(Making The Most Of Your Private Lessons continued)
5. If you are at a convention, taking
a one time private from one of the "Greats," you may want to ask yourself,
"Why am I choosing this particular instructor? What is it about their dancing
that I would like to emulate or learn from?" Example: If you want to work
on syncopations, you may not want a lesson from the master of the multiple-spin
pattern.
During the lesson: Take control of your dance destiny.
1. Talk to your instructor. They can help you better if they know a little more about you, whether it is your regular instructor or not. They will benefit by knowing the following information. Be honest...there is no reason to try and impress them!
How long have you been dancing swing?
How often do
you actually dance?
Who have you
studied with?
Do you have
other dance background?
What are your
dance goals? (for example, do you want to feel great on the social floor,
or are you looking to win a high profile contest?) If you are taking a
series of privates from an instructor, you can work together to establish
goals and a program to meet them.
Is this a one-time
private lesson, or are you planning on taking a series?
2. Make sure
your instructor answers your questions. All instructors have pet dance
peeves, and can easily digress off your path. Keep your instructor on track.
3. Keep an eye on the clock, especially if you have multiple topics you want covered, and get the instructor to switch topics when you are ready to move on.
4. Know your own limits and learning styles. If you are getting too much information, tell them. If you want more or less repetition, tell them.
5. Be flexible. While it is your lesson and your money, you are paying for the instructor''s expertise. They may see a problem you didn't know existed and it may change the course of a lesson in a very fruitful way. Example:
I once took a lesson at a convention, and asked the teacher to show me some of her syncopations, in addition to some other things. After dancing with me she told me, "If I were a guy, I wouldn't ask you to dance. Here''s why." Thinking I was a pretty good follower, my jaw dropped to the floor. She gave me great advice, and I was still able to get my original topics covered by keeping an eye on the clock.
6. Be open to advice or techniques that are different from your previous instructors. After all, you are paying this person big bucks for their opinion. Don''t waste time and money arguing. Take it in and work with it for awhile before rushing to a judgment.