Life coaches for teenage students
Found in: Coaches, Teen Students
Sherrie A., California
Question about life coaches: adult students aren’t required to have one, I’m assuming, though it would admittedly help if they did, I’m sure. At what age does that happen? Just when they aren’t living at their parents’ house? There is a very responsible 16-year-old with extensive piano experience interested in trying Simply Music. His mother doesn’t want to come to lessons and would probably just sleep through them. I understand the benefit of the life coach. And I’ve read a bunch of discussion about this on Simpedia, but it appears that most seem to be discussing younger children. I’m sure the benefits still apply, as they would with an adult student, but is there a point/age/scenario in which a parent may not be required to come, at least to every lesson? This same boy has a younger sister (12) who might be interested and I would definitely require a parent there as she is a total beginner. Could her brother be her life coach and they have lessons at the same time? While she takes more time processing, he could get more in-depth stuff.
Patti P., Hawaii
I personally tell parents I need one of them at lessons until the child is old enough to drive themselves to lessons. I have occasionally allowed students to come alone slightly before that age, but for a lot of student/parent pairs, the parent keeps coming. I never tell them to stop coming though, so the parent usually just keeps on coming. I do handle this a bit differently if it is a student with lots of prior experience with private piano lessons and they are taking private lessons with me.