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Kathy K., Texas

In my experience, whenever someone takes some “time off” they never actually return.

Jane K.

Even if they do return, they would have forgotten most of the things learnt. Most likely you have to start from the beginning (and the student will find it boring), unless the parent is willing to do the revision before the child resumes lessons.

Why is the student unwilling to practice? Is she facing some kind of problems in life/school? Or she just does not like the songs that she is learning? I think it is important to find out the reason behind and seek parents’ full support (remind them about the LTR). Otherwise, be prepared to lose this student.

Laurie Richards, Nebraska

I agree with Kathy – very, very rarely will a student who is ‘taking a break’ return. Sometimes just talking to a parent about it can help. Here’s a story about that –

About 3 years ago I had one of my studio dads talk to me about his daughter who was in level 4 (typical time to want that ‘break’). She was not wanting to practice, it was becoming a struggle (the usual), and he asked me if I thought they should take a break.

We had a conversation about it, during which I explained how it was really typical at that point in the curriculum for students to have that experience. I told him that if they ‘took a break’ that I could almost guarantee they wouldn’t ever get back to it and strongly encouraged him to stick it out with her through that valley.

He did, and now she is in Level 12 and is an amazing musician. She’s the one I mentioned recently who received an award from our local classical radio station and is being featured this month as a ‘classical kid’ (I nominated her, and she was one of 12 selected for 2012).

This is also one of my most supportive families, consistently bringing me new students over the years and talking up my studio.

It doesn’t always work out that way, obviously, but it’s encouraging to know that sometimes those conversations do make a difference!

Barbara G., Massachusetts

I would beg to differ that students who take time off “never” return.

I have had several students stop lessons due to family circumstances, changes of school, etc. The time they stopped lessons with me varied from a few weeks to 2 years. I always leave my door open to them returning, encourage them to use what they have learned already, and say “Let me know if I can be of service in the future”.

One boy stopped for 2 years. He was in Level 3 when he stopped. After the break he came back, I told his parents he would need to get his playlist up and going, which he did, we found the last song he could play and we went on from there. Now he is working on Level6, and is a joy to teach.
I find that once the students have learned the songs that they are “in there”. The student may have forgotten how to start the song, or some other particular part, but in general the songs come back very quickly. Like riding a bicycle in many ways.

“Life happens” If students need to stop, it does not mean the end of piano in their lives. I view my job as the person to encourage them to have music for a lifetime, however that works out for each person.