Precision Teaching and Piano - A Deep Dive

WHAT IS PRECISION TEACHING?

Precision Teaching is a data-based method of teaching and learning that focuses on using frequent and precise measurements of performance to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of instruction. It was developed by educational psychologist Ogden Lindsley in the 1960s and is often used in educational and behavioral settings.

The main goal of Precision Teaching is to help individuals acquire and maintain new skills at a high level of accuracy and fluency. This is achieved by breaking down skills into smaller, measurable units, and using frequent assessments to track progress and identify areas of weakness. Precision Teaching involves creating precise and reliable measurement systems, such as timing how many times a student can correctly answer a set of questions in a given period.

BENEFITS OF PRECISION TEACHING

Precision Teaching offers several benefits for learners, educators, and other professionals involved in teaching and learning. Here are some of the key benefits:

1. Increased learning efficiency: Precision Teaching emphasizes breaking down skills into small, measurable units, and using frequent assessments to track progress. This approach helps learners to acquire and master skills more efficiently, leading to faster progress and better learning outcomes.

2. Improved Retention: Precision Teaching emphasizes the use of frequent and systematic reinforcement, which can improve learners' retention of skills over time. This approach helps learners to retain the skills they learn and to apply them in a variety of settings.

3. Enhanced Motivation: Precision Teaching emphasizes the use of positive reinforcement, which can help to enhance learners' motivation and engagement. This approach can help learners to stay motivated and focused on their learning goals.

4. Better Accountability: Precision Teaching involves the use of precise measurement systems to track progress and evaluate the effectiveness of instruction. This approach can help educators and other professionals to be more accountable for the outcomes of their teaching and to identify areas for improvement.

5. Individualized Instruction: Precision Teaching is a flexible method of instruction that can be tailored to meet the needs of individual learners. By breaking down skills into small, measurable units, educators can identify areas of strength and weakness and adjust instruction accordingly.

Overall, Precision Teaching offers many benefits for learners and educators alike. By using a data-driven approach to instruction and focusing on small, measurable units of learning, Precision Teaching can help learners to acquire new skills more efficiently, retain them over time, and stay motivated and engaged in their learning.

HOW TO APPLY PRECISION TEACHING TO PIANO INSTRUCTION

Precision Teaching can be applied to piano instruction in a number of ways to help students improve their skills and reach their full potential. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Identify Specific Skills To Measure: Identify specific skills that you want your students to develop, such as Finger Dexterity, Note Reading, or Rhythm Accuracy. Create precise measurement tools to track progress in these skills, such as timing how long it takes to play a particular piece or tracking the number of mistakes made.

2. Establish a Baseline: Start by measuring your student's current performance level in the skill you've identified. This will help you establish a baseline against which you can measure progress.

3. Set Measurable Goals: Set measurable goals for your student based on the baseline measurement. For example, if your student can play a Scale at 80 bpm, set a goal of Increasing that to 90 bmp.

4. Use Charts and Graphs: Use charts and graphs to track progress and make it visible to your student. This can help motivate them to improve their performance and see their progress over time.

5. Provide Targeted Feedback: Use the data you collect to provide targeted feedback to your student. For example, if you notice that your student is consistently making mistakes in a particular section of a piece, provide additional practice and feedback on that section.

6. Adjust Instruction As Needed: Use the data to adjust your instructional strategies and provide additional support where needed. If your student is struggling with a particular skill, consider incorporating additional exercises or practice opportunities to help them improve.

Overall, the key to using Precision Teaching in piano instruction is to identify specific skills to measure, set measurable goals, use charts and graphs to track progress, provide targeted feedback, and adjust instruction as needed based on the data you collect. By doing so, you can help your students make measurable progress and reach their full potential as pianists.

EXAMPLE OF HOW TO CREATE A CHART FOR PRECISION TEACHING PIANO

1. Identify the skill you want to measure: Let's say you want to improve the Fluency of Transition of the Hand Leap from Bar 1 to bar 2 of a piece at a certain quick Tempo

2. Determine the specific aspect of the skill you want to measure: In this case, you might want to measure the time it takes your student to play the Transition Bars

3. Determine the frequency of measurement: Decide how often you want to measure your student's progress. This could be daily, weekly, or at each lesson.

4. Create a chart: Create a simple chart that includes columns for the date, time taken to play the piece, and any notes or comments.

Here's an example:

Skill Being Tracked :Bar 1 to Bar 2 Hand Leap Transition

Date	Tempo	Notes/Comments
1/ May/ 2023	50	Cautious, but on the Beat, practice till accurate at same tempo
8/ May/ 2023	60	Accurate and developing Fluency. Can Practice at 70bpm
15/ May/ 2023	70	Fluent Transition, can increase tempo to 80bpm
22/ May/ 2023	80	Good, Increase to 90
29/ May/ 2023	90	Excellent, Practice entire Piece at this Tempo

5. Record data: Record the time it takes your student to play the piece on each date you've chosen for measurement.

6. Analyze the data: Look for patterns or trends in the data. Are there particular days or weeks where your student's performance improved? Are there days where they struggled more than others?

7. Adjust instruction: Use the data you've collected to adjust your instructional strategies. If your student is consistently improving, continue with your current approach. If not, consider trying a different teaching method or providing additional practice opportunities.

By using a chart like this, you can track your student's progress in a specific skill and adjust your teaching accordingly. Over time, you should see measurable improvement in your student's performance.