Instruction, Cueing, and Class Management
What to know
Three cueing channels. Visual (demonstration, gesture, pointing), verbal (short, action-based, rhythmic words), and kinesthetic/tactile (hands-on correction only with permission). Effective instructors layer them rather than relying on talk alone.
Three-part cueing. Cue the preparation (what is coming), the execution (the key alignment or effort point), and the follow-through (the finish or the next transition). Deliver the next movement about one musical phrase ahead so participants are never surprised.
Mirroring. When facing the class, most instructors mirror: they move their left arm while saying 'right arm,' so participants see the correct side. Whatever convention you use, state it and stay consistent - ambiguous left/right cues are a classic exam trap.
Positioning and monitoring. Stand where every participant is visible, check the back row and corners, and move through the room periodically. Gauge intensity with the talk test, RPE, visual signs, and self-reported effort; adjust on the spot.
Feedback and progressions. Feedback should be specific, timely, and mostly positive; distinguish knowledge of results from knowledge of performance and intrinsic from extrinsic motivation. Common teaching progressions are add-on, part-to-whole, simple-to-complex, and repetition reduction. Manage behavior privately and never give medical or nutritional advice.
Traps
- Cueing only choreography while ignoring alignment and joint stress.
- Talking while facing away from the class.
- Stacking several corrections into one overloaded cue.
- Ignoring the back row or participants who are visibly struggling.
Rule of thumb
For new choreography, teach 32 counts as four blocks of eight and add the next block only after the current one is performed correctly twice.