Simpedia

Leeanne I., W. Australia

Hi Tanya,

I have asked my young students to call me by my first name, that’s what I wanted.

I feel calling someone Mr or Miss really antiquated, I find my students still respect me without having to call me Mrs Innes.

It’s totally up to you and what you feel comfortable with, but I would announce it at the beginning of the class so there is no confusion.

Terah W., Missouri

I had to laugh at the antiquated comment! And that was because I completely agree! I love being the adult in a young person’s life that they get to practice calling by the first name. It will happen to them sooner or later and there are no Written Rules about when that is anywhere that I can find so I figure I’m a good place. It can create a really warm relationship with a child who has never had that privilege (and I’m a very young 58) and you don’t need to assume there will be less respect. You can build that in as you go in any number of ways.

So. What actually happened with this attitude? I found that the majority of parents (I’m in the central plains of the US) felt like some “title” was necessary. That led me to Miss (or Mz:) T or Miss Terah. For the most part that is where we have landed. I don’t stress it and some of my privates call me by just my first name.

But by and large the biggest surprise has been how many adults call me Miss T or Miss Terah. When they ask, I give them the option of either, saying that most of my Littles call me Miss and then that’s what they decide to do. I have quite a few adults that are older than me, too!

All that being said, insuring some respect from the get-go is never a bad idea, but if you are comfortable with just your first name and it works for you, go for it!

Jacqui G., Canada

A first name is nice and friendly, and has the advantage of working for both adult and child students. I currently have two Simply Music students – an 8-year old former Kindermusik student, and a lady in her 60s – and they both call me Jacqui.

I think the important thing is to decide what you are comfortable with, and establish it right away.

When I became a Kindermusik teacher, it was the custom to call your studio “Kindermusik with Miss (first name)”, but as there was already a “Miss Jacqui” in BC, I went with “Kindermusik in the Lakes District” (later changed to “Music 2 Grow 123″).

At the first class of each session I would say “I would prefer that your children call me Jacqui, but if you feel that is too informal, “Ms Jacqui” is fine”. However, after a couple of weeks they usually dropped the “Ms”.

Until his recent retirement, my husband was an Adult Basic English teacher at the community college. Many of his adult students had trouble with the silent “H” in “Graham” so they called him “Mr. Bill”. Whatever works!

Sue C., Australia

Hi Tanya,

Adult students call me Sue and if older young people (teens and up call me Sue I don’t try to change that.)

Younger ones call me Mrs Coles or Mrs Sue. I feel I can be a “friend” to them by however I am called. But I am not meant to be a friend entirely, I am their piano teacher.

I also take into account if a grandparent is attending with their grandchild, they may possibly prefer me to not be called just by my first name.

So when I am asked how I would like their child to call me I say Mrs Coles or Mrs Sue. Really after that, I probably would not correct them if they call me Sue now and then.

Maureen K., California

I have been thinking about this lately, too.

I go by Ms. Maureen but I have been considering introducing myself to my child students as Mrs. Karpan starting next fall. Why? My child’s school teachers are all Mrs, Ms or Mr. On the other hand, the yard supervisors and office staff are Miss Janette, Miss Lydia, Miss Maria. The janitor, the children simply call George.

The pattern is that the less educated, the less paid, the more likely children are to call the adults on a more informal basis. You might argue that piano lessons are more intimate than large, formal classrooms, But what about doctors? They are in a very intimate, one-on-one relationship with the patient, but very few of them would ask that children call them Mr. Edward or Ms. Marjorie… they are Dr. Lastname.

It is a personal thing for all of us. But it is worth considering what message the title carries about the role and salaries of piano teachers in the larger world of education.

Darla H., Kansas

Perhaps this varies depending on where you live. My experience is that a number of doctors I know prefer going by their first name. (They also don’t wear the white lab coats, and it’s just feels so much more patient-friendly to me.) Also, my college professors were mostly called by their first names. Personally, I taught elementary school for a few years and went by my first name even in that setting. (It’s not that I wanted to just be a friend to my students. I was definitely their teacher and the one in charge and I expected and received high respect from them. I’m just much more comfortable using my first name in any situation.)

Laurie Richards, Nebraska

I’ve never given it much thought, but my younger students all call me Miss Laurie.

Terah W., Missouri

I loved all the great input here. I agree that there is much in a name and it is one of the few times in our lives that we have this much flexibility. I mean, most folks kind of know to address a doctor as, well, Doctor or any business or professional as Mr. or Mrs. I know that this decision impacts the way folks respond, tho and the trick might be knowing what is best in each situation or for any particular student.

Really, that being said, I kind of wish for a few of my students, that instead of Mz T, I had chosen Mr.T!!  Maybe that would have straightened them up from the get-go!