Piano World Home Page Forums General Discussions Musicians Welcome! Violin teacher not doing her job??

I'm not sure this is the right place to post this, but I am needing some input.
My two daughters have taken violin and viola lessons from a teacher here for several years. This teacher is an extremely talented violinist, plays in our local symphony and has taught for years. Over the years I've observed that some of her teaching methods have changed and I'm beginning to get frustrated. She used to print out wonderful booklets each year for the students which contained the year's calendar, her studio policy and pages for lessons assignments and recording practice times. Last year she didn't do the booklets, which was all right, but by the end of the year she was no longer writing out assignments. This year has been more of the same and my daughters struggle with knowing what in the world they're supposed to practice. They don't remember everything she told them in their lessons. I asked her a few months ago if she could please write things down and she did for a couple lessons, but now it's back to no notes at all.
She never asks if they practiced, and the lessons seem increasingly disorganized and pointless, with very little solid teaching going on.
Is it time to look for a new teacher? We really hate to do that, but I'm not sure what to do.
I'd appreciate input.

Have you told the teacher these things? Sounds like the teacher is distracted or burning out on teaching. I mean, that the teaching quality seems to be declining?

I have found that a good or bad teacher has no or very little relationship to the ability they possess as a player.

The most important role of a teacher I have always considered is the have the ability to see the problems from the pupils point of view. I have come across brilliant players of top class stature who fail to have this basic teaching ability. As they have never struggled much they can fail to see how and why others find it so difficult.

It is so important for the student to see that the teacher is with them working together as a team.

I would be inclined to agree with "guest1013" above that the teacher has had enough of the profession. It sounds like she has lost her enthusiasm for the job. As a teacher if you loose that your students soon loose the desire to learn. You say she is a player in the local symphony - does she resent the teaching for getting in the way of her performing?

Do yourself and your children a favour and find another teacher who has this vibrancy and enthusiasm. Somebody who takles the job with zest and excitement.

As a teacher I view this promotion of the love of music the basic foundation of the job. Don't worry about moving teachers - it happens all the time and in this case it sounds as if it is an essential thing to do to maintain your childrens love of their music.

Hope this has helped.

Cheers

Talk to the teacher as a concerned parent. If something's wrong, she'll understand that it is your duty to find out exactly what.