Tia Leschke

> >
>
> I could have written the above myself. He WANTS and needs my help at
> this point. I am actively involved in his practices doing just what
> you said above (I am also musically gifted) and I attend every single
> lesson with him so that I know what the instructors expect him to
> work on (and what we can leave aside). Unfortunately since these are
> group lessons (there are about 30 kids at each lesson with 3
> instructors that take turns teaching while the other 2 roam around
> the class) we're running into the typical "teach to the middle"
> mentality that leaves out the slower/faster kids. They're doing a
> good job of teaching the basics but sometimes I really squirm when
> they do truly pointless exercises and talk to the kids like they're
> all slightly brain damaged. :/
>
Is this the only teaching situation available? Is it possible that one
private half hour lesson per week would work better and not cost much, if
any, more?


> Beth
> ps(Now he wants to play the xylophone(!) so we're looking into that
> too.)

If he does, I know a young marimba player who might have some tips. If
you've read Marty Layne's Homeschooling: A Mother's Approach, he's one of
her sons. (Well, he's one of her sons whether you've read it or not. <g> )
Tia

wanderingmommy

--- In Unschooling-dotcom@y..., Tia Leschke <leschke@s...> wrote:
> > >
> >
> > I could have written the above myself. He WANTS and needs my help
at
> > this point. I am actively involved in his practices doing just
what
> > you said above (I am also musically gifted) and I attend every
single
> > lesson with him so that I know what the instructors expect him to
> > work on (and what we can leave aside). Unfortunately since these
are
> > group lessons (there are about 30 kids at each lesson with 3
> > instructors that take turns teaching while the other 2 roam around
> > the class) we're running into the typical "teach to the middle"
> > mentality that leaves out the slower/faster kids. They're doing a
> > good job of teaching the basics but sometimes I really squirm when
> > they do truly pointless exercises and talk to the kids like
they're
> > all slightly brain damaged. :/
> >
> Is this the only teaching situation available? Is it possible that
one
> private half hour lesson per week would work better and not cost
much, if
> any, more?

-- Well, it's not the only teaching situation available, but it is
VERY affordable. We're only paying $35 for the entire semester, plus
the $25/mo. or so that the rental costs. We couldn't even come close
to that kind of bargain with private or semi-private lessons. Of
course, I knew we couldn't expect perfection at that price but right
now it was this program or nothing.

> > Beth
> > ps(Now he wants to play the xylophone(!) so we're looking into
that
> > too.)
>
> If he does, I know a young marimba player who might have some
tips. If
> you've read Marty Layne's Homeschooling: A Mother's Approach, he's
one of
> her sons. (Well, he's one of her sons whether you've read it or
not. <g> )
> Tia

-- Thanks for this! I'd love any suggestions about how to go about
it. I've been told that these types of instruments (meaning
xylophones/marimbas etc.) can't be rented and therefore lessons
connected with some kind of school or university are about the only
way to go (you use the school's instruments). I just got the name of
the percussions instructor at the same university that is giving the
group strings lessons so I'll be calling him soon. But I'd like to
know of other options, if y'all know of any.

Beth