Chanka Pathinayake

My experience with teaching people has always been positive, as there are so many amazing different qualities hidden in people. For me, seeing those qualities come to the surface of a person is one of the highlights of teaching. My lessons are very much dependent on the student's goals. I format my lessons depending on what I am teaching. If it is performance, then ideally we would run through pieces or do exercises to increase proficiency. For theory/musicology, we would go over topics and build up to essay technique and quizzes. For composition, we would go through the student's pieces to run through techniques, notation and use of programmes. If they are training for an exam, then I will do my best to ensure that they are fully prepared and will give them a little push if need be. However, if there is a student who is just casually learning an instrument for fun, the lesson would be more lax. Usually I would set targets at the end of each lesson to prompt progress between each session. For performance, I would be teaching piano, violin, sax or guitar, which gives people a wide range of choice! Overall, I want the environment in which I teach to be comfortable and fun. I would like to build a friendly foundation with every one of my students, and ensure them that they can communicate any struggles or worries they are having to me. My main goal is to bring the best out of each and every one of my students, and create an efficient and comfortable environment for them to feel at ease in.