Teaching Music Is Teaching Love: A Guide for Inspiring Every Student

As a teacher, pro musician, producer, and songwriter—wearing many hats over the years—I’ve come to believe that teaching music is, at its core, teaching love.

Music is a universal language. It communicates across borders and emotional states in ways we still don’t fully understand. Every day, it grows more diverse, more beautiful, and more capable of bringing people together.

A person may have a hard-edged personality and lots of ego problems, but when they play music with others it becomes filtered through this language and has the chance to actually be part of something that is creating together, moment by moment, and then if successfully done, brings a different set of emotions and sensory perceptions that are a completely different set of patterns, thus a type of therapy non-therapy.

As a music teacher we need to find our ‘way in’ to each student so that the learning process can be liberated and lasting. Here are a few tips I’ve learned along the way.

1. Begin with Their Taste Start by asking what kind of music they love and what draws them to it. You’re not just gathering data—you’re learning their musical personality. It’s a powerful gesture of respect and connection. 

2. Keep the Conversation Moving Engage them further. If you know the artists they mention, ask more. Keep the dialogue alive. Music is dynamic—your approach should reflect that. This also encourages them to broaden their horizons and continue their musical odyssey. Sometimes just one conversation can open a door they didn’t know existed.

3. For Classical, Jazz, Rock and all Students: Slow Is Fast If you're teaching Western Classical music (Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, etc.) or any other style, and the student is building technique and knowledge, remember this: slow is fast. Help them understand the value of precision and patience.

When students play slowly and absorb every nuance, they form deeper neural connections—engraving the music into both muscle and mind. Slowing down allows each note, phrase, or groove to settle into the body. It builds accuracy, deepens feel, and lays the foundation for effortless playing later. Fast fingers come from patient repetition.

Encourage your students to embrace the slow tempo—not as a limitation, but as a gateway to power, majesty, and a uniquely personal path to becoming a truly great artist.

4. Be the Human Bridge You are more than a teacher. You are the transmitter of something transcendent. When you teach with support, authenticity, and care, you unlock more than just musical skill—you offer healing. Many students carry emotional scars around music. They need more than notes and exercises—they need encouragement, structure, and belief. If they see that music has shaped you in meaningful ways, they’ll believe it can do the same for them.