Do parents really say, "Hi, Barb, little Janey won't be at her lesson tomorrow, because she and I are going some mother-daughter shopping in Santa Rosa. When can you do a make-up?"

Do parents really say, "Hi, Barb, little Janey won't be at her lesson tomorrow, because she and I are going some mother-daughter shopping in Santa Rosa. When can you do a make-up?"

Do parents really say, "Hi, Barb, little Janey won't be at her lesson tomorrow, because she and I are going some mother-daughter shopping in Santa Rosa. When can you do a make-up?"

Barb, are you this agreeable even at the last minute

Barb, are you this agreeable even at the last minute, or do you require "X" number of days' notice in advance of the mother-daughter-bonding-in-Santa-Rosa missed lesson?

There is a local high school that pulls such stunts on a weekly basis. The coach would announce (at 7:45 AM) practice (at 3:30 PM) that's mandatory, or else you're benched the following game. And it's not just sports! Choir, orchestra, drama, clubs, you name it.

Only at a nationally-ranked high school could faculty and staff pull such IDIOTIC stunts and get away with it on a regular basis, because all the parents and students are pressured into compliance.

But Morodiene, do you actually grant a make-up for this? Or does your schedule suddenly become too full, and you just say to Mom, "Sorry, I can't seem to find a slot for this make-up. I'll just see little Janey next week at her regular lesson hour - unless the two of you plan to be shopping again"?

I think the latter might be my response.

Only one of mine didn't charge by the lesson. Our present piano teacher charges monthly for a required 40 week year for the son and charge me by the lesson. As for qualifications, proficiency etc., one of my recorder teachers was head of all musical education for (IIRC) the Claremont USD. as well as being the head of music for Ren Fair and a prominent recorder teacher. The other recorder teacher is co-chair of early music at USC Thornton. One of my cello teachers had a degree in education and worked part time doing educational outreach for the LA Phil. My 2nd drum teacher had a doctorate in ethnic music, went to Ghana with Mick Fleetwood and through that trip received a fellowship from the university of Ghana to research and preserve their percussion history.

At the risk of patronization I would remind some of you that there's a huge world of music education that isn't entirely dependent on packing as many 6-16 year olds as possible into a work week and getting as many of them possible into certificate of merit programs. My long experience in this musical universe proves to me that teachers that charge by the lesson don't automatically fall into the category of under-qualified, hobbyists.

At the risk of patronization I would remind some of you that there's a huge world of music education that isn't entirely dependent on packing as many 6-16 year olds as possible into a work week and getting as many of them possible into certificate of merit programs. My long experience in this musical universe proves to me that teachers that charge by the lesson don't automatically fall into the category of under-qualified, hobbyists.

kurt

I live in CA and between my son and I, count 13 music teachers in my life over about 40 years. Only one of mine didn't charge by the lesson. Our present piano teacher charges monthly for a required 40 week year for the son and charge me by the lesson. As for qualifications, proficiency etc., one of my recorder teachers was head of all musical education for (IIRC) the Claremont USD. as well as being the head of music for Ren Fair and a prominent recorder teacher. The other recorder teacher is co-chair of early music at USC Thornton. One of my cello teachers had a degree in education and worked part time doing educational outreach for the LA Phil. My 2nd drum teacher had a doctorate in ethnic music, went to Ghana with Mick Fleetwood and through that trip received a fellowship from the university of Ghana to research and preserve their percussion history. At the risk of patronization I would remind some of you that there's a huge world of music education that isn't entirely dependent on packing as many 6-16 year olds as possible into a work week and getting as many of them possible into certificate of merit programs. My long experience in this musical universe proves to me that teachers that charge by the lesson don't automatically fall into the category of under-qualified, hobbyists.
kurt

I live in CA and between my son and I, count 13 music teachers in my life over about 40 years. Only one of mine didn't charge by the lesson.

Ok thank you all for your wonderful input. Very diverse I might add. I did not mean to open a bad canon worms here. I am just frustrated after 22 years of the same old recurring problems!
Here is the situation for some clarification. I have been teaching privately for 22 years or so. I do not have a issue with weekly, monthly or quarterly, I have done all three and whatever works for each individual then so be it. Monthly just happens to work for me.

My problem and it will never stop or be solved as long as private lessons happen, but it is the missing and the "make-up" issues! I hate it...... When I taught 75 students per week, I did not make up. But now with a full time public school teaching position a d a three year old at home, I don't have time again to give makeups, but for some reason, people are just ASSUMING that I can or have the time to do make ups. S I am re writing my studio police for 2013 and revising the make up policy.


Again thanks for the input.

Do parents really say, "Hi, Barb, little Janey won't be at her lesson tomorrow, because she and I are going some mother-daughter shopping in Santa Rosa. When can you do a make-up?"

It sounds like most of the teachers you've described have other jobs that pay the bills; teaching, for them, is more of a philanthropic activity. Goody for them; wish I could also be in such a cushy position. Unfortunately, teaching is my only source of income. Charging by the lesson would be disastrous for my studio (and my budget), as it would lead to cancelled lessons and no-shows. I would always have 'spaces' in my teaching day and income that would fluctuate from week to week, month to month. No thank you.

I also live in CA and I can guarantee you that 90% of the teachers in our music teachers branch charge lessons by the month or semester, not on a 'per lesson' basis.

I also live in CA and I can guarantee you that 90% of the teachers in our music teachers branch charge lessons by the month or semester, not on a 'per lesson' basis.