I have been wanting to teach Hoop Dance classes for a while now and my wish was finally granted! I begin teaching this Monday night at a reallllly cool venue here in Knoxville that I attend regularly for shows. Does anyone have any advice for a first time teacher? I'm a little nervous but think I will do just fine once it gets goin.
Any pointers are appreciated!!! :-)
Any pointers are appreciated!!! :-)
posted by:
|
Tennessee
|
-
Re: Advice for a new instructor (Monday is my first day)
Thu, June 5, 2008 - 11:40 AMtake some time to ground before class...
-
Hmm.
Fri, June 6, 2008 - 7:11 AMWarm up and stretch your students. It is helpful to have an assistant - in case you have students at different levels. Plan out your music ahead of time. Plan out your progressions.. (off body hooping, waist hooping etc.) Make sure you give them a break if they need one; drink water and have extra water for students. If they are having trouble with certain moves with one hoop have them try another. Last night a grrl needed a bigger hoop to learn 'the lift'. I find for arm/off body work smaller hoops are better. I am sure you know much of this already; You will be great!
If you have any more specific questions just ask. -
-
Re: Hmm.
Fri, June 6, 2008 - 7:33 AMI'm in the same boat as Brooke... teaching my first class on Tues. and there are already 25 people registered! I'm really nervous since I've never taught a class of any kind. Plus, it will be held at a big, well known gym in my area.
For those who teach - what is realistic, in terms of the number of moves a beginner class will master by the end of a 1-hour session? Also, do you hoop to the beat of the music and follow a set routine? I think back to the kickboxing and step group fitness classes that I've taken, and those seem to follow the beat and progress rather quickly. I would think a hoop class would flow a bit differently, since there's so much explaning to do. I feel like there's a ton of information to relay and I don't know how I'm going to do it in an hour's time.
Any/ all advice would be greatly appreciated. Brooke - good luck to you! And let us know how it goes :) -
-
Re: Hmm.
Fri, June 6, 2008 - 7:42 AMwhat is realistic, in terms of the number of moves = (everyone is different - one person may just be able to waist hoop or hoop in both directions and work on turning and lifting feet.. - do very basic hand passes around the body) --The next person is gonna pick up on everything.. and many people like to learn a 'few tricks at a time' - or work on one or two moves.
I hoop to the beat. I like to use song lengths to do different drills. One song with all hooping in the opposite directions. One song just concentrating on dancing to the beat... (use a good song with this - I find disco is good - & well recieved.) I would love to be able to choreograph but find people are too divergent. I have learned everything on my own. I have been doing it for over a year and I still have lots to learn. There is a retired couple that lives here that know more tricks than I do! I want them to come help me teach too! You really learn a lot by teaching. I have a teaching degree and perhaps that helps some. It makes me want to plan details and think of different ways to explain things and break down the moves..
You will find it gets easier .. each time you teach something..
go slowly.. demonstrate the move slowly & from different angles. (stand in front of the person - then beside the person.) sometimes you can move the hoop around the person's body in a slow mo demo to help them get the feel of a move.
-
Re: Hmm.
Fri, June 6, 2008 - 7:45 AMDon't let the fact that you have lots of information be overwhelming. You will tell them what they need to know and still have lots more to share in the future. Hooping is so great because it is limitless.
& you will both be super hoop ambassadors.. - You already are.. you are just evolving to the next level. Be confident and patient - and congratulations on getting a chance to share this special gift of hoop dance! -
-
Re: Hmm.
Fri, June 6, 2008 - 10:16 AMWow! Thanks for all that information, my friend!!
I don't know how many people are going to show up and I'm sure I will have a range of skill level. I am feeling confident that I can handle this and will do a great job!
Thanks for all the advice, everyone. I will take it all to heart!
-
-
Re: Hmm.
Fri, June 6, 2008 - 10:01 AMreally depends what class you want to teach... if you want high-fitness, go for stepping with the beat. If you want it to be more about expression and creativity - don't!
When teaching I always want to throw ppl another move as soon as they get one (cause that's how I like classes... more more more info NOW! :)), but I've received feedback that students want more time to play with each move and to master it. You gotta just see how it goes....:)
have fun! -
-
Keep Smiling
Sat, June 7, 2008 - 7:52 AMBrooke you will be fine I have seen your hooping videos and you look like you are having a great time and are brilliant so people will pick up on that and enjoy the class. i taught my first class on Wednesday night. I live way in the country in the UK so had all beginners (I was hoping for some dark horse wonder hooper to show but sadly no) but was still really nervous cos I just wanted people to have fun. I kept the music pretty generic not too loud taught them a move then turned it up and went round giving people 1-2-1 pointers then turned it down a little and went through something else. I had 14 in my class (I was expecting 8 I was a little traumatised) I took a lot of different sized hoops including one massive hoop at 50 inches which i used with 2 girls who really couldn't get the feel of it. One girl used it the whole way through the on body stuff at the end i swapped her onto a smaller hoop. I did hand hooping and waist hooping and some vertical stuff and thats all I had time for in an hour. By the end they could waist hoop, hand hoop and swap hands and move their feet and turn and they were happy with that. My age ranged from about 25 to 55. I think just keep it basic for the first class people won't expect to be taught masses and you can always give the good people extra when you are doing 1-2-1 (i really recommend this people like having the time to play with the music up as you go around too ) and bring a range of bigger hoops and have fun :) I had a giggle and hopefully will make some hoop friends which is why i wanted to teach in the first place Good Luck let us know how it goes xx -
-
Re: Keep Smiling
Sun, June 8, 2008 - 12:23 PMThat's exactly how I planned to do things tomorrow! ! =) I spent all last night making a playlist on my ipod (choosing the right tempo song for the appropriate exercises). I am getting so excited to do this. My only fear now is that I will have an empty class. I have only had a week to promote and so far have about 8 people who say they are coming....we'll see who follows through and who brings along friends :)
Fingers are crosssed!!! -
-
Re: Keep Smiling
Mon, June 9, 2008 - 5:15 AMBest wishes... and good luck. I hope you get a good crowd. It is hard to tell .. don't get discouraged if you don't get enough people right away - often 'word of mouth' happens and students will bring their friends..
-Kelly
-
-
-
-
-
-
Re: Advice for a new instructor (Monday is my first day)
Mon, June 9, 2008 - 10:17 PMHOW WAS IT??!?!
:) -
-
Re: Advice for a new instructor (Monday is my first day)
Tue, June 10, 2008 - 8:40 AMIt went really well! I had 4 students (which I was pleased with, as I only had a week to promote and recruit). I had a few people who were out of town and promised to be at future classes. The students loved it and all said they would be every week. They are bringing some more friends as well.
I had a whole outline of how I wanted things to work, but ended up totally playing it by ear. I had 4 students and basically 4 different skill levels so I spent most of the time walking around and giving 1-on-1 instruction the whole class. It was easier than I thought! The only obstacle I faced was there was one girl who literally spent 75% of the class tryin to keep the hoop around her waist. I have never had a problem with people not being able to keep my adult sized hoops up. So I felt like I was a bad teacher when all my instruction failed time and time again. She finally got it goin and I was so relieved!
All of the students had a blast and want to bring friends, so I think word of mouth is going to save me and really kick things off to a good start! I am so thrilled!
-
-
Re: Advice for a new instructor (Monday is my first day)
Tue, June 10, 2008 - 10:54 AMAwesome, Brooke! I was going to hit you up on MySpace, and then I came across this post. I'm really glad to hear that all went well for you. And the positive response from the people who went to your class must make you feel good too! I'm sure you rocked it and the students loved you. Good job!
I'm crossing my fingers that my first class goes just as well tonight. I'm freakin' nervous! I just talked to the group fitness director at the gym and there are 35 people registered!!! They had to cancel the boxing class so we could move into a larger space tonight. I can't imagine that all of those people will show up. I have a few hooper friends helping me out, which makes me feel a little better. They say there's normally a 20% drop off. Not to mention - it's an intro. class which means that it's basically like an interview. If all goes well tonight, I may have the opportunity to teach the HoopGirl series after training with Christabel next week & getting my certification. And if it doesn't, well - then it looks like I'm starting from scratch with the gyms. So, the pressure's on. Eek!
-
Re: Advice for a new instructor (Monday is my first day)
Tue, June 10, 2008 - 10:56 AMAwesome, Brooke! I was going to hit you up on MySpace, and then I came across this post. I'm really glad to hear that all went well for you. And the positive response from the people who went to your class must make you feel good too! I'm sure you rocked it and the students loved you. Good job!
I'm crossing my fingers that my first class goes just as well tonight. I'm freakin' nervous! I just talked to the group fitness director at the gym and there are 35 people registered!!! They had to cancel the boxing class so we could move into a larger space tonight. I can't imagine that all of those people will show up. I have a few hooper friends helping me out, which makes me feel a little better. They say there's normally a 20% drop off. Not to mention - it's an intro. class which means that it's basically like an interview. If all goes well tonight, I may have the opportunity to teach the HoopGirl series after training with Christabel next week & getting my certification. And if it doesn't, well - then it looks like I'm starting from scratch with the gyms. So, the pressure's on. Eek! -
-
Re: Advice for a new instructor (Monday is my first day)
Tue, June 10, 2008 - 1:13 PMOH wow! I thought about talking with the coordinators at my gym but I wanted to stick to a more scene friendly place to get started. That's awesome you have such a great response!!! More power to ya girl! Keep me posted on how it goes! I'll be thinking of you!
p.s.- It's kind of ironic, my friend (GroovinMegz) teaches on Sunday nights, I teach Monday nights, and you've got Tuesday nights haha.
-
-
-
