Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Teachers Forum Teacher stealing my student - UPDATE

I KNEW this was going to happen.

I took in this student 2 years ago, I boosted her marks, helped her win awards she never won before, gave her the confidence she definitely didn't have before. I don't expect much in return except to be paid and to be able to continue my teachings with her.

As many of you know, a new teacher made a move on my student and the father thought it would be ok for his daughter to be taught by 2 different teachers. At first he said not to worry because it was just a few free lessons before her exam.

I spoke with him today, he said "because of your rules, we have decided to go with the other teacher". My rules being - students will not have multiple teachers.

For those of you who gave me grief because I was suspicious that this teacher was making a move, what now? "Ohhhhh, let me give you a couple free lessons, if you like you can come with me!". Wasn't I right to be suspicious?

This is the only time this has ever happened to me in all my years of teaching.

Life goes on, move with it.

If you wish to bring this to the attention of your local colleagues, do so. This other teacher may pay a price in the long run.

I would hesitate to label the teacher by her nationality; it sounds like the teacher is stealing students _because_ she is Polish. Your post's title comes across as racist, even though I find the content of your post to be acceptable. Can you write a critique of the teacher without mentioning her nationality or country of origin??

On the topic of stealing students: Just move on. You are better off not dealing with colleagues who resort to stealing students or using other non-professional tactics.

Oh I don't mean to sound racist at all. I just call her the Polish teacher because that's all I know about her. It was also one of the reasons my client decided to switch to her. They were Polish and she was Polish, so of course they had to switch right? lol

It burns because she was one of my top students, amongst many other reasons.

I'm not so bitter now, but on the off chance that this situation occurs again, I know that I will deal with it swiftly.

Yes, you were entirely right to be suspicious.

The frustration must be immense for you, and I have much sympathy for you and your situation. You can't do anything about that student now, though, so let the situation roll off your back. I do believe that the other teacher's actions will probably catch up with him/her. And I'd feel free to say something to other local teachers if the opportunity presents itself, as it's obvious that the other teacher is not acting professionally or ethically.

Actually, if you have a clause in your contract that states no multiple teachers, you might have a case in small claims court. I don't know if it would be 'actionable' or not though.

not a piano teacher, but chiming in anyways.



If the OP did that it'd probably be the easiest way to lose ALL their students, and the other teacher could easily counter-sue for slander. Honestly I think this is one of those ' ... to accept the things I cannot change' situations, dwelling over it is just a lose/lose proposition.

Also, btw



the first expectation is of course correct (being paid for your services), the second is something you might want to work on not expecting, because no matter what (another teacher, moving away, changing economic situation of the parents, loss of interest from the child, ...) nowhere is guaranteed that you'll see any of your student again at lesson, just do your best to help them, of course, but try to take a step back and keep your relationship with them on a professional level.

I agree. It made me uncomfortable, even though I realized it was only what DD explained it was.

Although it is saddening to see a student go, especially one we have worked with for a few years, this is the danger of crossing the line from feeling sad, to feeling like we owned that student. The OP's comments have a tone of ownership, but ultimately they're free to study with whomever they want.

The feeling of another new teacher coming in and taking this student is even worse. But give it time - they may realize they made a mistake and come back to you. (I've seen that happen many times before!)

Sorry, I don't buy your explanation mentioning you only know the teacher as Polish. Who cares? So you lost a student. That happens. I'm more concerned of transference. Did you have a teacher who told you that if you were to study with anyone else, you had to tell them? I actually did. He had a HUGE ego. And that was his undoing. He turned down an offer to merge his school with a university. Today he has no school at all. As I see it, a teacher should prepare a student to move on. Mine wanted the opposite, to hang on. I'm glad the students parents got involved which shows they care. Don't take it personal. It's their money. You did your best.

+1 Eric and dan, all this ownership stuff gives me the creeps!

This isn't about my ego. When I am no longer of value or use to the student, I don't see anything wrong at all with them going to another teacher. The thing is, I've only had her 2 years. There was nothing I needed assistance with and there were no problems between us. Each year that she wrote an exam with me her marks went higher and higher. Interesting to note that the final exam she took while taking side lessons from this other teacher, she received her lowest mark ever.
I'm not saying that I own my students, but why can't I be at least upset that some random teacher feels that they can just swoop in and offer their services? Does this mean I can go offer my services to any random student because I feel I can teach them better?

It's called competition - what made America great!

Not in so many words, but there's a vibe we're getting.I don't think anyone's saying you can't be upset. But whether it's helpful is another question.

Agreed. Emotions and teaching just don't go together.

I'm not from America, but if what this teacher did was in the name of competition, then I'm free to solicit students from any teacher now right? A student is free to roam from teacher to teacher and there is no consequence to taking a student from another teacher...is that what I'm understanding?

Would you want a system of laws and regulations that made it otherwise? You get gigs, you lose gigs. Live with it.

The "no multiple teachers" control freak clause is, besides being creepy, simply bad business. To my ears it screams inferiority complex and insecurity on the part of the teacher who apparently implicitly believes that his or her teaching will only be retained if comparison to potentially superior alternatives is forbidden. Those teachers I know with such clauses around here are the desperate ones begging for students (and tend to be the ones that, as soon as they find a potential student, force them to sign up for a year in advance and to pay for lessons not taken).

Teachers would be smarter to put their efforts into delivering superior value and building deep relationships with their students (and parents) in order to retain them rather than try to control others through onerous -- and ultimately anti-student welfare -- contract terms and conditions.

Perhaps if you did not have that clause, you would still have this student who might soon tire of their Polish adventure. Instead, your inflexible contract terms have cost you a star student.

It's funny about this multiple teacher thing - my teacher has in fact suggested I do some lesson with other teachers in order to benefit from what others have to offer in terms of expertise.

I can't understand the idea that to learn you MUST be with one teacher only. Sure... there can be a primary teacher - but supplementary lessons with someone else can only aid learning?

Yes. The student (or their guardian) should be able to tell the more suitable teacher. Jeez, you always go with the same make of car? Should it be illegal to switch?