I'm always looking for those little teaching moments. Unplanned moments in the classroom that can be used to further the artistic quest. I had an interesting one a couple of weeks ago. A young student at the beginning of the lesson was fixated on playing just one note. Although his mother had just asked him to open his music book and begin, he just played one or two notes very slowly and deliberately.
Before she could get angry with him for being disobedient, I said, "It's kind of cool huh?" He nodded. Then he said, as he played an open bass string, "I can feel the guitar vibrate when I play this one."
I agreed then said, "Sometimes I do this at home. Maybe two or three times per week. It helps me to work on my tone.... on making the music sound nice." His mother was a little confused but was becoming curious. I then eased my way into a short lesson on tone production. "Try striking the string this way...... now that way." For about fifteen minutes I alternated between showing him little things and getting out of his way so he could figure stuff out by himself. The kind of "give and take" that every teacher lives for.
I've spoken before about loving the process. That's what he was doing. Finding pleasure in letting his fingers touch the strings and joy in the result of causing them to play. He touched his guitar and it touched him back.
Reluctantly we made our way back to the lesson material, but it was a nice moment. He and I bonded a little and his mother got a glimpse at what it was like to be an artist. Not just someone who plays a few chords while searching for fame and fortune, but someone committed to the tiniest details.
As he began playing his song, a simple waltz, I noticed that his playing was a little more controlled. He didn't seem to be in a hurry to finish. When he did finish he pointed to a part of the music and said, "I like that part. Can I play it again?" Then he played it a couple more times. I explained how the section was written and how it fit with the other parts of the song. Then he played through the entire song once again.
As he finished our time was up and I concluded the lesson. He put his guitar away a little more carefully than was his custom and then, with a reminder from his mother, thanked me for the lesson. As they walked away he said to his mother, "I'm gonna play this for Dad tonight. Can I play it for Grandma this weekend?"