Bad Bowing is Contagious

There are still a few things that make me want to roll my eyes and giggle as a teacher.  Simply because I’ve been guilty of doing the same things.  Bowing well it’s a wasteland of poor etiquette.  I remember my teachers telling me over and over that I needed to give a good bow.  That I was telling the audience thank you for listening to me play the piano. 

Last Saturday I took my students to a local assisted living facility.  This was a very informal event but a chance to hone our skills before the big winter recital in a few week.   Before we began, I reminded the students to bow after each piece.  Then one of my more bowing conscientious students gave us a demonstration of what a proper bow looks like.  Off we went to the performance.

The first round of pieces was somewhat dubiously played but perfectly bowed.  The second round started and the playing was better but the bowing was headed down hill rapidly.  After about 4 half-hearted bows, a student made a break for it with only a head nod.  I had to interrupt between students and remind them that I expected correct and polite bows.  Then we were back on track.

It seems like if just one student slacks off in the bowing department it sets off a chain reaction.  We will be practicing a little bit more before the winter recital.