Pretending You Didn’t Hear

Here's a common situation in my studio.

Me: Okay, what key do you want to improvise in for a warmup?!? (super enthusiastic)

Student: I don't want to improvise... (definitely unenthusiastic)

Me: Okay, G major, awesome, great choice!! Let's do it!! (grooves in G major)

Student: (Reluctantly starts improvising in G major...and eventually comes to enjoy it.)

To make change happen, sometimes you have to pretend you didn't hear the other person.

And just hope they don't call you on it.

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For parents, students, and anyone else who believes that music can and should be a meaningful part of everyone's life.

About Jonathan Roberts

I am the founder and director of the South Shore Piano School, and I have been teaching the piano for nearly 20 years. My work centers around bringing music to the lives of kids, parents, and adults in an enriching, meaningful way. At the South Shore Piano School, my incredible colleagues and I accomplish this through skill-based teaching, community, and an innovative, people-first business model. You can read more about me here.

Pretending You Didn’t Hear

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