I've seen three new students this week. One will start taking lessons next week and two will start in the Fall. I'm thinking a lot about the one who will start next week because she will be a challenge.
She will be a challenge because she's quiet and timid and awkward (and going into 8th grade, which doesn't help on the awkward front). And I'm asking her to do weird things ("bouncy knees!"), and I can tell that she's not convinced that they will work.
This is tough. I am very good at handling the sassy ones, the rebellious ones, the tired and sullen ones. But I struggle with the timid ones who, when I say, "OK, take a big sniff through your nose" breathe in a tiny bit. How do I get myself on her wavelength? I know she really wants to play and I have to take her from ground zero and get her into shape by the end of August. I can do it...but only if I can get her on board. I think tonight when I practice I will try pretending to be her for a while, put myself in her posture, imagine what it would be like to be that shy and tentative. And then figure out how I speak that language.