5 Ways to Make Piano Students Feel Special

Here at Greenside we value every student as an individual, and, even though we teach a lot of people, we aim to provide everyone with a unique musical experience. 

These are 5 ways we use to make students feel special: 

1. Piano Hands 

Every time a new student begins their musical journey at Greenside they join the Piano Hands. One of their hands is drawn around on a coloured piece of paper, and their name and the year their lessons began is written on the hand once it is cut out. When laminated, it is then displayed in the entrance hall for all the students to see when they arrive for their lessons.

Students enjoy searching for their hand, and hands of other students they know, as it provides them with the sense of belonging to our musical community. 

2. Featured Greenside Pianist  

If we believe a student is illustrating an inspirational trait, for instance impressive progress, enthusiasm, musicality, or dedication, they are recorded performing their most recent piece for our website's page Greenside Featured Pianist. Here, their hard-work and talent is rewarded by being showcased in a way that allows their performance to be admired by fellow Greenside Pianists, while also providing the student with a lasting record of their musical achievement. 

3. Greenside Post

Before exams and recitals we ask students to write notes of support and encouragement to fellow musicians. Students who are working towards taking an exam or performing in a recital may feel nervous, however by receiving messages from other students offering encouragement and advice they know they are supported within the Greenside music community. 

Read more about Greenside Post here. 
 

4. Tailored-Made Worksheets

Georgina creates tailor-made worksheets for the younger students in order to cater for both their abilities and their interests. The students have commented that they enjoy the personal touch, and are always excited when they see their own name on the worksheets.

One example is a worksheet for a girl who loves her cat, Sid. Georgina produced a musical message written for the girl from Sid: 

 For a student who was struggling with the notes in bass clef, Georgina created a special worksheet to try and boost her confidence and understanding:

 

5. Specially Composed Pieces 

Catherine has composed pieces for a selection of her students, either to mark an event or occasion in the student's life, or to suit the needs of the individual pianist. 

 For example, Catherine wrote a piece for Rachael Nicholson to commemorate her moving away to university (although we're very pleased that she keeps coming back and is currently having lessons and working towards her Grade 8):

For Wendy Waters, Catherine composed a piece that will feature in a collection of piano solos that will suit the needs for her more mature but less musically experienced students:

We hope that all of our students feel special and valued, and that by having piano lessons at Greenside they feel they are part of a caring, musical community.