It is difficult for me to believe that I have now completed my second semester teaching flute lessons at The Falk School. This semester was filled with old students and new students, and I certainly saw myself improving as a teacher. 

One of the big challenges of this semester was that many of my students were not intermediate or advanced, but were early-beginners. On the very first day of lessons I received notice that I would be receiving three new students who were eager to learn flute so that they could join the school band. I was a bit nervous when I received this news not so much because I didn't want to teach beginners but because I didn't know how effective I would be as a beginner teacher. Nevertheless, I am glad I took on the challenge because I received probably the most spirited "Three Musketeers" out of the entire school.

I must admit that it wasn't so much the "beginner level" that was challenging. What was challenging was teaching three beginner level students at one time in a rather small room. At first I was convinced that all three beginners should be given their own lesson. However, as soon as I saw the strong friendship that existed between these three students, I immedietely changed my mind. What I learned by teaching these three students is that patience is a virtue. There will be many days where one student understands the music and another student cannot seem to make a sound out of his/her flute and somehow you have to teach both of them at the same time. However, I also learned that by teaching three students at one time, you can have them play duets and be excellent examples for one another. Often times if one student couldn't remember a note, another student taught her the correct fingerings before I was able to say anything.

My students learned to be good students but also good teachers. 

Contrary to these three beginning students, I continued on with three or four of my old students which was wonderful because I was able to see how they progressed from one semester to the next. I also had one advanced eighth grade student who I greatly enjoyed teaching. She made probably the most progress out of any of my students simply because she was a player who practiced daily. My greatest accomplishment this semester was getting this student to play an open-holed flute at the end of the semester. At the beginning of the semester, I began to take one hole out at a time and by the end of the semester her sound was ten times louder than it had been at the beginning of the year. One of my favorite moments occurred during her lesson when after playing a song she turned to me and said, "I sound so good right now. I can't believe it." There is nothing better than when your own students recognize their progress and are proud of such accomplishments.

Lastly, before I close this chapter in my journal, I wanted to talk about one of my most unique experiences as a teacher. This semester I was given a beginning level student who had taught himself to play the flute after just one week of practicing. In addition, I was informed that he had Tourette Syndrome. Although his ticks were very slight, he had absolutely no ticks when he was playing his flute which I found to be amazing. This particular student traveled far jumping from beginner music to intermediate music by the end of the semester.

I have had such wonderfully unique and talented students at The Falk School. As a second semester teacher, I have improved my teaching style so that each student is progressing at a pace that is right for them. Unlike my first semester, this semester I truly saw some amazing results. I am proud of my students and what they have accomplished.