Help for the Shy Child

Hi Michiko,

Sincerely,
Cindy

Good morning, Cindy –

I love this story. I would never have imagined the online videos could have made such a difference for a student. My intention was for them to be teaching videos for teachers and parents, but you were very wise to use them this way. Hearing about your student warms my heart. I have taught shy students, too. One named Leah began lessons with me when she was six. She was so shy I couldn’t even be in the room when she came for lessons. I went into my kitchen and listened as her mother Nancy guided her using the instructions I’d given her the previous week. I would suggest a few new ideas and they would go home. After a few weeks, I could sit in the hallway and make my suggestions. Gradually I eased closer as Leah became more comfortable. One day I could actually sit next to her at the piano. Leah and I enjoyed many lessons together and she loved her Music Mind Games classes. Remarkably, she remained my student until she went to college. At that time she had learned lots of repertoire including several Mozart sonatas and even entered piano competitions and done well. At one of the recitals when she was eighteen, she showed up in a strapless dress (darling!) with a big smile on her face. No more shyness there!

That’s quite a story you have about Leah. I don’t think I would have been so brave to start a student that couldn’t even be in the same room as me ... WOW.

Cindy