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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 3: Phantom Students

These are students who more often than not simply fail to show up. Sometimes there's a phone call first (take your pick from "I'm sick/I had too much homework this week/dad can't drive me today/my shoelaces have a tough double knot that I can't undo"), but often there's no notice at all.

 

To make things worse, because you can't be 100% sure that they're not coming, it's difficult to use the time productively. You can't start things that require no interruption, and there's no way you're going to be able to schedule another student to fill the suddenly vacated slot.

 

And then—the Phantoms I love to hate the most—their parents will expect a makeup lesson. "But we PAID for 10 lessons" they'll protest "and little Caspar here only had 7..." Little Caspar can find another teacher, I'm not interested.

 

DEADWOOD CHECK: How often is the student a "Phantom"?

A) Constantly. To have them show up two lessons in a row would be a miracle (10 points)
B) Every semester I can expect some unscheduled no-shows (6 points)
C) It's an occasional issue (2 points)
D) Their attendance is fine (0 points)

 

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