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 Elton Joel RW2   2'25
With apologies to them both. A rock piano solo without lyrics.

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Recording (mp3, 1.9MB)

 Elegy RW2   2'25
Many, many parts to weave and balance - needs ensemble skills, even though it's for solo piano.

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Recording (mp3, 1.6MB)

 Grumpy Trolls RW2   2'25
A contest piece with bite. Storms and stamps all over the piano before the jump-up-and-bow finish.

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Recording (mp3, 1.2MB)

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 Snowflakes RW2   2'25
A delicate picture piece - how many shades of quiet can you play?

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Recording (mp3, 0.9MB)

 MicroWaltz RW2   2'25
Less than a minute long. For early intermediate students.

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Recording (mp3, 0.8MB)

 Processional RW2   2'25
A concert opener that quickly breaks out of its initial stately reserve.

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Recording (mp3, 2.6MB)

Deadwood Students                 back to magazine homepage

by Philip Johnston

Introduction | Groundhog Day Students | "Whatever Students" | Phantom Students Bookless Wonders | The Bulldozer Chatterbox | Mannequins | The non-practicer
The Arguer | Painful Parents |"Can't do" students | Checking the final score

Type 5: The bulldozer chatterbox

Don't confuse this with students who are just naturally talkative—some of my favorite students have been those who like to start each lesson with a soliloquy, and continue the chat if given the opportunity. But "opportunity" is the key difference: these students also know when it's important to turn off the word torrent, and just listen.

Bulldozer chatterboxes have no such filter. They'll be interrupting you two sentences into every explanation, and without so much as a bare acknowledgement of what you had just said, will change the subject completely. Lessons become all about trying to segue back from wherever-the-heck-they-just-were to what-we-should-be-focusing-on, but even the segues themselves can be subject to the conversational equivalent of cutting in on the dance while the orchestra is still warming up.

In short, bulldozer chatterboxes take away two of our most powerful weapons—communication, and the ability to set the agenda. For the half hour, your studio is a House of Monologues, and if it gets bad enough, it can feel as though you almost don't need to be present. Offer to get them a mirror so they can maintain the discussion, go get a coffee...and advertise their space for another student.

 

DEADWOOD TALLY: To what extent is your student a Bulldozer Chatterbox?

A) By ears bleed every time I teach this student. They have no idea when to shut up (10 points)
B) It's not constant, but they definitely tend this way (6 points)
C) It's an occasional problem (2 points)
D) Not at all. They know when to listen. (0 points)