Sorry I can't help as I've got zero ability with kids or music. I'd really recommend popping into our twin community !dadforaminute@lemmy.world the parents there will be able to help
I taught classroom EFL for 16 years and have continued tutoring on the side even after I got back into marketing. A couple of pieces of advice leap to mind:
In tutoring treat the students with the respect and gravitas you'd give an adult, with perhaps a slightly firmer hand in direction, and a slightly gentler hand in voice and word selection.
Never presume to paint a picture of their future in your head because ... well, for now well over 50 tutored students, I've had 3 who got the fire of what I was teaching. The rest just did the bare minimum needed to pass their exams and move on in their lives. When you find one in whom a passion ignites, enjoy that and cater to that. For the rest, just do the job you're hired to do.
If the lessons are interesting to the students, you have the greatest chance of igniting that interest. Which means if they want pop, give them pop. (Don't ask me how many times I've had to play and teach "Yesterday Once More" here, despite me finding it the single sappiest song in all of existence!)
I am so in awe of what you wrote. I want to ignite that spark in children, and I know it's a private school, so there's that, at least. All the kids are there because they want to learn music, not being dragged there or anything.
Mate if you get bored playing pop songs, it’s not the job for you. I am a former drum teacher, and 90% of the students only remained at a basic rock beat level, because they either don’t have drums at home or that they won’t practice. Prepare yourself for lots of monotone hours playing same grooves and same songs. Look for some very easy songs and make a playlist, so you can cycle them.
The dealing with the children part is the easy part in 1 on 1, as opposed to in school. Just treat them like you would treat an adult, but be a bit gentler and softer. Because you are a Woman, you will automatically be less menacing. Just take it easy and talk to them.
Thank you so much for your input. :)
Yeah, I do get a lot sidetracked, when I feel a song is too boring, but I'd love to teach some young ones the basics and then go wild afterwards.
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