Studio Management
Homeschool Siblings acting as Coaches
I have a homeschool family that I taught traditionally up until January of this year, when they went on a sabbatical. They are coming home soon, and when I talked with the mom about piano and told her I was now teaching SM, she asked…
Explaining Phrasing to a Parent with a Traditional Background
I have a dad who has a traditional classical music degree and is wondering when we start to teach phrasing. Do you have idea on how to discuss this with him? This is along the same lines as a recent issue that’s come up between…
Unsupportive Parent
This is my first email to Forum, and I would love to have some feedback on a frustrating situation. I have been teaching Simply Music since this past June, but have been a traditional piano teacher for the past 20 years. I transferred a fairly…
Supportive parent but student wants to quit
I have a very nice boy in one of my 4 person group lessons all about age 7-8. We just started foundation 3. His mom is very supportive although she doesn’t play herself and has 5 other kids so she doesn’t spend much time with…
Domestic Situations for Students
Having had a hunch about something for a while, I took a look at the history of my student body and discovered some things. Of all my discontinued students who were children, 9 out of 20 had parents who were divorced or separated. Some were…
Problem Mother
I have 2 brothers ages 6 & 7 in a group lesson, mother is Russian. From the beginning, she was moving ahead on the video after I told her not to. 7 year old is doing fantastically, the 6 year old is immature and uncooperative.…
I Hate Piano – parent support email
Dear Teachers, I was reading recent emails on the Forums about struggling students, people needing breaks, etc. and wanted to share my own experience. I have always noticed that many parents feel worn down in May and June, and this year was no exception. In…
Life Coach – Death of a Parent
I am a newly licensed teacher and will start my first lesson this Friday. I am teaching my close friend’s daughter and her classmate. Both of them are 11 years old. My friend will be in class with her daughter for sure, but the other girl’s…
Issue with Interfering Dad in Lessons
I’m reaching out to you all for some much needed advice. I’m not good at articulating myself sometimes in uncomfortable situations, and I want to make sure that the email I send this father is VERY ARTICULATE. Here is the situation: I did an FIS…
Parents that Watch & Lean Ahead
I’ve got a territorial question this time round. One of young students aged 8 has a dad that likes to keep ahead by watching the SHM and learning the next song before our lesson. He just sent me a recording of him playing Minuet in…