Claiming territory in lesson pace
Found in: Claiming Territory, Coaches, Shared Lessons
Kym N., California
What would you do if a parent doesn’t want you to teach new assignments to the group because her child doesn’t really practice, but the other student is very ready to move on and does practice? They prefer a group lesson. I feel that I have wasted too much of the good student’s time.
Robin K., Washington
She’s claiming territory. You are the coach. You know what’s best. They are paying you to coach their child and no one argues with the coach. I’d tell her it’s non-negotiable. If she isn’t going to hold her child accountable and keep her agreements, then let her go. If you don’t call her on it now, she’ll continue to claim territory. Better lay down the law now and save yourself a lot of grief!
Kym N., California
Many times it is not as simple as letting a family go, especially when it involves another student and I don’t have a backup group for the good student. If I had, I would have moved the good student to another group.
Joy O., Alabama
You might talk with the family of the student who practices. Do you charge a different rate for group versus individual? You could offer to give the group price even for the one if it is not their fault that they are alone.
Stephen R., California
Students in a shared lesson need to be able to keep up, unless you decide “as a group” to slow down. Shared assignments like Foundation, Accompaniment, and Reading need to be taught together, unless you give the faster student an extra project temporarily.
Joanne D., Australia
I had a student who missed several lessons and is in a group of 2. When she returned, I reviewed briefly the song she had missed which helped the other student, but then told her to use the video to catch up and next lesson I expected her to know it.