What keeps students coming back week after week? It’s pretty simple really. They want to feel like they’re learning and they want to enjoy the lessons and the music. Knowing this, I do my best to give songs and pieces that resonate with them; and at the same time incorporate skills and techniques that will open up their musical world. This takes some work because it means I need to prepare ahead of time. Winging it is not an option. They deserve more, and they get it from me. And my students sense it and appreciate the quality of our time together. They know I’ve gone the extra mile when I work up a version of one of their favorite songs that they can begin playing with a little practice.

And you know something? I enjoy figuring out a Taylor Swift song for Linda. My god! I mean she asked me for it and I can give it to her at a skill level that she can handle. How cool is that! I don’t have to love Taylor Swift. What I love is fulfilling Linda’s request! That’s a win/win deal.

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It seems most everyone has a musical niche (or two). Could be folk or blues or good old rock n’ roll or current pop on the radio or whatever. I do what I can to please, keeping in mind we’re learning an instrument here. There are certain basics we’ve gotta cover or we’re not going anywhere.

Again, this kind of forethought takes time. It’s work. But it’s work that pays off in spades. When a student is learning and playing her kind of music, the process is alive and kicking. Are you going to force eight weeks of scales and dry exercises on someone who really wants just to strum and sing? Are you going to teach power chords to a fifty-nine year old woman who loves Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell? And all this because you believe that every student’s gotta learn the “right way” – meaning your way, of course.

So as I said… it’s simple. But you’ve got to pay attention to your student – to their wants and needs. Really get it! And then do your best.

People come back week after week because they enjoy what they’re learning, they enjoy the process of learning and they enjoy the lessons. I’m interested in my students and I let it show. I think we have a good time together. So you want your students to keep coming back? Be interested in their world outside of the lesson studio.

“How was school this week? Anything interesting happening?” Or maybe,

“Did you ever finish that deck you were re-finishing? The rains are coming soon.

You better get on it!”

I know how to pace a lesson so we can take some time to check-in and still get our work done. And I’ll say it again, that’s because I’m prepared.

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So here’s what I know. If you can give musical value that your student can work on and enjoy, and at the same time encourage a lively, caring ongoing relationship – you’re all the way home. You’ll be doing your best and your best will be plenty good enough to keep those beautiful students coming back for more.