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Colleen L., Australia

I have had experience with non-student siblings being present at lessons. I have had one family all sit in and draw in coloring books with mum supervising whilst the eldest had lessons. The siblings were 5 and a baby/toddler. We were very focused, and as the younger one turned seven she also became a student having the advantage of knowing the tunes from all the times she sat on the floor drawing or playing with her little brother.

Her elder sister was my best student and won awards from playing her piano at eisteddfods in Perth. Another family came to lessons and began inside, but if they were restless (3 other boys aged 5 and under) on the day the mum would take them out to the front lawn and let them play with her eye on them and her ear on all.  Both mums checked with me when we were doing the playlist and discussing what each child needed to do. Her son was also successful with his lessons.

Depending on the family, the mothers are more than capable of doing two things at once and have been very committed to their child’s piano. I never had to step in and control their other children – my task was the student; they kept control of their other children. At the end of the lesson I have let younger siblings have a quick play and show me how clever they are too!

Of course this all depends on the family, but I encourage family involvement and a lot of times in our society mums need all the support they can get. I have always taken my children to appointments and my children are respectful of others and know what is appropriate most of the time. Of the families I have had attend, I have never had any problems.