Teachers always want to peek into the inner world of their students and see the results of their teaching - what works and what does not. It is especially important while teaching young students who are unable to analyze their experience and/or express it vocally. One method to get a peek into my students' minds has proved to be very helpful for me over the years. Several times a year, we organize recitals where the students comment on the performances of their fellow students. The comments that the students write reveal so much about them, what they have learnt, what they think is important, what they pay attention to, and how they perceive music in general. While trying to help their friends, they also mature themselves as performers. And in addition to all these benefits, reading these comments is always entertaining. Judge for yourself - I extracted some of the comments from the last recital and edited them only a little bit. I tried to preserve original format and wording of the comments.

Kun-Woo, nine years -Two-part invention in F #8. J.S. Bach.

1. Needs a larger range of dynamics.(Chris, 10 years old)
2. Sometimes hands lost coordination, but overall good technique.(Xinlan, 13 years old)
3. Very nice! (Catherine, nine years old)
4. You should try to put your shoulders down just a bit. But it was very well done. (Angelique, nine years old)

Benjamin, ten years old- Poet's Heart, E. Grieg

1. You should try to move in big long circles, not just back and forth.(Angelique, nine years old)
2. During long rests, feel the tension - don't just sit there. (Brandon, 17 years old)
3. Try to bow a little deeper and slower.(Kun-Woo, nine years old)
4. Great! (Catherine, nine years old)

Andrew, 8 years old - Variation on the Russian Song, M. Glinka

1. Good articulation and nice pedaling. Work on Dynamics.(Kun-Woo, 9 years old)
2. Make each variation different and unique .(Xinlan, 13 years old)
3. I suggest a more fluid right-hand line and attention to high notes.(Brandon, 17 years old)

Catherine, 9 years - Study in F minor #14, F. Chopin

1. Try to let your fingers guide you more. (Benjamin, ten years old)
2. If you mess up like that - skip that section. (Andrew, eight years old)
3. Practice right hand so that you can start from any point.(Brandon, 17 years old)
4. Good body movements. I really liked it.(Angelique, nine years old)

Melody, 11 years old - Clair de Luna, C. Debussy

1. Could use a little bit more swaying or rocking. The nice piece you chose!(Kun-Woo, nine years old)
2. Beautiful, amazing .(Catherine, nine years old)
3. Put your hair up so that we can see your face. On a serious note - you need more variety in dynamics.(Xinlan, 13 years old)

Angelique, 9 years old - In the night, R. Schumann

1. Especially good forte and articulation. Bowing needs work. Awesome feeling – you really put yourself into the piece.(Kun-Woo, nine years old)
2. Use pedal wisely. Take more time to appreciate climax.(Xinlan, 13 years old)
3. Projected sound is brought out, did not forget anything. (Melody, 11 years old)
4. Great arm movements, fantastic. A little too loud (sometimes).(Catherine, nine years old)

Christopher, 10 years old - Polichinelle, S. Rachmaninoff

1. Bowing needs work.(Kun-Woo, nine years old)
2. Curve fingers are awesome.(Andrew, eight years old)
3. Really represents a clown. The pedal needs to be cleaner.(Catherine, nine years old)
4. Good dynamics, body movement, more loud than soft, tricky like a clown.(Melody, 11 years old)
5. I am impressed - good job, good contrast, good dynamics too.(Angelique, nine years old)

Xinlan,13 years old - Prelude in C minor from WTC #1, J.S. Bach; Maiden's wish, F. Chopin/F. Liszt

1. Good articulation. The second piece made me want to love. Rush at the end (sort of). Bowing needs work.(Kun-Woo, nine years old)
2. Try having your left foot on the floor.(Benjamin, ten years old)
3. Good clean pedal and curved fingers.(Andrew, eight years old)
4. Don't be too loud when around low keys.(Catherine, nine years old)
5. Try to use your body a little bit more. Nice finger action for such a fast piece.(Angelique, nine years old)
6. Make a more beautiful resolution to the major key at the end of the Sonata. About Liszt: make turns at the beginning less jerky - yes, they are separate, but they still make a long line. (Brandon, 17 years old)

Brandon, 17 years old - Sonata in G major #16, First movement, L. van Beethoven; Eroica from Transcendental Etudes, F. Liszt

1. The first piece made me think of Tom and Jerry. Awesome articulation! The second piece made me think of Superman fighting a villain. Exact aiming - hands like eagles, good preparation before playing. Bowing needs work. (Guess Who?)
2. Used a lot of dynamics, shows melody, shows stop the note, uses pedal well, right hand dominant, bass also shows, chords are clear.(Melody, 11 years old)
3. Nice work, good dynamics, just try to keep your shoulders down. I like the music you've played.(Angelique, 9 years old)
4. Straighter back, otherwise beyond words.(Chris, ten years old)
5. Keep head up when "Hero" gets loud. Only bend down when it gets quiet or suspenseful. Arpeggios could be worked on? Maybe it is just me. Breathing on the beat is a little bit distracting.(Xinlan , 13 years old)