Wow... discrimination

[nanabush]

Two of my friday students, both of whose parents sit on the lesson are no longer taking lessons.  One girl is 6, and has been playing for two years, and is already far along with her grade 1 piano, which is actually amazing.  The other started about half a year ago...


Get this...

Both of these students; their parents didn't want them taking lessons at the place where I teach because they didn't want a guy teaching them... they said they didn't think that I'd associate well with them in the future, and that they only wanted a girl teaching... having said this, both parents have removed their students from the school altogether, and are 'taking their business' elsewhere...


How f*kt up is that?  I taught each of them for an hour/// helped them with the stuff they were working on, did some ear tests/clapping, and gave them some basic theory stuf in their notebooks... if I may add, I think I'm doing a better job than the previous teacher; looking at their books, there are no markings like corrections or side notes whatsoever, and looking through their notebooks, all it would say is "work on X for next week, good job"....

It's only been one lesson!!!  And they offered 3 free lessons (I'm still being paid), so that the students could try me out as a new teacher... both parents refused, saying it wasn't professional yadda yadda that a 17 year old guy is teaching them.... Most of the teachers there are around my age, and not one has gone as far as me w/ theory or practical...

It's also definately not because of my personality... I have no trouble talking to new people, I feel I was very clear, and that what I was teaching was appropriate for these kids' respective ages.  I also spoke to the parents after the lessons, thanking them for giving me a chance, because they were a little iffy before the lesson (and I understand why, their old teacher had just left).  I was very calm; I helped the students advance in the books without boring them, we played some little games that involved rhythm and stuff... I dont get it...

Ahhh!! SO STUPID

[pianowolfi]

Yeah, so young and already confronted with the dark sides of teaching! I can't say anything but: try to forget these people. The faster the better. They may have come with the picture of a middle aged experienced teacher and simply you didn't fit in their bordered ideas. It's hard not to take things like that personally. And you will be never sure, things like that and worse will happen again. I'm forty-two and still struggling with that. I still try to find a proper balance between making demands on myself and others. My tendency was often to give too much of myself, with the effect that the other person(the student) got used to it and did less and less... a disastrous development. Currently I'm trying to fix it. I rise my demands, do less compromises, don't try to keep students at any price. If they don't make efforts to fulfill my requirements I stop the lessons and so on. It's a delicate balance between being too hard and too soft with students. And i realise that I have made many mistakes in both of these.

[dalm8an]

It does seem like discrimination, doesn't it? But you're 17 and I'm 51 (don't tell anyone that) and that gives me perspectives that might not occur to you.

#1 -- In our culture and news media these days we have lots of stories of inappropriate sexual behavior and exploitation in every realm, between persons of your age and, sadly, girls the ages of those students. The parents could be acting on that, or reacting to some horror story they recently heard. That's not your fault. It's just the times we live in, and ever since Creation those who do wrong ruin things for other people.

#2 -- They could be idiots. I have a non-musical example somewhat similar to your story. My daughter is a 6th grade teacher. She showed a parent that the boy had all zeros in the gradebook. The parent said the reason was because her son needed a male teacher! So even if the parents are idiots, that's not your fault either.

I don't think you should take it hard and definitely don't take it personally. Let your good work speak for itself, then shrug this off because you can't really get into the minds of those parents. I really don't think what they did has anything to do with you. I think it has to do with #1.

Keep up your good work and be encouraged.

Valerie
Seattle

[gilad]

looking for a teacher is difficult, people have many doubts in their minds as to who is good, what makes a good teacher etc etc. Often in making choices like this people naturally GENERALIZE, it is easier than doing proper research and experimenting. So you may well be a very good teacher nanabush etc etc. But generally the parents are not expecting much from a 17 year old and you have become a victim of the process of elimination based on averages. That is the way I see it. I also dont think it was necesaary for the them to feed you all that crap about what was it? Dont worry about it, and move on, its just another curve ball that you are obligated by the book of life to handle:).

[mima828]

I completely understand this type of situation. I'm 19 and started teaching when I was 15 and so many people were surprised about my age in the beginning. BUt I guess since I'm a girl it was different sometimes and I was seen more trustworthy.  Sometimes the case isn't just about how the relationship is like with the students when the teacher is a lot younger. I feel like I am mistreated sometimes when it comes to when I should get paid. There are so many parents who feel as though they can get away without having their children not come on a regular basis, missing a lesson or two every month, because they assume that I am more easy going and I have nothing else better to do in my life. Or, they leave out one lesson to pay for and think that I won't notice. It is quite surprising the things parents believe that they can get away with. But you have to show and prove even more because of your young age that you are not just a typical teenager but an educator and that this is your profession. Being as professional as you possibly can, of course, is a huge role to play. Teaching privately is definitely a different form of teaching because it does become a lot more personal to you but sometimes you just have to tell yourself when it comes to situations like these that it's not personal, it's business...

[ingagroznaya]

I hope you'll find all the support you need in previous posts. Think of it as an experience which will make you a better teacher in a future.
There are three things I'd like to comment on:

1. NEVER thank a student or a parent for "giving you a chance". It comes a cross to many people as if you lack confidence. YOU give a chance to your potential students by accepting them in your class. NOT other way around.

2. Three free lessons is a huge mistake made by your school in favor of promotion. Generally people like things that are free. They react to free. It's instant gratification. Unfortunately it is not a feeling that last long and later people start to question the true value.

In my area most teacher also advertise "first lesson free". You can not get away from meeting people first. It does take time. Especially if they have been studying with another teacher in the past and not beginners.  My first meeting is free. Over the years I've learn the difference and value in wording. I always make a point to tell them that this is not a lesson. It is an introductory session. I don't give lessons for free.

3. One hour lesson to 6 years old is generally excessive.

Try to show parents that you value your time and they will put your value on it.

Once I had a student who came from another teacher. I thought the teacher did a great job with the girl. About two months later, during a conversation with the Mom, she commented:" Yes, he always spent an hour, an hour and 15 minutes, while charging for 45 minutes lesson. He must had too much time on his hands ( read - must be not a good teacher )".
Both father and mother of this girl are very well educated. It's a pity.

[nanabush]

About ur third point... the hour long lesson to the 6 year old, the kid missed a lesson a while ago, and the parents insisted on doing a makeup and a normal lesson consecutively; I agree, the hour lesson was a draaag for the kid.  It sucks that it was this one time that it was spost to be an hour; my first time with the kid who usually has 30 minutes and is 6    that day was hell for me.

[ingagroznaya]

Uh, Cheer up Nanabush!
Some things were out of your control and certain people are much harder to please then others. Be happy you've discovered your "differences" in the very beginning of the school year where filling an open student position is much easier.

[ingagroznaya]

...some can't be pleased at all. They wanted a make up for a missed lesson, but then they weren't happy, that the kid found an hour lesson overwhelmingly long.

My student with her older teacher. The teacher clearly cared for spending extra time with the girl when he could afford it = bad teacher. See?

Don't be nice. Nice does not pay off with clients. Be nice to your mom and your girlfriend.
Don't take it personally. You'll meet a lot more whacky people in your life as you'll teach. Much more whackier...

[rc]

I still try to find a proper balance between making demands on myself and others. My tendency was often to give too much of myself, with the effect that the other person(the student) got used to it and did less and less... a disastrous development. Currently I'm trying to fix it. I rise my demands, do less compromises, don't try to keep students at any price. If they don't make efforts to fulfill my requirements I stop the lessons and so on. It's a delicate balance between being too hard and too soft with students. And i realise that I have made many mistakes in both of these.

From the student perspective, one thing I find is that teachers are generally too soft...  Not high enough expectations of the students.  Sometimes you don't know how much you perception can influence another.

Easy to say from here I'm sure 

[leahcim]

Both of these students; their parents didn't want them taking lessons at the place where I teach because they didn't want a guy teaching them...

... both parents refused, saying it wasn't professional yadda yadda that a 17 year old guy is teaching them....

That seems 2 different things. One an issue with your sex, the other with your age. Was it both?

Bear in mind the chance that the kids themselves might have been asked and may have said they didn't want you teaching them. Parents may then BS to give a reason or maybe the kids want a female teacher.

I know you've taken issue with someone possibly saying you're only 17, but you'll notice that most teachers here talk at length about "parents", including yourself because the kids are just kids, the parents pay them and they believe that means they are the ones who have to be pleased with the lessons.

So don't worry about your age, you'll grow out of it and bear in mind that as a piano teacher you quite often won't treat a young person very seriously either - sometimes you'll be right and others you won't. At least you left calling them stupid and fucked up until you posted here, because you wouldn't want them hearing your reaction to the rejection and them seeing it as justifying their decision

As for the gender, I agree with the idiots dalm8an mentions who'd like a few male teachers for their kids at their primary school....so I wouldn't worry about that, you've a 50% chance of being the right sex, on the occasions where it matters, and a lot of the time it won't.

[cora]

Could you tell us what sort of lessons you've taken in pedagogy?

As a piano teacher myself, I know that if I had kids there's no way I'd have them studying with a 17 year old male or female. That's really for the poorest of the poorest parents.

Anybody who really cares about their child's education would get a good older mature teacher who has made piano teaching his/her life's goal. So what you'll be left with are the parents who want to "give it a try," who don't actually own an acoustic piano, who are whimsical, flighty and whatever else you can name.

I believe you probably gave an accurate lesson on ear training/clapping and basic theory. I doubt that is how you should have begun a first lesson with children of that level of experience. I just don't think it would have left them musically satisfied. Teaching is far more than the material you know. It's about who you are as a role model, and how you fit in the long line of teachers from the Renaissance to the present (the historical connection you provide).

You swore in your post. No teacher would ever swear. You are trying to bring a bit of God's vision to these children. If in doubt, remember the best teacher was Jesus.

[pianowolfi]

Could you tell us what sort of lessons you've taken in pedagogy?

As a piano teacher myself, I know that if I had kids there's no way I'd have them studying with a 17 year old male or female. That's really for the poorest of the poorest parents.

Anybody who really cares about their child's education would get a good older mature teacher who has made piano teaching his/her life's goal. So what you'll be left with are the parents who want to "give it a try," who don't actually own an acoustic piano, who are whimsical, flighty and whatever else you can name.

I believe you probably gave an accurate lesson on ear training/clapping and basic theory. I doubt that is how you should have begun a first lesson with children of that level of experience. I just don't think it would have left them musically satisfied. Teaching is far more than the material you know. It's about who you are as a role model, and how you fit in the long line of teachers from the Renaissance to the present (the historical connection you provide).

You swore in your post. No teacher would ever swear. You are trying to bring a bit of God's vision to these children. If in doubt, remember the best teacher was Jesus.

I think your pretensions are pretty high Even myself with my 42 years of age sometimes or regularly have to deal with people not owning acoustic pianos, wanting to 'give it a try' etc. I don't know if there is a line from Renaissance to me. I don't find it necessary to find out even. Whenever I have a student who wants to do music as a professional I encourage him/her to begin teaching as soon as possible. Where do you get your experience if not by doing? (of course I don't mean to use students as experimental animals) What do you expect from young musicians ready to start a career? Give concerts for 20 years and then start teaching as a 'mature' teacher?  When did you begin to teach? At 35 or 40? And even my bad self I confess, sometimes swear. I'm not perfect. The picture of perfect teachers is outdated imo. This ideal is actually very dangerous. Are humans not allowed to make mistakes anymore? And i can tell you that with every new student I feel like I have to begin from scratch myself. There are many duties in teaching that are not solvable with experience. Just with what i would call intuition.

[jpianoflorida]

i totally agree pianowolf!   how can one become a "mature" teacher without gaining experience in teaching.    and Cora, how are students going to find out they enjoy piano without experimenting? not every child or adult who tries piano is going to stick with it...isn't it our job as teachers to expose them to the joy of music?    nanabush-don't get discouraged, just remember we have all been thru similiar things  in our careers.   It is going to be tougher due to your age, but hang in there.

[joyfulmusic]

In general, it is bad business to give away free service.  that sets you up to be deemed worthless.  it also is hard for a customer to move from free to paying.  Every single dern time I have given somebody a discount of any kind they end up taking more from me in some other way.  Stick to your value guns.  I see so much commenting about other people being there during the lessons.  This makes me nuts.  People are distracting and ignorant or trying to get free instruction it seems to me.  That's another thing that always backfires.  Remember this.  Not everything that happens is your fault or even has anything whatsoever to do with you. 

good luck.  Most of your experiences will be very positive.  It is so fabulous when a group of students all start doing great things on the piano.

Hang in.

[leahcim]

If in doubt, remember the best teacher was Jesus.

....except for what he said before he was 50?

[jpianoflorida]

....except for what he said before he was 50?

? not sure what you are saying?

[dnephi]

? not sure what you are saying?

He died at age 33.   So that person up there seems not to notice the existence of the old testament...

[cora]

It is not pretentious to want piano students to play on a piano, anymore than it's pretentious to want driving students driving a car, and not a bike.

By more mature, I was thinking about 23.

I too have encouraged some of my older students to teach at a younger age than 23, but they would encounter the same problems as our original poster. In any event, they need a solid pedagogical training, which is why I asked the 17 yr old about his training.

I stand by my statement that a teacher should not swear. What gain is there from doing so?

Would you not say you are a better teacher now than 10 years ago? If you say yes, it proves my point that parents should try to find a fairly experienced or well-informed (pedagogically and otherwise) teacher for their child. Afterall, the aim should be to develop a relationship with the beginning student lasting at least 4 or 5 years. In my experience, a change of teachers occurs more smoothly after that.

[kelly_kelly]

Would you not say you are a better teacher now than 10 years ago? If you say yes, it proves my point that parents should try to find a fairly experienced or well-informed (pedagogically and otherwise) teacher for their child. Afterall, the aim should be to develop a relationship with the beginning student lasting at least 4 or 5 years. In my experience, a change of teachers occurs more smoothly after that.

Um... how is one supposed to gain experience teaching if nobody takes lessons from inexperienced teachers. And who says teachers can't swear when they're not teaching? They're human too.

[rc]

He died at age 33.   So that person up there seems not to notice the existence of the old testament...

Why Jesus was just barely a kid when he was teaching!

 

I'd like to see his credentials.

[nanabush]

I started doin clapping and stuff, because my first lesson with the 6 year old was an hour long... It's not the easiest thing, even for an experienced teacher, to keep a kid that age occupied as well as satisfied... and I honestly think the kid liked clapping, because they kept wanting me to give them new rhythms to clap.  I agree that many parents would try to get a very experienced teacher, but

As a piano teacher myself, I know that if I had kids there's no way I'd have them studying with a 17 year old male or female. That's really for the poorest of the poorest parents.

Anybody who really cares about their child's education would get a good older mature teacher who has made piano teaching his/her life's goal. So what you'll be left with are the parents who want to "give it a try," who don't actually own an acoustic piano, who are whimsical, flighty and whatever else you can name.

  I'm not gonna lie, that's a terrible thing to say.

[leahcim]

? not sure what you are saying?

Someone was waffling on about a 17 yo not being able to teach and about being old and wise and mature, yadda yadda yadda and then ended by saying some guff about jesus being a great teacher. But as you and some others noted he died before he was anywhere near being old or wise. Hence my joke, the fact that the person they put forward as the best teacher didn't meet their own criteria for what would make a good teacher.

Although we have subsequently learnt that 23 years is about as mature and experienced as they expect anyone to get....

[jpianoflorida]

Someone was waffling on about a 17 yo not being able to teach and about being old and wise and mature, yadda yadda yadda and then ended by saying some guff about jesus being a great teacher. But as you and some others noted he died before he was anywhere near being old or wise. Hence my joke, the fact that the person they put forward as the best teacher didn't meet their own criteria for what would make a good teacher.

Although we have subsequently learnt that 23 years is about as mature and experienced as they expect anyone to get....

yes..good point......goes back to the fact you can't judge anyone based on age, race, ethnic background, religion.....everyone is still an individual and deserves to be treated that way!

[cora]

I started doin clapping and stuff, because my first lesson with the 6 year old was an hour long... It's not the easiest thing, even for an experienced teacher, to keep a kid that age occupied as well as satisfied... and I honestly think the kid liked clapping, because they kept wanting me to give them new rhythms to clap.  I agree that many parents would try to get a very experienced teacher, but   I'm not gonna lie, that's a terrible thing to say.

Why is it terrible to say the truth? There are some very flaky parents out there with some very flaky expectations.

 Actually, you couldn't articulate it but the reason you don't like the sound of all that is because I am lacking in charity in those sentences. I knew that. I was trying to stir up the pot. Another sin I'm tempted to. Sorry if I've offended anyone.

It's funny. The liberal types are always able to find fault with somebody without seeing their own faults. For the last time, it's wrong to swear folks. There's no way around it. Say sorry to the students when you do, and then tell God you are sorry too.

I actually submit that those parents were discriminating against you as a person and teacher, not because of your gender. If that was their real issue, they wouldn't have permitted you to begin, or they would have suggested that they always be present at the lessons.




 
 

[jpianoflorida]

Why is it terrible to say the truth? There are some very flaky parents out there with some very flaky expectations.

 Actually, you couldn't articulate it but the reason you don't like the sound of all that is because I am lacking in charity in those sentences. I knew that. I was trying to stir up the pot. Another sin I'm tempted to. Sorry if I've offended anyone.

It's funny. The liberal types are always able to find fault with somebody without seeing their own faults. For the last time, it's wrong to swear folks. There's no way around it. Say sorry to the students when you do, and then tell God you are sorry too.

I actually submit that those parents were discriminating against you as a person and teacher, not because of your gender. If that was their real issue, they wouldn't have permitted you to begin, or they would have suggested that they always be present at the lessons.




 
 
[/quo


ok...so who are the "liberal types" you are referring to and what is your definition of "liberal"? just curious.   

[jpianoflorida]

Why is it terrible to say the truth? There are some very flaky parents out there with some very flaky expectations.

 Actually, you couldn't articulate it but the reason you don't like the sound of all that is because I am lacking in charity in those sentences. I knew that. I was trying to stir up the pot. Another sin I'm tempted to. Sorry if I've offended anyone.

It's funny. The liberal types are always able to find fault with somebody without seeing their own faults. For the last time, it's wrong to swear folks. There's no way around it. Say sorry to the students when you do, and then tell God you are sorry too.

I actually submit that those parents were discriminating against you as a person and teacher, not because of your gender. If that was their real issue, they wouldn't have permitted you to begin, or they would have suggested that they always be present at the lessons.




 
 

ok..that all showed in blue..i'm just getting use to how to post sorry!     my question was Cora -who are you referring to as "liberal types" and what is your definition of liberal?    I'm just curious...I was raised Southern Baptist and converted to Prebysterian..I'm often accused of being a liberal and i have yet to find anyone that can give a definite definition of what a "liberal" actual is.    I think that term is subjective.

[pianowolfi]

Why is it terrible to say the truth? There are some very flaky parents out there with some very flaky expectations.

Of course there are some.

 Actually, you couldn't articulate it but the reason you don't like the sound of all that is because I am lacking in charity in those sentences. I knew that. I was trying to stir up the pot. Another sin I'm tempted to.

ah I see!

For the last time, it's wrong to swear folks. There's no way around it. Say sorry to the students when you do, and then tell God you are sorry too.

Ok my swearing is sort of harmless, at least in front of students. I never use really evil words in front of them. When I'm alone and getting angry it's something different. But even then... In Swiss German there are wonderful harmless swears.

As about Jesus, indeed he wasn't very old. At the other hand he had suffered so immensely and had learnt so incredible much about mankind, about religion and everything that he for sure was the most wise man of his time. At least that is what I believe.

 

[cora]

Jesus is beyond any standards we as humans might have. He sets all the standards. He was partly human and partly divine. For this reason we cannot compare his age or level of maturity when he started teaching with the age a beginning piano teacher might be expected to be. Some of us believe we are divine piano teachers, no doubt, but there can be no reverse comparison--only my original suggestion that we follow his way of teaching if we are in doubt.

As for what liberal means: you can have liberals and conservatives in politics or any other arena you wish to discuss.  A handy reference would be the dictionary, here. It's quite a long dictionary entry.  Excerpt: A liberal is one who is not strict in the observance of orthodox, traditional or established ways. Also, a liberal can be an adherent of liberalism especially in individual rights. As a political philosophy, liberalism is based on belief in progress, the essential goodness of man, and the autonomy of the individual.

My guess is if you are a Southern Baptist or Presybterian, you would be conservative on some points, such as sexual mores, and liberal on other points, such as possibly believing any religion is as good as the next one. I wouldn't know until I'd met you.

A true liberal can be great fun to be around. You can have the absolutely most conservative views, which they entirely disagree with, but they love the fact that you can express these views in our democracy, and they encourage you to do so. They love debating with you.

Unfortunately, most liberals today are not like that. They have emotionally latched onto some ideas, and will go berserk if you point out any errors in their logic. They expect everybody to hold their view, and they think they have thought out this view carefully. In fact, that is also rare. So one poster above discarded the concept of the ideal teacher as passe. But at the same time held me to a standard of her own making, her ideal.

[jpianoflorida]

so cora..after reading several of your responses and posts, I'm starting to believe you just like to debate points and that you aren't exactly always posting what you believe but posting to "open the discussion"..would this be accurate? if so, that is great! your original posts didn't come accross that way...so which way should we interptret your posts? are you playing "devils' advocate" ?   if not, please clarify;.

[leahcim]

Jesus is beyond any standards we as humans might have. He sets all the standards. He was partly human and partly divine. For this reason we cannot compare his age or level of maturity when he started teaching with the age a beginning piano teacher might be expected to be.

The fact he wasn't a piano teacher would have been a better reason. Especially with respect to the standards you claim he must have set in piano playing, fondue making and multiphase cold fusion pylon injection moulding.

AIUI musically he sucked, even Andrew Lloyd Webber suggests in his 1970s documentary that Judas Iscariat was the better singer.

Although with Bernhard in South America the chances of Jesus, Jesus, Ronaldo and Jose being good at piano might have increased.

We already have someone who posts random religious wibble in the middle of otherwise completely different topics, I'm sure she'll have something to say about someone muscling in on her territory

[luvslive]

leachim, i just have to note that your reply here is perfect!
as for the topic, i think it is unfair to quit lessons with a teacher based on gender of the teacher.  the parents should have at least found a more polite way to get out of lessons.  i personally would be offended if someone gave up lessons because i am a female.  yes, there is always a risk of something inappropriate happening, but it could happen with either gender!  and parents just need to keep an eye on things.

[brahms4me]

After many years of teaching I've come to the conclusion that it's best to know EARLY ON about the quirks of parents - that saves me a lot of grief and frustration.  It really stinks when you've given so much to a student and the gratitude or appreciation isn't there.  Best to chalk it up to a lesson well-learned and go on.  Next time you'll see the warning signs sooner.  Good luck - and don't give up!  Your young age shouldn't have anything to do with your abilities. 

[joyfulmusic]

Amazing how many ways people can find to introduce Christianity into a subject that has absolutely nothing to do with it.  As for "liberal types", it's anyone who doesn't agree with the person who is saying it.  So utterly boring!  Any description whatsoever that starts out with "they..." is subjective drivel in my never-to-be-humble opinion.

[jpianoflorida]

  As for "liberal types", it's anyone who doesn't agree with the person who is saying it. 

ok..i'll buy that!

[nanabush]

Whoa ya, I'm far from religious, but somehow the original topic has been skewed into a religious debate... thanks to whoever did that 

... nah it's ok, the original topic is dead neways, do w/e you want w/ this thread

[lau]

wow...k, in that case:

this may make some of you disgusted with me but it's for the fun... an early recording of the volodos turkish march about 1 1/2 months in.....sick

[jpianoflorida]

nanabush..just realize that only one person was against your teaching!  the rest of us were in FULL support to you!

[pianowolfi]

nanabush..just realize that only one person was against your teaching!  the rest of us were in FULL support to you!

true

[nanabush]

haha you're right!  thx for the support, I'm way past it though... it's been a couple of weeks now, and I've gotten more students, and I can honestly say that it's going well 

[lostinidlewonder]

It is hard to remove emotion from your work but you must do it. I have learnt to simply not care if a student doesn't do their work. It is up to them to work, it isn't up to the teacher to beg the student to study hard and enjoy lessons. And if you have people saying Oh we would prefer a female or male teacher instead of what we have now you can't get angry. You just have to realise there are very stupid people out there

You never have to thank students for the opportunity to teach them, but you can of course express your excitement in their potential.

Age does have a lot to do with the respect you will command in your teaching. If you are 17 you hardly have much teaching experience. This isn't to say that a young teacher is bad. You can tell a bad teacher by one that teaches completely from a book and who cannot work with individual student problems, who cannot get into the students heads and realise what is stopping them from memorising a line or playing a line correctly. One who cannot act as a source of inspiration and encouragement and a huge % of teachers are very negative.

I started teaching when I was 18 and I was extremely confident in my approach. Even though teaching piano was totally new to me I had some ideas what to do, I had a lot of experience teaching myself, I knew what worked for me and why, so I tried to mutate my way for other peoples way, all based on my own playing experience. Of course as the years go by you develop and get better, but there is something about student/teacher relationships which is much better when you are younger as opposed to an old experienced teacher.

I remember many students parents with a worried look that perhaps I am a fake and not a real teacher, so then I blast them away with a piano solo and sight read all the music the might have tried to play and play them all perfectly. You show them you are a musical acrobat at the keyboard they forget about your age pretty fast.


Old experienced teachers tend to simply teach and not learn themselevs. That means they simply transfer knowledge to a student and not worry about learning about the student themselves. A young teacher is learning as much if not more than their student while they run their lessons. This learning environment can be very comfortable for beginners (both teacher and student) to develop in.

Because simple issues are not simple for both of you, it is not simple for you to express how to do basic piano procedure because you havent had the experience to teach it, and your beginner student strive to absorb basic concepts. An older teacher can sometimes get impatient and simply leave students to their own devices where starting out teachers tend to cover all grounds making sure everything is right because they are themselves studying how to teach.

It is true that an advanced piano student should not look for a young teacher because there are issues in advanced piano teaching that the young teacher might never have considered, and it is certainly stuff not found in books but through experience. But I find it pretty arrogant when a beginner student would think that a young starting out teacher is not good enough for them. I assure you, going with the top professor in the top music school in the world will do you no good if you are a beginner and cannot take advantage of the in depth knowledge of the teacher. You might as well pay 15$ an hour with some mediocre teacher and learn the basics, then move on.

So if you get annoyed with people you can state this fact, you know your child is still a beginner, they are not a professional musician seeking to fine tune their pianio technique. The basics can be learn from anyone. I tell all my beginner students you know if you have me or someone else there is little difference when it comes to the basics. I guess how I conduct my lessons are very relaxed, we might talk about pokemon cards for 5 minutes before we even play piano!! eheh

I don't know why this came into my head, but smiling is perhaps the single most important things you have to do when teaching anyone anything. People are usually quite shy about what they do not know, they feel inferior if things which you demonstrate so simply are hard for them. You should always offer support and kindness. Make sure they know you are there to help them, make sure they know you enjoy their mistakes and enjoy working on it with them together. We have to be careful not to discriminate ourselves, making students feel inferior because they cannot do something.