meep_launcher

I don't mean to bring politics into this space, but as I've been coming to terms with a second Trump administration, a part of me looked back at his first term and remembered who I became. I was a very, very angry and anxious person. It came out in bursts on Facebook and on people I love who were less concerned about the issues that were the main focus at the time.

I really do not like that version of me.

When the dust settled a bit under Biden, I learned how to cool down and be more gracious (I think to myself, "what would Mr. Rogers do?"). My relationships are much better now and I'm more levelheaded in my conversations.

I still want to be able to do my part in helping my community and to have brave conversations, but as I'm seeing his cabinet picks it has become clear that this will be an administration of rage.

He has been choosing every personality from Congress to television to twitter to lead the country, and he has been picking the most vocal and unhinged personalities.

With that as the backdrop, I want to still maintain some semblance of who I am and not fall into the pit of rage.

Has anyone else been thinking about this?

Hey all,

I couldn't find a community for helping quit weed but I thought this place might be close for it.

I've quit so, so many times before and I'm tired of the rollercoaster I'm on. I quit, my life gets better, I smoke, my life gets worse. I feel like every time I quit, it just takes one lapse in judgement to go back into it, and it can happen anywhere any time. I need help and I don't know who to talk to.

I saw that N-acetylcysteine can help quit, and I'm wondering if anyone else knows about this or has experience with this supplement?

cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/26157267

4 October 2024

Hey all!

Not sure if this is the right community since it's geared towards private lessons, but I thought in my experience it's helpful to have resources of different exercises you can give to a student when learning an instrument.

Some walk aways I've had-

Direct the lesson towards a practice plan. A student's progress does not happen in the lesson, it happens when they practice. My job as a teacher is to make practicing as easy, accessible, and fun as possible. Always begin the lesson asking "how was practice this week?" and if they say "I didn't practice", do not shame them. I start with "Hey, that's okay, it happens. What do you think made it difficult to get practice in?" Sometimes it's lack of motivation, sometimes they have competing schedules like school and math homework, sometimes it's something else altogether. I had a 6 year old ukulele student who said she didn't practice and when I asked why not, she pointed to the wall where her ukulele was hanging on a hanger 8 feet in the air. Sometimes it really isn't their fault for being unable to practice. Understanding why can open doors for solutions.

When developing a practice plan, I use this 4 point strategy that we create during the lesson.

• Set an intention for their practice. What do they want to walk away with that they didn't have going into it?

• A technical exercise. These should be geared to making the instrument more physically accessible to the student. These could be scales, long tones for horn players, stretch exercises, even simple hand workouts for guitarists.

• Something to perform. Give your student a goal, and see if you can create a date for a performance. I've had my students hold a small concert at a cafe, and it really gave them the push to be better players.

• Something they love. Ask what their favorite thing to do on their instrument is. This may also unearth some issues if motivation is the problem. They should play their instrument, not work it. This should be fun.

I also make sure to send follow up texts to the parents. This is a good way to keep them in the loop, and make sure they are able to be part of keeping your student accountable to practice. Parents have a huge influence over a child's schedule and are also the ones with the pocket book, so it's important they understand the value of the lessons so they keep scheduling you for more. If you are private practice, this is also a good opportunity to remind them to pay you.

If you are going private practice and need some help with the business side of things, here are some things I've found.

I have set my prices in a two tier system. I have a price for one off lessons, and then a reduced price for bundle purchases. This means I give a good 20% off if they book 4 lessons at a time. Even though this may seem like a hit, I've found the biggest hole in my bucket are cancelations. For me, my one off lessons are $100 for an hour, but with the bundle it drops to $80.

If I am offering lessons to someone who is lower income, I have also figured out other ways to help lower the cost on them without reducing my rates. I travel to my students, so if they come to me, I may give an additional discount. Another one would be to offer a group lesson with multiple students with another discount.

For Marketing, Facebook is a great place to post advertisements. Join a neighborhood group and make a post ~once a week depending on the activity of the group. You don't want to spam them, but you also want to make sure you don't fall off the algorithm. If you add in a video of you giving a 60 second taste of what you teach, that also can get you some interest.

In a lesson, I make sure to have improvisation games as it can take the pressure off the student to read music. I reserve the last 5 minutes to cool down where I will lay down a bass line or chord progression, and give the student a few keys they can play to make a solo. As they progress I give them more and more freedom. It's amazing what they can do!

There are some games for technique- I created a little game called "pianist's-monte" where the student has to conceal a small paper ball in a hand and then start playing the piano. I then have to decide what hand is holding the ball. It does exaggerate the "claw" needed to have good technique, but it can really help undo the spread fingers that a kid could develop.

For horns, I play mouthpiece games where we imitate different animals. Reed's can be geese and brass can be ducks. We then have a conversation as a geese or ducks. It's hilarious and it can help with some embouchure practice.

That's all I can think of now! Hope this helps someone!

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.zip/post/23106804

A side-cut of what the deepest cave in the world looks like rule

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/19456618

rulecago

cross-posted from: https://mander.xyz/post/17674138

Trippin

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/19179362

Canada.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/18005265

Unique ways to peace out as national leader

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.blahaj.zone/post/14696904

basic geography rule

it came to my attention that my previous post on basic geography https://lemmy.blahaj.zone/post/14668411 needed an inset for Michigan to provide better geographic context, thanks @Technus@lemmy.zip for the catch!