It’s O.k. not to “pass”

Each week I give out “assignments” or tasks to complete/practice. During the next lesson, we take the first few minutes to review the tasks and see how the student did on them. The tasks are assigned to help the student build the skills.

Piano skills builds off each other. One skill leads to the next. For instance, learning the name of note values leads to being able to learn how to count them in music. If the student is struggling with one skill, then it will make continuing to learn how to play more difficult. If I feel as though a student has not mastered a skill, I will have them continue to work on that and not give them a new skill.  

Consequently, here is where I am slowly realizing that I am accidently discouraging students with the wording I am using. I often use the word “pass” during lessons. When I say “pass” this means I believe you have obtained or mastered the skills of that topic. However, the word passed is usually accompanying the word fail. My music students bring that philosophy to lessons. They think that if they are not passing the task then it must mean that they failed. This is so not true. I do not grade the tasks nor do I give out end of the semester grades. I simply determine whether we are ready to add more skills to the student’s skill knowledge. If it takes a student one week to master one task that is ok. If it takes a student three weeks to accomplish one task then that is ok too. 

Students, do not get discouraged. You will get it. You will add more skills. It just takes time.