So how do you know you are doing a good job as a teacher?

- Low drop out rate?
- Students running out to their car smiling ear to ear?
- Students who still play years after taking lessons
- Quality of music at your recitals?
- Exam scores and festival wins?
- Parent satisfaction?
- Speed of progress in students?
- How much you earn?
- Lots of referrals from collegues?
- Students who go on to successful careers in music?
- Other things not mentioned here? does anyone use an anonymous survey to have students rate you?

Just a curiosity.

-P-

Would you accept mostly an "All of the above?"

Well, mostly. The "how much you earn" doesn't mean much to me at this stage of life, it's more how much delight I see on students' faces week to week.

Referrals from colleagues is also very low on my list.

What I like best are students who knock on the door years after they've left and tell me they're still playing the piano.

That's really nice to hear! I know some teachers ask for departing student's feedback. Sometimes I think its important that teachers encourage autonomous learners, It's something that's hard to just see from an outsiders point of view. A student that plays well in a competition may not be able to apply himself/herself in another piece without the teacher's spoonfeeding.

Its great to hear that you like to think about your performance as a teacher. I think if people constantly re-examine themselves in their lives and strive to be a better person each day then that makes an excellent performer ... in all areas of life (family roles, employment, friends, etc)

Most important to me:

- Low drop out rate?
- Students running out to their car smiling ear to ear?
- Students who still play years after taking lessons
- Parent satisfaction?
- Speed of progress in students?
- Students who go on to successful careers in music?

And add to that: calls or emails from old students who remember me and tell me they wish they lived in this area so their kids could take lessons from me.