am I The Problem

This semester, in our studio, there are many intermediate and advanced students who are working on Beethoven, Chopin, Rachmaninoff, etc. Their pieces are certainly highly demanded in technique and musicality. Students are nervous when learning and face a new challenge each time.

I’ve noticed that when my students are stressed I tell them I need to get a cup of water or tea and when I leave the room, the playing goes surprisingly well. It’s taught me that sometimes we need to step back and give space to let a physical response emerge and give a student that room to explore on their own.