Have you attended many professional development events for piano teachers? Depending on where you are in the world, these might be common-place for you…but for many teachers, they really aren’t.
Working outside of a school environment can lead to professional development being put on the back-burner.
We don’t always make it a priority. We don’t have:
- Enough time
- Enough money
- Enough confidence
It’s that last issue that I’m chatting about with The Curious Piano Teachers in this interview: confidence.
Dealing with Imposter Syndrome
Lack of confidence can hold you back from so many things. And I totally get it.
We’ve all experienced imposter syndrome at one time or another. It’s extremely common among piano teachers, and I know it is because I get emails from countless teachers feeling exactly this way. They don’t think they’re good enough.
Do YOU feel like a fraud? Are you worried that you’ll be “caught out” if you attend training, networking events or get involved in online communities?
If so, you need to listen to this interview.
Sally and Sharon have been there and conquered imposter syndrome. We discuss how to overcome this hurdle, and how to “get on the bus” as Sally puts it.
Watch the Interview
I really hope you enjoy watching this interview. There were some audio issues as this was recorded live at the Music and Drama Education EXPO in London (the noisiest environment on earth!) so I have added subtitles for clarity.
The content is fantastic so it’s well worth the little bit of reading! 😉
Links Mentioned in the Interview
- The Curious Piano Teachers
- The Curious Piano Teachers Facebook page
- Article about redefining expectations with piano parents
Are you an imposter teacher?
I’d love to hear your story. Tell us about your experience with imposter syndrome or your first professional development event in the comments below.
Hi Nicola
Thanks very much for your inspirational ideas and sharing your expertise.
I am a student on the Piano Teacher’s Course this year with Sally Cathcart as one of the tutors. I can’t believe how much I am able to relate to the topics you discussed with Sally and Sharon at the Music Expo.
Oh, I bet that’s a wonderful experience! I think more teachers than you realise feel exactly the same as you. We just don’t know others feel the same way. 🙂
Thank you so much! I personally have definitely experienced the
“I’m a fraud” syndrome! I started teaching piano at age 16, because my teacher said that I was ready! I did NOT want to be a classroom teacher, or be a musical performer for a living, so I chose a different college major and just pursued a minor for my enjoyment. I needed to be able to make a living with the major, after all! That was 34 years ago, before there were so many musical major options! I have used music every day of my life, but never used that major that I thought I needed! Having only received a minor at the university, however, has made me feel second rate many times. I took a break from teaching for 10 years while my children “Needed” me after school, but resumed teaching 6 years ago and I absolutely love it! I finally joined a teacher group where I discovered all the online resources that are available today that I’d never dreamed of before! Now I’m eating up all the input that I can get. I have found so many new teaching ideas, games and such that I use and am so much more effective with them.
Thank you for sharing Tonya. You don’t need to feel second rate just because music was your minor – you’re obviously involved in continuing education now which is wonderful.
PS If it helps, my degree is in fashion design, so I’m more of a “fraud” than you.
I started teaching when I was 14, but the only difference is, my piano teacher discouraged me from teaching piano lessons and said that I should wait until I had a music degree to start. 🙁 But I started anyway, because I had a harp loan to pay for. 😉 I had been playing piano for about 9 years at that time. I definitely didn’t know what I was doing completely when I started and even now, I sometimes do feel like I’m not a “real” piano teacher and worry that if my students ever go to a “real” teacher, they won’t be doing something right. I’m 20 now, and I’ve learned a lot over the past 6 years, and I’m sure I will continue to learn more in the future! I always have to remember that any one piano teacher cannot teach EVERYTHING there is to know about music, and that I just need to do my best at teaching them what I do know. And really, if you pass on a passion for music, you’ve passed on a lot!! 🙂
I started teaching at 15, so we’re not much different Sarah. I’m just further down the path than you. 🙂
Keep learning and striving to do better. Keep paying attention to your students and their needs. Keep being curious. 😉 That’s what makes you a “real” teacher.
Hi. It feels so good to know I’m not alone! I can relate to what Tonya said. I did not want to teach in a classroom and had enough of “school” by the time I graduated.
I took organ and piano lessons for years and became a church organist at an early age. I found I was longing to give lessons but wasn’t sure I could do it. Years ago, I talked to my piano teacher and she assured me I was ready to teach as long as I didn’t teach advanced students and continued to learn myself. After she moved, she gave me a couple of her students and the rest is history. My experience with workshops in music and in my writing interest has not been good. I’ve found the atmosphere cold and unfriendly. I prefer learning on-line and have been thrilled to find so many wonderful groups to be a part of. I’ve learned a lot and I’ve seen the results in my students. Thank you all! (Couldn’t watch the video, said it was unavailable)
I’ve fixed the video issue now Carol.
I’m curious, did you find the atmosphere at teaching workshops cold? If so, I’d love to know whereabouts you are? I find that this does vary with location, some areas still have a bit of that “stuffy” air to them when it comes to these events.
Glad you found your people online anyway!
Thank You, Nicola. Pennsylvania. I just couldn’t seem to connect with anyone. I reached out but no one reached back! Let’s put it that way!
Oops! Actually some workshops were in New Jersey. (Close enough, I guess. Let’s just say the Northeast US!)
Sorry to hear that anyway Carol. Sometimes it’s just bad luck…come to one of the big US conferences if you can sometime! Absolutely everyone I met at NCKP was friendly and welcoming. 🙂