How to Not Make your Piano Teacher Mad

Have you noticed your child's piano teacher seems a little mad and you don't know why? Do you think it's your child? Probably not, it's probably you. Read on to learn about piano lesson etiquette and how to NOT make your Piano Teacher mad.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Your helping your child with their homework and you suddenly realize you were suppose to go to your piano lesson and you forgot. Call the piano teacher immediately and apologize. Do not ignore it and think that your piano teacher will forget about it.

2. Your kids are cranky, you have had a full day and the last thing you want to do is go to a piano lesson. Stop, don't even think about not going. Your piano teacher is expecting you. They have planned for your arrival. They have moved their schedule around to be there for you. If you don't show up, they are left with 5-10 minutes of wondering if you are coming or if you got into a traffic jam, till they realize your are not coming and worse yet, you not even bothering to tell them. Do not cancel at the last minute and call your piano teacher with an excuse. They know every time that you are giving them an excuse and they will get mad that you do not value their time.

3. If you are sitting in on lessons (if you have a piano teacher that will even let you do that) do not interfere or direct or recommunicate directions from the teacher to your child. Your teacher is a professional and if your child does not understand, your teacher does not need you to interpretate for them. They will handle it.

4. You don't have the tuition for the month, so you call a few days ahead of time to say you need to miss that lesson. Your piano teacher knows exactly what you are doing and if it happens again you probably will be dropped.

5. Do not ask your teacher questions about your child's progress or concerns about how they are doing in front of your child. Your teacher will only say positive remarks and encouragement and they will not point out specific issues in front of your child. If you really want to know, then you need to email or talk with them in private.

6. Don't second guess or question your teacher's teaching tactics. Since your teacher is teaching one on one, they are very tuned into the way your child learns and will adjust the lesson for your child so they can benefit the most from their lesson. Ask questions, sure, but don't come across as though you do not have faith in what they are doing and disagree with the lesson plan.

7. Have you let your child not practice? Have you given your child an excuse to not practice because of your busy schedule? Having your child go to their lesson, when they have not practiced and expecting them to grasp piano or to automatically advance is ridiculous. Your piano teacher will spend the lesson, having your child practice what they should have practiced all week. In essence, you are paying not for a piano lesson but for your child to practice at the piano teacher's studio. You would not send your child to school without their homework done, so don't send your child to their lesson without their piano homework done.

8. In most cases, the piano lesson is in the piano teacher's home. Do not forget that it is their home and let siblings wander through the house or use the bathroom without asking or even go into the refrigerator for something to drink.

9. Do not show up 5 minutes late to your lesson and expect your piano teacher to tack on 5 minutes. Lessons are schedule back to back and just because you are late, does not mean you are entitled to your full 30 minutes.

10. Do you show up with two children and have one sit in on the lesson while you go run errands. The piano teacher cannot babysit for you.

11. Do you tell your piano teacher that you are going to run errands and if your late getting back to just have your child wait outside. Your piano teacher feels responsible for your child and they would not let them be alone. As mentioned in Step 7, the piano teacher cannot babysit for you.

12. Quitting your lessons. The attrition rate for musical lessons is around 25% every year and piano teachers do know that people willingly or unwillingly do have to quit sometimes. What they don't understand is when they are told the day of the lesson. Let your piano teacher know ahead of time so they can advertise for a replacement and keep their income consistent.

Tips & Warnings

• I have never met an adult that was glad that they quit the piano. If you decide you are going to let your child have lessons, be aware that you are making a financial and educational decision that will affect your family for the next 10 plus years.
• Piano teachers take piano seriously. Not just because it is their vocation, but because they respect the time and dedication it takes to become a piano player. Playing a musical instrument is unlike a soccer game or a karate lesson. You cannot just show up at the lesson and think that is all you need to do. Otherwise, your child will become frustrated and want to quit. Right at the beginning practicing time should be scheduled, just llike homework time and should be treated the same way.

Resources

• Piano Geek

[AuntieAndrea]

on 12/27/2008 Great info, you sound like an awesome teacher.