Good for you Glenn.
I believe that small gesture on your part is what sets you apart from other band directors/teachers.
It's easy to pick apart a performance and point out what's wrong; I'll bet that the student recognizes it in some cases before the teacher does.
I would have killed to have my band director tell me he was proud of me. He was a seemingly hard; ice cold man. Didn't matter what solos I played I could execute them flawlessly and all I'd ever get was a simple nod of the head.
What you did the student will take with her through life.
And I agree it's every bit as important to build self esteem as it is to stress technique, dynamics, etc....
Way to go!
