Dealing with nervousness and teaching kids ( online )

[Normanfernandez]

Hello everyone.

I have a odd learning experience here.
I was recently offered a Online Teaching Job.
Kids 6 to 9 years old.
I was quite nervous about the interview and I think might have screwed up the interview which included a demo of how I'll teach.

I didn't quite understand how to go about it.  ( Demo )
There's going to be another demo scheduled in a day or so.

My biggest problem is I've never taught kids of that age.
Older kids were no issue.
Study materials are there full and plenty. 

I've mainly interacted with experienced Musicians so communications wasn't an issue. 

How do I not get nervous during the interview, also I would have to create some Power Point Presentation / Pictures / PDF.
To show the parents / person running the institute. .
I know for sure that I know the basics well and even the advanced parts.
But my nervousness kicks in and everything goes out the window.

Also my first time teaching online.

Any suggestions please do share! Regards Norman!

[mikf]

Are you talking about teaching music, or general teaching?

[Normanfernandez]

Music teaching

[Al Ram]

Norman
One suggestion,  you can rehearse the interviews in advance . . . .

This is what i suggest . . . .

based on interviews you already had

1. create a questionnaire of possible questions that they have asked you in the past or that you think you would ask another person being interviewed . . . . (in other words, switch the roles and put the hat of interviewer and think about the questions to be asked .. . .)

2. respond to the questionnaire, first in writing . . . and then out loud, this should allow you to compose your thinking and your vocabulary, pronunciation, diction, 

3. rehearse the questions/answers by yourself over and over

4. Finally, have a friend or family member interview you . . . .. rehearse this over and over, practice in a similar environment as close as possible to an actual interview . . . ..  table, chair, if it is online, computer monitor, mic, video camera, etc, watch your own body language . . . .ask your friend to tell you how they perceived you, correct thinks that you notice are not projecting security and knowledge

overall, the result should be that you will create a mental picture of the setup and the responses, almost like a reflex,  your mind and body will get used more and more and hopefully you will not only lose the nervousness but also be much better at your possible responses in the actual interview(s).

Hope this helps.

[Normanfernandez]

I'll have to make my presentation,

First time making a demo for teaching music.
What makes it more Weird. ( The feeling )
It's online based. 

[mikf]

Confidence comes from complete comfort with your subject and experience.

[Normanfernandez]

Has there ever been an interview where you messed up.
And felt guilty to the person who had recommended you

[DerekA]

It's OK to be a bit nervous, the trick is not to let it show too much

Remember that they are really hoping that you will do well. Mistakes will be be forgiven if you handle them professionally. And pauses which seem like an eternity to you are probably only a few seconds.

[Normanfernandez]

Thank you all for your support.

But this is quite fresh and still don't know how to ease it off.
Let's see what happens.

[Joe H]

Thank you all for your support.

But this is quite fresh and still don't know how to ease it off.
Let's see what happens.

MEDITATE... that should calm you down!



Joe H

[Normanfernandez]

Will try to. 

[panos]

Hi Norman,
just think that really bad things can happen in life and this interview is by far not one of them, even if things won't work 100% perfect (Nothing and Noone is 100% perfect anyway in general).
So be calm and just show them that you can handle the job of showing to a child the basics of music and keyboards.
Each child or man is a different person and will require a different approach anyway for the best teaching.
also the advantage of you is that you are young so closer to an age of a child.
It will not look at you as an old school teacher but more as a friend that will make him/her to not get bored of music.
And music theory can be pretty boring before a child learns to play just a simple tune to have fun so to love the learning and it's cost in effort and time.

If they expect  a musical genius to teach their child they wouldn't take an interview of you.
You would be the one to take an interview of them.
So be cool my friend and I wish you good luck

[Normanfernandez]

Yes Panos, thank you.
I guess it was pretty obvious that.
It was over on the first interview.

Nothing I can do about it, or even go back in time and stop myself from taking this interview. 

[mikf]

I have known many, many people who teach music, some of them my own family members. Every one of them without exception had come through the formal musical training process, gathering multiple qualifications and diplomas like ARCM, BA music etc. And every one of them was a highly competent and talented musician and player. If you are really interested in teaching music  Norman, you should think about going through this process first and getting up to that level.

[hans1966]

Hello Norman, at the moment and due to the pandemic, I am giving virtual classes to two children, the first of 10 years and the second of 8 years. I think that the key to success with children is to have a fun or enjoyable class, to teach them how to familiarize themselves with the instrument, through a simple singing story that helps them to know and memorize the basic musical scale (C major) is very important that you demonstrate security, and calm when speaking.
any gesture of impatience or high-pitched words can ruin the class, since the child can get nervous, and not want to see classes with you again.

I hope this helps.

A hug. Hans