Parents
The Elf Corps Studio teaching method stresses learning
to read musical notation and tablature with an additional focus
on performance techniques.
We encourage students to continue playing when
they make a mistake, instead of stopping and trying to correct
the mistake. Students learn "if you mess up, catch up"
getting them to realize right from the outset that they must
keep pace with the music. If they will be performing with other
musicians, this is a vital skill to acquire early.
We teach students how to learn music by giving
them specific tools to use when learning any piece of music,
no matter how difficult it is. The student can use these learning
principles and techniques long after they leave the studio atmosphere
and in many different areas.
Students are given conditioning and strength exercises
to keep fingers limber and stretched so they are able to play
for long periods of time without pain.
Knowledge is tested with "pop quizzes"
from time to time; this encourages students to refresh older
material so they don't forget early lessons.
We encourage students to make all of the mistakes
they need to make when learning new material. Once all the mistakes
are made and out of the way, they can just play the material
any time they like.
We stress that students need only learn something
once.......after that, they can just play it. It doesn't matter
how long it takes you to learn something -- you only have to
learn it once.
We realize each student is different and there
are many different learning styles. And, depending upon the
amount of practice they get between lessons, some students progress
faster than others. We don't believe that in week 5, every student
should be on lesson 5. Some may be stuck on lesson 2 and others
may be at lesson 9.
We start with basic material, and develop an
individual lesson plan tailored to the student.
