Flexible Structures

It's not uncommon for students or parents to say they prefer a less structured approach to music lessons.

It could be because it feels like creativity is lacking.

But most often, it's because progressing in music requires emotional labor that most of us aren't comfortable with at first. So, it feels easier to say we prefer less structure than it is to say we're having a hard time.

But when we take the "fun music," unstructured approach, the same thing happens every time.

The student realizes not much progress has been made after four months of this "new" approach. Lessons are directionless. 

And then it feels like maybe it's time to take a break, as one does with other directionless, "fun" activities.

It's possible to be too structured, that's for sure. But there's no such thing as unstructured instruction. We call that playtime. 

The answer is flexible structure.

Playing with elements of the structure to suit the emotional and pedagogical needs of the student. But maintaining a direction and metric for progress, nonetheless.

It's like playing a video game.

You can have all the fun you want in video game land. But if you don't know the object of the game, the fun dies quickly.