Hello Friend,
She came to her cello lesson with red eyes, shaking, yet she still chose to be there.
Her friendships felt like they were falling apart. Her friend was ignoring her, and she was second-guessing herself.
At home, things were muddled too.
As she poured her heart out, I felt humbled to realise that this lesson space had become her safe haven—something we had built together over many years.
This moment brought an epiphany. It’s simple, but so vital:
Children will only learn and thrive when they feel safe.
⭐ Safe to be their true selves.
⭐ Safe to ask questions and show curiosity.
⭐ Safe to make mistakes.
Until we create that safe, trusting environment, focussing only on technique and repertoire can feel like a slow process.
But once that relationship is there, the child becomes like a super absorbent sponge, soaking up EVERYTHING!
I often remind myself: teaching and learning is not a race; it’s a journey. A journey that must be built on a strong foundation.
Building a safe space for students sounds easy enough, but it takes real awareness.
When we’re tired, it’s especially important to consider how we react in different situations...
Children forgetting their instrument or music.
Children being cheeky, distracted, or chatty.
Children not practising.
Our reactions to these moments shape the space we create.
Pause. Breathe. Take a moment before you respond.
Watch your tone, body language, and mannerisms.
Seek first to understand—how is your student feeling? What’s really going on? Put their human needs first with respect and understanding.
Be kind, fair, and always consistent. Set boundaries with love and respect.
Inspire them by showing what’s possible. Create lessons they LOVE, lessons that are fun and engaging so they enjoy the process.
I’ve been working hard to create that safe space for my students—some prone to disorganisation, lack of practice, or even challenging behaviours.
Yet, those same students haven’t given up because I never gave up on them.
I believed in them, and now, years later, they’re making real progress, and things are finally clicking.
If you’re looking for resources to help make your teaching space magical and inspiring, check out everything we offer in the Stringosaurus Resources Hub.
⭐ Motivational material so that YOUR students ASK to practise in their early days.
These transformative resources are primarily for beginner violin students aged 3-8, but many can be adapted for older beginners too.
One of my Teachosauri from Tabb Violin Studios shared:
"Oh, I just heard from my high schoolers—they want play-along videos too! 😂 They’re jealous of the littles with their Stringosaurus videos."
Haha, isn’t that hilarious?!
I would LOVE to hear from you—just hit reply.
Warmest regards,
Laura :)
P.S. Here’s a FREE gift—“Laugh and Cheer,” a chorus from a Christmas song, just in time for you super-organised folks! Enjoy! If you want it sent as a PDF let me know. xx
