Facing the Challenges of Solo Teaching: Lessons from a New Teacher

In the world of teaching, there are many challenges that can arise, especially when you're stepping out of your comfort zone. For a new teacher like me, embarking on a solo teaching experience can be both exhilarating and daunting. As a music teacher, I recently faced such a situation during a lesson—a situation that not only tested my skills but also provided valuable insights into the complexities of teaching on my own. This article will explore my experience and the lessons that I learned along the way.

Setting the Scene

My mom, who is a music teacher herself, was out shopping and had mixed up the lesson times. A 1:30 student was mistakenly rescheduled for 2:30, leaving me to handle two consecutive and unexpected lessons. The first lesson was straightforward, but the second, a solo violin lesson, nearly pushed me to my limits.

The Unexpected Visitor

When the doorbell rang, my heart skipped a beat. It was Maggie, who was waiting for her rescheduled lesson despite the latest mishap. I called my mom, who was momentarily upset, but rallied and promised to be back as soon as possible. I began the lesson with a mix of nervousness and determination, confident that I could manage the situation.

The Lesson: A Rush of Emotions

As I started the lesson, I managed to teach reasonably smoothly until about a year ago, when a panic attack almost derailed my career. Since then, I’ve stuck to group classes and working with middle schoolers, but this time, I couldn’t avoid facing the challenge alone. Maggie reached for the bathroom while I went through her practice chart and almost ran through a quick hymn to bring myself back on track.

Lessons from the Lesson

Despite my missteps, the lesson didn't end in disaster. I acknowledged that I didn't follow all the steps I should have, and I made several errors—like not using the appropriate rhythm for G scale or not accompanying her properly. However, the most important lesson I learned was that the world did not end in a panic attack, and I survived the experience. My mom arrived just in time to save the lesson, but she left soon after to continue her shopping.

Conclusion: Lessons for the Future

This experience has taught me that being a perfect teacher is not necessary for success. The key is to move forward with what you know and do better the next time. My mom and I even managed to finish the lesson later with a much more competent pianist. As a new teacher, I realize that it's normal to make mistakes, but what matters is how we respond to them and continue to learn from them.

So, while the challenges of solo teaching might initially seem overwhelming, they offer valuable learning opportunities. I am now more confident in my ability to handle unexpected situations and look forward to the day when I can teach another solo lesson, perhaps even with some improvements and better preparation. The world being in 'way over my head' doesn't mean it's the end of the world; it just means that I need to adapt and evolve.