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curriculum for private lessons

updated wed 16 aug 06

 

Sally Anne Sadler on mon 14 aug 06


Hello,

I will be teaching a class for one or two people and wanted a suggested
curriculum for beginning throwing class.

I was thinking 6 or 8 evening classes, starting with wedging, centering,
throwing a cylinder, bowls, plate, pulling handles, learning to make covered
jars...

any help and suggestions are appreciated.

Thank you for your consideration

Sally Anne

David Woof on mon 14 aug 06


Sally Anne, What do you hope for these people to accomplish in 6 or 8
classes? What do they wish for? some folks want to simply get an overview
and go away impressed with the process. They become customers of good
pottery if educated properly.

Others want to reach a satisfying level of proficiency and go for hobby or
more. I don't believe you can give these folks enough accomplishment in all
you have set out to offer in 6 or 8 classes to bring them back for more.
and are you arranging for open studio practice time? People that suceed
need a minimum 3X class time for practice. Then they come back to class with
questions, some understanding, and ready to learn more.

My experience is to offer two classes per week for 10 weeks. Two hour
classes, at least 48 hrs between classes, and plenty of open studio time.
They will leave the ten weeks with a sense of accomplishment and some
pleaseing beginning pottery that will function as it is intended. You will
get return students who will become clay comrades and part of a local clay
community. You have a great opportunity here for personal learning and
growth also. If we create/facilitate a learning enviornment, we learn much
from our students as well.



David
_________________________________
_________________________________
David Woof Studio
Clarkdale, Arizona
Ph. 928-821-3747 Fax. 866-881-3461
________________________________
________________________________
peering over the edge, reverently taking an irreverent look at everything.

Cindy Gatto on tue 15 aug 06


keep it simple do the basics a cylinder and/or a bowl I have learned that
teaching too much to stone cold beginners becomes overload repetition is the key
I personally feel that it is better to teach one shape over and over and
then bring in subtle changes that make the piece into something else for example
a cylinder becomes a mug or a candle holder or a vase or a basket etc.

Cindy Gatto & Mark Petrin
The Mudpit
228 Manhattan Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11206
718-218-9424
_www.mudpitnyc.com_ (http://www.mudpitnyc.com/)
mudpitnyc@aol.com

Ivor and Olive Lewis on tue 15 aug 06


Dear Sally Anne Sadler,=20

I think a lot will depend on whether your students have access to wheels =
for practice in the gaps between lessons. The other thing is experience. =
Are they total beginners, continuing novices or advancing from hand =
making to the wheel. ?

By the way, F. Carlton Ball wrote a couple of books many years =
ago.."Syllabus for Beginning Pottery" and "Syllabus for Advanced =
Ceramics"