Wow! Have you seen this video clip about British musical savant Derek Paravicini by Lesley Stahl, of CBS’ 60 Minutes? Talk about inspirational! In addition to watching and hearing from Derek and his parents, I really love listening to his teacher and seeing how he approached working with someone like Derek. (I think the book, In the Key of Genius, by his teacher, Adam Ocklelford, would be fascinating!) I am reminded of the importance of looking at each student as an individual, with unique God-given talents.
Yes, it’s essential to have structure and lesson plans and some sort of a framework to work within as a teacher. But it’s equally essential to know when it’s okay to throw all that out the window and just teach to the needs of the individual student. Most of us will never have a Derek Paravicini in our studios, but each of us have students with unreached potential walking through our door week after week. We just need eyes to see beyond the current challenges and frustrations and cast a vision for the future…because you never know where it will lead!
Thanks for sharing this. It was so inspiring. I especially loved hearing him play for the elderly and watching their responses.
I enjoyed the video, thanks for passing it on! I appreciated your comments about the individual needs of the student. You might enjoy reading Note by Note by Tricia Turnstall. It is a humorous account of a piano teacher’s journey and how she adapts herself to the students desires. I have more structure in my studio, but I certainly can learn from the approach she takes. If nothing else you will find yourself laughing out loud!
Wow, you’re right – he is an inspiration. Thanks so much for the CBS video link.
Being from the UK I have seen similar films of Derek before. It is truly amazing what he can do.
I think the lesson for us teachers is to recognize our own limitations. Far too often I have seen teachers who continue to teach gifted students when the right thing to do would have been to let them progress onto a teacher better suited to the students requirements.