My first music teacher was my mother, who taught me how to find my way around the piano. WHen I was 6, she sent me to an aging nun who taught piano on an old clunker in the garage behind the convent. Dear Sister R used to hit my knuckles with a ruler if I played the wrong key or used the wrong finger. In those days smacking kids was just par for the course (the mid-60's) and I loved music so much I hardly noticed. But one day she was in a particularly nasty mood and I walked home crying, hands like a road map. My mom asked what was wrong and I told her how the good Sister hit me. SHe said nothing to the nun, but the following week I had myself a new teacher.

And I loved my new teacher! A smiling Jamaican lady, a concert pianist with a gorgeous grand piano, a hundred-acre farm, 7 kids of her own, and sheer musicality overflowing her heart of gold. She became my "second mom" and confidante, her kids became my best friends and through her loving guidance and expertise I finished my Grade 10 Conservatory on the piano (+ Grade 8 on the viola + all that theory AARRGHHH) by the time I was 15.

OVERLOAD!!! I finished the exams and I gave it all up to teach myself rock and roll guitar instead :-)

Anyway, since then I've been the "First Music Teacher" for so many people I can't count'em. I've known so many kids who were turned off music by their first teachers (as some folks have pointed out above) that at 19 I swore to myself if I was going to teach music, my students were going to LOVE it. And I must be doing something right, because for the most part they do!

I keep my attitude and my comments encouraging and positive, of course I never hit them, and I'm patient and flexible and easy-going re practicing commitments/exams because for me, personal enjoyment and musical creativity always come first.   

I encourage parents to actively participate in their children's lessons / practicing especially at first, and to make music a "family affair" in their homes. No sending the kid down to the basement to practice alone behind closed doors where it won't "bother" anyone (you wouldn't believe how many families do it this way!)

No annoying timers or clock-watching at practice time either! My students are supposed to get themselves to the piano at least 4X a week, and practice each exercise/piece at least 3 times, however long that takes. The less "lovable" aspects of musical education (technique and theory) are presented as fun "warm-ups" - like sports! - for the songs the kids want to learn.   And for the most part, my students choose their own repertoire from the genres they like best - so they WANT to practice (99% of the time!)   

The only drawback to this is that certain pieces like 'Mission Impossible', 'Star Wars' and the Fur Elise get worn pretty thin in short order ....

Peter T, you'll be happy to know those beginner books have improved 100% over the last 30 years! There's a lot more selection and Canadian content now too, which is good. If I have to listen to that Little Birch Canoe (played badly) one more time I think I'm going to sink the thing .... and the "Love Theme from the Titanic" too. The Conservatory even has a "popular selections list" of rock, folk and pop pieces that can be used for exams now. That was so good to see!

I could go and and on and tell you how kids have changed over the last 30 years ... that they are for the most part undisciplined and unable to focus attention on anything for longer than 10 seconds ... that even at 16 they whine and fuss because Ooooooo they just don't WANNA to do things that are "hard" ie require effort of any kind (like reading music, working on rhythm etc). They just don't LIKE to, and that's all that matters of course!   ;-)

I could tell you about how at age 6, at least I DID learn to read carefully so I wouldn't get smacked! Many of my students, even at 15, still don't read well in spite of all my efforts.   They've never put forth the effort required to read music easily. They ignore fingering, and fumble and stumble (and drive me nuts week after week!) to no end because of it.

And they ARGUE with me like I NEVER would have dared to do with teacher!

ie Me: "Ok - let's try that again - that's an A chord and you played G."   Kid: "I did NOT!!!"

or

Me: "You got all those notes right. Good for you! :-) Now, let's go over the timing - you forgot to count." Kid: "I DID SO count! I ALWAYS count!"

*sigh* So much time is wasted at lessons because certain kids are disrespectful. And I've learned it's relatively useless to say anything to the parents - I watch them tolerate the same behaviour themselves time and time again.

At any rate, I've gone on too long here ... thanks for listening!

daylia