Teen Students & Parents
Found in: Claiming Territory, Coaches, Practicing & Playlists, Students with Prior Experience, Teen Students
Tami D.
I have a couple of teenagers (16 and 17) that have years of previous experience and have been with Simply Music since summer ’09. They both catch on easily and are wonderfully capable of going forward. However, neither of them are keeping their playlist alive and 25 of our 30 minutes is currently being spent reviewing old pieces. I have spoken to them many times about their playlist, but to no avail. Should I go over their head and speak to their parents? Or would that be tacky with this age? The parents are paying for the lessons so it seems as if they should know……… Yeah, I am a softy too, but I am hoping I will improve with all this experience!
Kerry Verdon, AU
Yes, you do improve through experience. I am a real softy but I look at it this way:
- The parents are paying, they should know exactly what is happening.
- Parents should really be in lessons with their child regardless of age. I have one whose mum still attends and the daughter is 22 y/o. Mum pays and drives her and although mum isn’t really her ‘life coach’ anymore, she has every right to be there and also is able to have some kind of impact on her daughter elsewhere for piano. They have even bought a new keyboard for when they stay in Tasmania in their holiday house. Mum’s idea! Mum can also tell if her daughter is not playing something correctly. And they love the music conversations on top.
- Just because they are teenagers, doesn’t give them a license to be at class without the parent and not to do as you instruct.
- That I am tough because I am their coach, I am being paid to be their coach and so I am delivering to them what they want. If they don’t do as I say, they must be answerable to that. I have a few teenagers and they get the drill. They know what I expect of them and they also know they get a ‘conversation’ in front of their parents if need be. So much easier when everyone does what is expected, me included.
- You will hate being ‘tough’ even for the next 10 years, but it does get easier.
- I found that through my holding my expectations I was not a horrible person, in fact, I became a better person for holding true to what I believe in and not allowing others to dictate to me how the lessons should be run. I am still a compassionate and loving person even though I am strict with my students/parents.
- Conversations about letting go of the Trad and moving onto the SM method needs to be discussed a few times for it to sink in. So, repeat yourself with joy.