How does the piano teacher maintain the students enthusiasm while working with this constraint?
Good question.
As long as we find time to work on core skills, it's great to explore repertoire way over our heads. We will have fun and learn a lot from the experience. But, if we neglect to cheerfully embrace the discipline of mastering core skills, we will grow bored and discouraged. In the end it's faster to learn the skills, embrace this discomfort of hard work than to jump all over the place.
Core music skills:
- Technique
- Aural Skills
- Sight-reading
- Theory
- History
- Repertoire
- Etudes
- Improvisation
- Group music making: duets
- Music appreciation through concert attendance
Here is a short story from my parallel passion of drumming. I devote a large chunk of my practice time on the core skills and fundamentals of drumming. I spend hours a week on time and tone. Yep, left, right, left, right or LLRR or RLRR and LRLL. I listen intently to the results. I analysis my movements. And on and on. I've learned to be patient. I've made some real progress over the last decade of study. I'm confident I will make more.
To learn more check this out: What do drum teachers practice? (superfundrumlessons.com)
Let me help you.
Call me. Let's get started.
David