It is beneficial for the cello teacher to write the beginning student's lessons by hand in a manuscript notebook. There are lovely method books for beginning cello students; teachers should use these resources. However, for young students who are just starting and need to gain experience recognizing notes, sometimes writing their weekly lessons in a notebook has proved much more beneficial in my teaching.
My first cello teacher wrote all the lessons in a music manuscript during my first year of study. I adopted this practice for my younger students and have also handwritten my young students' assignments in a notebook myself.
Many music teachers request that students bring a lesson plan book so that they can write the student's weekly lessons they are responsible for the following week. I also love this practice and incorporate it within the students' notebooks.
Why does this practice help the students?
This practice is beneficial for a few good reasons. A notebook allows the younger beginning students to benefit in several different ways.
Personalization
Note Learning
Less overwhelm
More Motivation
Demonstrating progress
Personalization
The main reason I find this practice helpful is that it personalizes the students' lessons. Everyone is different and learns differently and in various ways, so students will have different needs. The lessons accumulate in the notebook week after week, and this way, it will be easier for the teacher to determine where the students are and tailor the required exercises to their needs.
Sometimes, a student will not have mastered a particular skill in one week and requires more practice; a teacher can rewrite that lesson differently for that student. Let's say a student is new to making a connection between reading the notes and placing their finger in the correct place on the cello and has difficulty with this skill; the teacher can try to simplify the lesson for the student or repeat the skill in another way for the child.
Suppose the child is newly learning to read half notes by playing a few notes on the D string and is only partially successful in so doing. That allows the teacher to repeat that lesson by writing a similar study based on the child's ability.
Note Learning
An actual book might initially overwhelm a child who has not mastered reading notes yet. The teacher can also use this opportunity to have the students practice their note-learning by giving them homework assignments in the notebook or a manuscript notebook. Again, the latter is dependent on the student's
Less Overwhelm
A beginning cello student has to pay attention to many details, from holding the bow to learning how to use the left hand and reading the notes. Working from a personalized notebook might be less overwhelming for a young cellist.
More Motivation
Personalizing the initial stage of learning becomes more motivational and less stressful for the student. Their step-by-step progress based on their capabilities might also incentivize them to practice at home.
Demonstrating Progress
The notebook also demonstrates student progress and is an excellent learning tool. They can visually experience how far they have come; their notebook will serve them as a mini portfolio of their improvement from the moment they begin learning their instruments.
Whenever I have used this system, it has allowed me to manage my beginning students' roadmap and make the appropriate adjustments in their learning. It has been an excellent way to begin with younger children to attain the basic skills until they are ready to continue with an essential method book. This practice has made learning flexible and attainable for the child.
Naturally, there are other solutions for beginning students. For example, a teacher may not need to use a special notebook for a specific student, as the student might already know the notes and have previously played another instrument. So, it depends on the young player's age, level, and needs.
Have you used a personalized notebook for your beginning students? If so, have you found it beneficial? Please share in the comments below.
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