The individualized approach is based on a personal relationship between teacher and student. A teacher’s interest in students’ well-being should extend beyond the instrument, allowing teachers to gain valuable insights into students’ personalities and render more targeted musical advice. For example, some students prefer direct instruction and others figurative instruction.

The individualized approach builds trust. Students need to feel comfortable taking risks during lessons. When students challenge themselves, areas of improvement are easily identified, isolated, and overcome. If a student is fearful of making mistakes, the whole learning process is inhibited.

When students trust their teachers, their focus shifts to personal and artistic discovery. They learn to solve musical riddles and to justify and defend their musical beliefs. Their signature sound emerges, contributing to rich individual interpretations, and they begin to grasp what it means to be an artist. Discovery defines the journey of a musician, a journey that extends well beyond music lessons into a lifetime of rewarding musical experiences.