lessons not satisfying

[bordertangoman]

I TOTALLY disagree. I have never attended a class where questions were unwelcome, and if I did, I'd shout to the high hills that the teacher is an &#*$. Almost every teacher I have had for tango actually asked the class if anyone had a question.
.

Quite right, if the teacher is any good he/she will answer skilfully eg

"Sorry, my English not good"
or, "I'll explain that later/ in the next course" or "see me after the class"

 

[Mladenac]

I noticed that there is only one male teacher.

I would quit that kind of lessons.

It is impossible to learn AT that way cause students can't see how it should look like and follower's technique is too subtle so that leader could teach.

How could follower learn walking in high heels from sb that doesn't know how to walk in HH?

 

[Lilly_of_the_valley]

Quite right, if the teacher is any good he/she will answer skilfully eg

"Sorry, my English not good"
or, "I'll explain that later/ in the next course" or "see me after the class"

Or "I will give all the answers in a private lesson"

 

[pygmalion]

Not wanting to digress or be obnoxious, here, but I have been wondering about this, lately.

From everyone's advice that deepy should

1. Find a new teacher
2. Find and new teacher and
3. Find a new teacher


It's obvious that the tango veterans here have specific ideas of what constitutes a good (or horrid) tango teacher.

So what makes for a good teacher? And how would an absolute beginner find one, other than just hit or miss? Are there any obvious red flags? And what kinds of things should be covered in beginner lessons? And do those nifty "I've studied with xxxx and yyyy" statements that so many people have on their tango websites really make a difference? And who are the legendary x's and y's that one would look for? And a billion other questions. Deepy hit a nerve with me. I really would like to know. That milonga around the corner ... Ya know? Oh yeah and how much should it cost? (Or maybe that should be a different thread.)

Anyway. Thoughts? If an unnamed person were hypothetically considering possibly embarking on the tango journey, how would he/she start? :wink:

 

[Lilly_of_the_valley]

Not wanting to digress or be obnoxious, here, but I have been wondering about this, lately.

From everyone's advice that deepy should

1. Find a new teacher
2. Find and new teacher and
3. Find a new teacher


It's obvious that the tango veterans here have specific ideas of what constitutes a good (or horrid) tango teacher.

So what makes for a good teacher? And how would an absolute beginner find one, other than just hit or miss? Are there any obvious red flags? And what kinds of things should be covered in beginner lessons? And do those nifty "I've studied with xxxx and yyyy" statements that so many people have on their tango websites really make a difference? And who are the legendary x's and y's that one would look for? And a billion other questions. Deepy hit a nerve with me. I really would like to know. That milonga around the corner ... Ya know? Oh yeah and how much should it cost? (Or maybe that should be a different thread.)

Anyway. Thoughts? If an unnamed person were hypothetically considering possibly embarking on the tango journey, how would he/she start? :wink:

We had a thread a while ago discussing the subject.... using search now...

 

[pygmalion]

We had a thread a while ago discussing the subject.... using a search now...

Awesome. Thanks.


Oh yeah and I forgot to say welcome to DF, deepy. :-D

 

[Lilly_of_the_valley]

Awesome. Thanks.


Oh yeah and I forgot to say welcome to DF, deepy. :-D

To me? Why thank you.

 

[Lilly_of_the_valley]

Here, I found it.
http://www.dance-forums.com/showthread.php?p=710180#post710180

My criteria.
1. The instructor has to be a great tango dancer and a milonguero/a.
2. He/she has an extensive knowledge of Argentine music and culture (in my book, actually, that is included in #1).
3. He/she has already produced a number of adequate social tango dancers.
4. In his/her classes he/she stresses the basics rather than teaching patterns.
5. He/she explicitly encourages his/her students to aspire to all of the above.

What he/she should not be:
-A ballroom dance instructor/show dancer who has never set foot to a milonga. That means:
-Anyone who does not regularly dance tango socially is not considered.
- How many students attend the classes is not a criterion. Some instructors seem to attract crowds of perpetual beginners, walking horrors, crazy and unpleasant people. I believe there is a reason for that.
Yes, teaching tango is a business, but I will not go to those who primarily interested in money, and who ends up encouraging mediocrity and lack of etiquette in their students.

Of course these are only general guidelines that could be elaborated into details and red flags. For example, one who never talks about line of dance in class, who never uses the music to demonstrate the material, probably does not teach social tango for milongas, based on musical improvisation, hence, if that is what you wish to learn, that teacher is not good for you.

 

[pygmalion]

To me? Why thank you.

lol. Obviously, you are welcome, too. I was just too lazy to start a separate post. :lol:

 

[pygmalion]

Here, I found it.
http://www.dance-forums.com/showthread.php?p=710180#post710180

My criteria.
1. The instructor has to be a great tango dancer and a milonguero/a.
2. He/she has an extensive knowledge of Argentine music and culture (in my book, actually, that is included in #1).
3. He/she has already produced a number of adequate social tango dancers.
4. In his/her classes he/she stresses the basics rather than teaching patterns.
5. He/she explicitly encourages his/her students to aspire to all of the above.

What he/she should not be:
-A ballroom dance instructor/show dancer who has never set foot to a milonga. That means:
-Anyone who does not regularly dance tango socially is not considered.
- How many students attend the classes is not a criterion. Some instructors seem to attract crowds of perpetual beginners, walking horrors, crazy and unpleasant people. I believe there is a reason for that.
Yes, teaching tango is a business, but I will not go to those who primarily interested in money, and who ends up encouraging mediocrity and lack of etiquette in their students.

Of course these are only general guidelines that could be elaborated into details and red flags. For example, one who never talks about line of dance in class, who never uses the music to demonstrate the material, probably does not teach social tango for milongas, based on musical improvisation, hence, if that is what you wish to learn, that teacher is not good for you.

Thanks. I will read through and check in over there. :-D

 

[deepy99]

ok

first of all, i will stick it out.

second of all, i will start asking the questions, the teacher just never asked if there where any questions, but yes i am a big boy, i can ask .

third: i know i will go to another teacher next time, i just wanted to know what i can do to lessen the shortcomings in this class. and there were some good ideas.
if anybody else has an idea in this direction please spill it.

regards
Daniel

 

[UKDancer]

Here, I found it.
http://www.dance-forums.com/showthread.php?p=710180#post710180

3. He/she has already produced a number of adequate social tango dancers.

Everyone has to start sometime, and you have no track record when you start out. Every first rate teacher had to start somewhere, sometime.

 

[dchester]

Not wanting to digress or be obnoxious, here, but I have been wondering about this, lately.

From everyone's advice that deepy should

1. Find a new teacher
2. Find and new teacher and
3. Find a new teacher


It's obvious that the tango veterans here have specific ideas of what constitutes a good (or horrid) tango teacher.

So what makes for a good teacher? And how would an absolute beginner find one, other than just hit or miss? Are there any obvious red flags? And what kinds of things should be covered in beginner lessons? And do those nifty "I've studied with xxxx and yyyy" statements that so many people have on their tango websites really make a difference? And who are the legendary x's and y's that one would look for? And a billion other questions. Deepy hit a nerve with me. I really would like to know. That milonga around the corner ... Ya know? Oh yeah and how much should it cost? (Or maybe that should be a different thread.)

Anyway. Thoughts? If an unnamed person were hypothetically considering possibly embarking on the tango journey, how would he/she start? :wink:

This isn't a direct answer to your question, but it was clear to me that this was not a proper beginner's class when I saw things like sacadas, and sandwiches, being taught.

 

[UKDancer]

I noticed that there is only one male teacher.

I would quit that kind of lessons.

It is impossible to learn AT that way cause students can't see how it should look like and follower's technique is too subtle so that leader could teach.

How could follower learn walking in high heels from sb that doesn't know how to walk in HH?

I would say that every teacher, regardless of gender should be able to demonstrate to a professional standard as either leader or follower. If they can't, they shouldn't be teaching at all.

Does anyone have a view about the effectiveness of solo teachers generally? I prefer to receive instruction from a teaching couple, but rarely because of gender-specific teaching issues, but because of the quantity of teaching input then available. A teacher with a non-teaching partner is not the same. But given a solo teacher, is there really any advantage in either gender?

 

[tangomonkey]

But given a solo teacher, is there really any advantage in either gender?

If I had to choose one or the other, as a leader, I prefer learning from a follower. When I dance with her I get instant feedback - she will quickly identify and correct what needs fixing, most importantly whether my lead is clear or not.

A man acting as follower may be able to tell me these things but I have had much better results with "full-time" followers.