EPISODE · Apr 3, 2022 · 21 MIN
Easy, Light, Smooth, Fast…and FUN!
from The Tutor Podcast · host Neil Cowmeadow
Neil details his teaching method to keep his students engaged, entertained and inspired. Borrowed from a method found in Christopher McDougall's 2009 best-selling book, "Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Super Athletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen.", Neil has adapted it to his own guitar teaching and added in his own ingredient that guarantees a return student ; fun. KEY TAKEAWAYS Easy. Use simple ideas, shapes and forms that regenerate and repeat themselves. Keep things familiar and comfortable and eschew complexity for accessibility and ease. Light. Minimise physical effort. Position and comfort is key. Understand biomechanically correct technique. Smooth. Use a natural, soft style to lead towards a subtle mellifluous sound. Fast. After initial stages of easy routines learned to an automatic level the student will be able to achieve more speed. Fun. The underpinning of all of this. Use jokes and playfulness. Be relaxed, informal, encouraging and supportive. Use language that is fun. ‘Have a play around’ instead of ‘Go and practice’. BEST MOMENTS ‘The idea originated with McDougall’s running coach, a guy called Eric Orton. He got Chris running a 50 mile trail race in spite of his busted up legs and a string of running injuries.’ ‘Cause if it ain’t fun the student won’t want to do it and I’ll get fed up with teaching it because I get fed up with doing anything that isn’t fun. There are better ways to spend my time and better ways for them to spend their time. Is that true or is it just true?’ ‘You end up with sore fingers as well. The whole ‘playing ‘til your fingers bleed’ is just moronic. It’s a cliché propagated by idiots and drongos.’ ‘However heinous an error, a misunderstanding actually is, I will try and figure out how it’s a good thing. If they make a mistake, they’ve just figured out a cool way to not do something.’ VALUABLE RESOURCES The Tutor Podcast www.Neilcowmeadow.com ABOUT THE HOST Neil Cowmeadow is a maverick peripatetic guitar teacher from Telford with over 19 years’ experience in the business of helping people. Learn how to start, grow and love your business with Neil’s invaluable advice and tips without the buzzwords and BS! CONTACT METHOD [email protected]
What this episode covers
Neil details his teaching method to keep his students engaged, entertained and inspired. Borrowed from a method found in Christopher McDougall's 2009 best-selling book, "Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Super Athletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen.", Neil has adapted it to his own guitar teaching and added in his own ingredient that guarantees a return student ; fun. KEY TAKEAWAYS Easy. Use simple ideas, shapes and forms that regenerate and repeat themselves. Keep things familiar and comfortable and eschew complexity for accessibility and ease. Light. Minimise physical effort. Position and comfort is key. Understand biomechanically correct technique. Smooth. Use a natural, soft style to lead towards a subtle mellifluous sound. Fast. After initial stages of easy routines learned to an automatic level the student will be able to achieve more speed. Fun. The underpinning of all of this. Use jokes and playfulness. Be relaxed, informal, encouraging and supportive. Use language that is fun. ‘Have a play around’ instead of ‘Go and practice’. BEST MOMENTS ‘The idea originated with McDougall’s running coach, a guy called Eric Orton. He got Chris running a 50 mile trail race in spite of his busted up legs and a string of running injuries.’ ‘Cause if it ain’t fun the student won’t want to do it and I’ll get fed up with teaching it because I get fed up with doing anything that isn’t fun. There are better ways to spend my time and better ways for them to spend their time. Is that true or is it just true?’ ‘You end up with sore fingers as well. The whole ‘playing ‘til your fingers bleed’ is just moronic. It’s a cliché propagated by idiots and drongos.’ ‘However heinous an error, a misunderstanding actually is, I will try and figure out how it’s a good thing. If they make a mistake, they’ve just figured out a cool way to not do something.’ VALUABLE RESOURCES The Tutor Podcast www.Neilcowmeadow.com ABOUT THE HOST Neil Cowmeadow is a maverick peripatetic guitar teacher from Telford with over 19 years’ experience in the business of helping people. Learn how to start, grow and love your business with Neil’s invaluable advice and tips without the buzzwords and BS! CONTACT METHOD [email protected]
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Easy, Light, Smooth, Fast…and FUN!
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