Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Theme Thursday - FIRE!



Known for his catch phrase "You're Fired!" from the apprentice, Donald Trump is our FIRE(d) element of Theme Thursday this week.

A few years ago, a colleague of mine had a student that just wouldn't practice. Talented, capable, but lazy, this student came week after week with nothing new prepared, nothing to say but a shrug of the shoulders, and wore down my friend.

Finally, she had HAD it! The lesson had just begun, the student sat there. So my friend asked if the student had ever seen the show The Apprentice. Oh yes, they replied.

Well, she said, "if I was the Donald, I would fire you. I would look you right in the eye from my desk, lean over with my finger pointed like this, and say, 'You're fired'! Now, I'm going up to read, you are going to spend your lesson practicing. And when you're finished, I'll follow you out to your mom's car.

Practice improved but the family quit after that school year. I don't think I could ever 'fire' a student like that. Could you?

12 comments:

  1. Yeah, fire all the lazy kids! And get a haircut! Sometimes kids just need a push--sounds like your friend did the right thing.
    Nice post, see ya.

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  2. What about that hair? Someone should set fire to that. Imagine the noxious fumes!

    It looks acrylic.

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  3. Super anecdote and using Trump for the image...very clever. Enjoyed it immensely.

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  4. Yep. He needs to burn some of that hair off!!

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  5. yes. if i had too, otherwise would they appreciate the art or just take it for another passing fancy?

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  6. Sometimes people just need to hear the truth. Leading them on does not always lead to their best good. Great TT fire icon.

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  7. I'm an old softie as far as this goes. With kids (whose parents are paying for lessons, which isn't always with the case with teenagers), I've tended to revisit what the student wants to get out of the lessons, & if we can't find some way to self-motivate the student that way, then I'd talk to the parents about whether the student was actually interested in the instrument. A lot of my guitar students are adults, & (thankfully) they tend to be pretty self-motivated.

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  8. I just don't think I could ever do it either, John. I want to reach them all! There are millions lost to our world of music, didn't ever touch an instrument, sing in a choir, play in a band. Heavy sigh. An old softie or someone with something amazing to share?

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  9. Hah! Never even thought of the Donald with "fire". Very cute.

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  10. Well that was a unique take on the theme! Very good.

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