A few things jumped out at me that I wanted to share. I apply most of these ideas into my teaching philosophy but didn't realize it until I read this article! (some points are paraphrased for my sake..):
-The lesson is over when the student yawns.
-It is important to finish a lesson before a child can think, "Are we there yet?"
-Ending the practice session while the child is still captivated leaves him wanting more.
-The goal of every practice session is to make it a "game." Children do not easily tire of games.
-We instill confidence in the child to go on and meet life's challenges.
-Only by experiencing some insecurity (in performing, perhaps) can greatness be achieved. (Makes you want to strive for "better")
-Students must appreciate their progress and look back to see how far they've come. (Hard to do in an instant gratification society.)
and finally...
"Life is a process, continually shaping and molding us much as a tree is continually being pruned. What happens to us may cause us to move in other directions, or to grow even further in the same direction. In that sense, we are never fully there yet. In a concurrent sense, is it really that important where life eventually takes us since we never do fully get there anyway? We may transiently think we have arrived at our nirvana, but the winds of fate have a way of blowing us away from that mirage. So what is really important becomes the process of how we travel and what we learn from the journey along the way, not necessarily the final destination."
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