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Thread: Private lesson: content?

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    Question Private lesson: content?

    I've had some personal feedback and one-on-one advice from teachers, but never a private lesson:
    Do you go with a specific thing in mind to learn/develop?
    or do you leave it up to the tutor to decide?
    or do you select/approach someone who you like the style of?
    ...?

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    Registered User KatieR's Avatar
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    Re: Private lesson: content?

    Quote Originally Posted by Gadget
    I've had some personal feedback and one-on-one advice from teachers, but never a private lesson:
    Do you go with a specific thing in mind to learn/develop?
    or do you leave it up to the tutor to decide?
    or do you select/approach someone who you like the style of?
    ...?
    In the private sessions that Ive had, I have generally had them with someone who I liked the style of and who I felt could learn from. I have always gone with something in mind that I really wanted to work on such as my styling, or drops and dips or following so that the teacher could give me very specialised advice and really get out of the session what I wanted rather than just a general overview. But I think it really is a personal choice as to what you work on.

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    Re: Private lesson: content?

    Quote Originally Posted by Gadget
    I've had some personal feedback and one-on-one advice from teachers, but never a private lesson:
    Do you go with a specific thing in mind to learn/develop?
    or do you leave it up to the tutor to decide?
    or do you select/approach someone who you like the style of?
    ...?
    as a teacher, I think it is best for a student to have an idea of what they want to achieve through your private lesson and get a suitable teacher. I have had a couple of private students - and I always discuss what they want to get from the lessons - if they are after moves moves and moves I will direct them to another teacher as I'm not much good at that type of teaching. I tend to focus more on lead and follow and technique

    If you are looking at the teacher as coach for a couple for comps etc then it would be more a case of letting the teacher decide where you need to focus.

    absolutely approach some one you like the style dancing/teaching of - why else would you want to have them teach you????

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    Lovely Moderator ducasi's Avatar
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    Re: Private lesson: content?

    Quote Originally Posted by Gadget
    I've had some personal feedback and one-on-one advice from teachers, but never a private lesson:
    Do you go with a specific thing in mind to learn/develop?
    or do you leave it up to the tutor to decide?
    or do you select/approach someone who you like the style of?
    ...?
    If you are thinking of private lessons, presumably you think you need them. Presumably you also have a fair idea of why you think you need them. Therefore, you'd already have specific things in mind to learn/develop.

    Unless you expect your teacher to be a mind-reader, it's best to let them know what you hope to gain from the lesson. I'm sure that if there is something they think needs work, they'll bring it to your attention – especially if you ask them.

    I suspect your choice of teacher will be influenced by what you want to learn. So, for example, I know who I'd approach if I want to work more on my footwork and styling. And I might make different choices if I were looking to learn certain styles of moves. Cost and availability are, of course, also important factors.

    (Sorry if this is just pretty obvious stuff, and you're looking for some greater insight.)
    Let your mind go and your body will follow. – Steve Martin, LA Story

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    Formerly known as DavidJames David Bailey's Avatar
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    Re: Private lesson: content?

    I've not had any private lessons, but I've given / helped give some, and it all depends.

    Some lessons were for a couple, who wanted an exhibition dance for their son's Bar-Mitzvah.

    Some were for "general styling", and "help me get better" reasons. They're the really painful ones, as you spend most of your time trying to find out what the person really wants to know.

    Honestly, you book a teacher, you pay for them to teach you anything dance-wise, but as said, the teacher does best when you specify your requirements clearly and up-front. Otherwise, well it's your money, feel free to splash out £40 and hour if it makes you happy...

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    Re: Private lesson: content?

    Almost every private lesson I've taken or given has started the same way:
    "What do you want to work on today?"

    The only exceptions are when the student wants something specialised (such as aerials) that requires a certain amount of space, or equipment.

    As a student is is a good idea to have some idea of what you want to work on before you go. This is a good exercise in itself. A particularly insightful way is to write down what you should work on and what your partner should work on. Then put on some protective clothing and compare notes...

    Alternatively the teacher will ask you to dance, and then he/she will decide what to work on. This is often less satisfying for the student, as you end up working on the same thing every time.

    Don't take too long a lesson, or too many on one day. They can get very intensive, and you can quickly become overloaded. There is a big difference between a class, a workshop, and a private lesson.
    - In a class you are told 'Do something'.
    - In a workshop you are told 'Do something, but do it this way'.
    - In a private lesson you get told 'Anything and everything you do, don't do it the way you always have, but do it this way'.

    David

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    Registered User Rhythm King's Avatar
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    Re: Private lesson: content?

    Hi Gadge

    Seeing as it's you I'll just do a quick little reply...

    I've had a number of private lessons now, with different teachers, in different styles. In each case I'd been to (and enjoyed) classes with the teachers concerned and seen them in comps/cabaret and thought "I want to dance like that!" So the teachers pretty well picked themselves for me, in that I admired their dancing and got on with their teaching style.

    In relation to what to do in the lesson, it depends if you are having a one off, or a series of them. There is only so much one can fit into an hour. A I said I've had lessons in several different styles, and at different levels. For example, I had a Lindy Hop lesson, where we concentrated on the basic Lindy Turn/Circle/Swing Out and nothing else. I danced it with a partner, I led the teacher so he could feel what I was doing, the teacher led me, so I could feel the correct lead and at the end of an hour, I had a pretty good version of the move which has served me well ever since. I had a MJ lesson, leaning to one particular style, where my partner and I spent half the lesson working on frame/lead and follow concepts and half on a couple of flashy moves. I've also had some WCS lessons, which started with totally dissecting the basics (to the point where I couldn't walk, let alone dance!), but then built on the foundations to improve my overall standard and then worked on basics and variations of individual moves. Obviously this was over a few lessons and so I have a particular rapport with these teachers now.

    So it really depends what you want from the class. Do you want to work on fundamentals, or do you want to work on a type of styling, or are you looking for competition coaching? Classes aren't cheap, so make your mind up before you get into a studio and spend 10 minutes of your lesson discussing what you want to do.

    BTW, the first thing the teachers will probably do is ask you to dance for them, so they can see what you're like. Being put under the microscope like that, individually, by veritable dance gods was enough to turn me to mush, so be prepared for it!

    I know I'll never be anywhere near the standard of the teachers with whom I have had private lessons, but I have certainly improved as a result and feel more confident and more stylish. It's been worth every penny.

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