Hi, all! Today, during my lesson, my teacher informed me my lesson would be moved back 15 minutes (from 10 am TO 10:15 am) when a new adult student would start in a few weeks. I was caught off guard and didn't say anything today.
On the way home, something else occurred to me: this new student- who is a new mom and is bringing along her 3 month old baby- will certainly not be done at 10:15 am because her lesson will be starting at 9:45 am! My teacher always goes over (chit chat/small talk) and no way can someone with a baby get in and out that fast. I'm betting neither new mom nor my teacher (no kids) have any idea how a baby and all the stuff that comes with it can delay things! So, now my lesson will most likely start at 10:30 am .
And I know my teacher likes to leave her house at 11 am for some appointment she has every week on that particular day.
My plan: share with her my concerns and ask if she would kindly consider moving that new student's time to 9:30 am (I'd explain all the baby issues- been there, done that...).

I think the world of my teacher, she's a fine musician and pianist and teacher, but (I feel) falls a bit short on the business end of things. Sigh....

Thoughts/comments/suggestions? Thanks!

Stuff like this happens. I guess there's always the option to get a new teacher if it's a pain, and your existing teacher is immovable.

Hi piano joy. I would request the earlier time, saying it would work out so much better for your schedule. I would not mention the fears about the new lesson going overtime. Hopefully your teacher will switch the lesson times for you.

I would definitely talk to your teacher and share your concerns. Maybe you can offer to switch times with the other person, if you are concerned with loosing out on time for your lessons. Your teacher may also have been spending more time with you because she knew she had the extra time. It may not happen with every student, especially when they are back to back.

I like Ann's recommendation. I would ask for the earlier time (you weren't ASKED to move, you were told you were moving.)

+1
Communication should always be honest, and just by asking to take a different time and not saying what the concern is, I think you may always be a bit put out by that. Tell your teacher that you are concerned that you will not start and stop on time. I also wonder if you were a bit insulted by being asked to change? As a teacher I can understand how it's difficult to juggle students and their own individual scheduling needs, and so a little give and take on your part helps tremendously (and remember that if your needs change she would ask someone else to do *you* the favor of changing). But give her a call and let her know how you feel, and then the two of you can work out a compromise.

It sounds like this teacher gives 30 minute lessons. Were your lessons regularly taking longer than this before?

I guess you can't be SURE that the lesson before you will take longer because she brings a baby along, and you may need to wait to complain until it happens. But the fact remains that she just moved your lesson without asking first.

Thank you all for your replies. Yes, I was a bit put off that I wasn't asked to change my lesson time, even if it was by only 15 minutes, that's a bit rude.

I could let it play out and see what happens. To be honest, I am trained to foresee problems (in my job) and I'm usually very accurate, that's why I wish to be proactive about this.
I guess my real concern is that the lesson will run so late that even the 30 minutes may be compromised! (I neglected to mention that I arrive 5 minutes early to my lessons and my teacher runs 5-10 minutes late herself. I don't mind because I use that time to warm-up and practice!)

I like Ann's idea, I think I will talk to her about that. We have an excellent, mutually respectful relationship so I feel completely comfortable addressing this. Just wanted a teacher's perspective first.


(As an aside, I cannot imagine bringing an infant to a piano lesson, where the focus SHOULD be on the lesson. wow. I guess that situation may resolve itself...)

For my part, the reply I'd give when told of the change is something along the lines "No problem, my only concern is making sure we always have my full half-hour". Be direct, in any case. And repeat in future if that full half-hour turns out not to materialize.

P.S. When I took piano lessons a kid, our teacher was actually a relative. Making for a certain reluctance to deal firmly with the situation. Which situation was, she would routinely run about 10-15 minutes over time on her first lesson of the day, start the second one late and run it an extra 10-15 minutes, lather, rinse, repeat.

My sister and I were usually her second and third or third and fourth sessions on the day we went so we knew we needn't get there on time and that in fact we'd be finishing the better part of an hour later than scheduled. Heaven help the kids who were after us on the schedule. And the real trouble was, that wasn't from teaching longer than 30 minutes. It was from the chit-chat and small talk before, after and sometimes during the lesson.

Moral of the story...never sign your kids up for lessons with someone you will have to see at family reunions if the lessons don't work out!

My first teacher kept a kitchen timer on the piano.

She started it very obviously and pointedly at the beginning of each lesson. It kept all of us on task.

Other teachers haven't done that, and it is rude to look at your watch. I would think at the least you'd have a large wall clock over the piano area.

I look at my watch frequently during each lesson. I have the lesson divided up in my head, and if I spend too much time on one part of the lesson, something else gets pushed back to the next week, which is usually not good.

1) I can't imagine teaching anyone with a baby also in the lesson.
2) Students I teach make a commitment to show up for a weekly lesson, at particular times. I start lessons on time. If they are late, they do not get to go over into the next student's time.
3) For the same reason, *no one else* gets to "claim" any part of *their* time.

I don't see any excuse for going over, making the next student start late. I would never think of changing students' lesson times without first asking, and even then I would need a very good reason.

Now, if you have a more informal relationship with your teacher, it might be hard to establish boundaries, and you did not answer the question about whether or not you have been given extra time. If so, it will be harder to complain. If you have only gotten the time you have paid for and have sometimes lost time because of her lateness/chattiness, I would say you have a very legitimate reason to be angry.

Yes, it has become an informal relationship, as we are only about 5 years apart in age and have shared quite a bit of our personal lives. I didn't mean to evade the question- I did get extra time (about 15 minutes-mostly chit/chat),however, I do not EXPECT extra time and I give a very generous end-of-the year gift card as an informal "thank you".

I am just trying to prevent the scenario I foresee: teacher starts a bit late, mom with baby is late (and unless you have BEEN a mom with baby, you may not fully appreciate this), my lesson starts too late to get the full 30minutes in, and we start rushing like crazy towards the end. I didn't mean to imply I was angry- that's too strong an emotion for this scenario. I am apprehensive.

However, I think my head is now clear -when she told me this, we went right into the lesson and it wasn't discussed further so I didn't think about it until I had left. I will speak to her about my concerns at my next lesson and ask if I can perhaps just switch times with the mom/baby. That's why I also like to be the first appt. of the day at the doctor's office- otherwise, I'm waiting an hour past my scheduled time to be seen.

Thanks, all!

Another thing about starting late, for whatever reason. I once ran over time by about 5 minutes with a lesson, which was the last lesson of the day, so no one was cheated out of time.

But the parent was angry because they had to leave on the dot to get someplace on time, and this made them rush and maybe be late.

"No good deed goes unpunished."

Well, my 89 year old dad gave me some good advice tonight over dinner. He said "let it play out for a few lessons and if,indeed it is a problem, then your teacher will realize it and take action. Be patient ".

I think he's right.