[Tango-L] Getting students to dances

[Hoyt Ng]

That's actually a good approach.  Improv teaches folks to make their mistakes "up", that is laugh it off so you don't punish yourself for it, that includes how you physically carry yourself after the error.  

I also had some great advice once from an Argentine tango instructor who said, what's the big deal you're only one beat away from fixing any problem, you've only got two feet and you're on one of them just change feet.  kinda puts it all in perspective.


>Wow!
>That sounds very discouraging.
>
>
>Recently, while home to see my folks and all, I took a piano lesson
>from my aunt.  She's a phenomenon, improvises anything, plays in
>any key, transposing on the fly, van Cliburn competition, etc.
>
>I quit piano way back at the age of 12, and though I'd played maybe
>one hour per year since then, I knew I was rusty.  Couldn't even
>read sheet music any more.
>
>She had a great exercise.  Pick a favorite tune, any one.  Now hit
>a piano key without looking.  Now play the tune.
>
>Mistakes?  Yep!
>I was really uncomfortable making mistakes,
>especially on her beautiful Steinway grand.
>
>After one mistake, I mumbled somthing like "oops", and she
>replied,
>
>"don't worry, that's just an embellishment".
>
>And went on to say that even pros make mistakes, and
>they just play through it.
>
>With those little phrases, she took all my fears away.
>
>
>Teach these to beginners
>   "oops" is just an embellishment
>   just play through
>
>Take their fears away.
>
>Don't give them fears they might not have.
>Don't tell them it will be terrifying.
>
>Tell them it will be fun.
>Have them all go together, as a cub pack.
>Have them support each other, & be loyal to their classmates.
>
>
>DJ Dave de Denver
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