In my classroom teaching I always try to get students involved as much as possible.  When students work in groups to develop and share their ideas with each other, it is often more beneficial and rewarding than traditional lecturing. I frequently act more as a guide or facilitator.  At the same time, I have a lifetime of musical experience and knowledge to share, and I want students to have confidence in me as their teacher.  It is alway a balance between clearly communicating the material and encouraging students to develop their own thinking.  There is no end to the amount of music in world, and the different ways of thinking about it.  I am constantly learning new things myself, often from my students.  I believe that all of us in the classroom are working together to learn.

I approach classroom and private teaching in a similar way. I want to give students the confidence to develop their own ideas, whether they are interpreting music or composing their own.  I also encourage students to choose music that interests them from any genre.  At the same time, there is a great deal to be gained from studying the traditional repertoire.  My own teachers were highly knowledgable, and quite strict when it came to proper technique and I had a lot of respect for them as a result.  So again, the challenge is finding the right balance.  When students gain self-assuredness from a solid technical foundation while at the same time being encouraged to find their own path, music can provide a lifetime of rewards.