My teacher keeps cancelling!!!

[gilad]

I have a strange question to a recurring problem. please share your opinions on how to go about solving it.

I have been with this teacher for about 3 months now. She keeps cancelling our scheduled lesson, she calls me on the day and cancels. She also calls and asjks me to come at different times. she recently asked me to move my usual time to accomodate her, then of of course she cancelled my lesson today.
Its a big let down each time it happens, and now im growing fed up. Im sure she is very busy and what not, but i dont know why that should start becoming a regualr fixture and my problem. She has so far been valuable to me in that her teaching style suites my learning requirements, she is nice, I am definitely improving with her, but im really starting to question how much more of this cancelling i can take. And whether maybe i can find a teacher as good that wont mess me about like this.

To be specific i enrolled for about 12 lessons with her till now, she has cancelled 4 of those, rescheduled another, and completely changed my lesson time at a whim.

What should I do? I think the first thing should be to tell her im not to pleased about it?

[happyscottyboy]

Tell her about your concerns. Let her know you're only human as well and won't tolerate so much. If that still doesn't work out, change your teacher. Afterall, there are plenty out there!

Cheers! 

[berrt]

I think, she is simply disorganized.

[tiasjoy]

There are a lot of teachers out there, but not all are good, and not all will suit you.  If you really do like this teacher, the first thing I'd ask is why your schedule keeps changing.  Perhaps it's not a whim.  Perhaps there were valid reasons ... four times. Or ... perhaps there weren't.  Either way, knowing why will help you decide: you'll have a fairer idea if it's going to be on ongoing problem, or if it's just a particulary stressful time at the moment for the teacher.

Then I'd let your teacher know that you need regularity because of your special timetabling requirements.  If this teacher isn't able, a real wake up call for them is to ask if they could recommend another teacher whose schedule isn't quite so hectic.

I'd find this problem annoying too.  4 times in 12 is a lot ... and could be an indication of things to continue.   Address it now and see if you can work out a solution together.  If not,  like others say, there are others out there.

[jpianoflorida]

I think you should let her know that you need a set schedule , that is if you really want to stay with her.    I think it's very rude and unprofessional for a teacher to call and cancel or reschedule unless it's an emergency.    I try my best to keep my students schedule consistant .    If your lesson is at 3pm on tuesdays, then that's what you should be able to count on..no teacher should be calling you all the time to change.

[Bob]

Sounds like the teacher must put other priorities ahead of you.

But the amount of work it takes to reschedule lessons.... She IS putting in effort to do that which says something. 

She must have something else going on that's taking her time like that. 

Tell her your concerns.  If you don't want to deal with rescheduling, find someone else.  Ask your teacher for new teacher ideas -- If she can't fix her schedule, and you can't live with that, then you're not really insulting her.  You're just not matched.

On the teacher side, the first thing that struck me is how much work it is to reschedule lessons at all.  It's a major pain, for me anyway.  It's easier just to cancel and do it the next time.

[gilad]

thanks all very much.

Im glad i posted my question here. I will talk to her first by expressing my dissappointment. After another month if it continues i will tell her i may have to move to another teacher. I'd preferably like to stay with her, but if aint working then what can be done. Ill move on.

Im sure ill make the best of the situation either way, what else is there to do:)

[jpianoflorida]

keep us posted..i would like to know her response.         Does she have any medical problems, and does she give you a reason when she cancels? just curious, I would not cancel without giving the student the exact reason.   

[gilad]

She gave the reason for missing 2 as visiting her ill mom, other 2 no reason stated, just that Wednesdays are hectic for her and she keeps having to cancel all her Wednesday lessons. She never gave an explanation when on the day asked if i could move my lesson time, or when she on anohter day requested i change my scheduled lesson time completely, including the one that day. It just happens because it does, and thats that kind of thing. It's very surprising, very unproffessional, she is a busy lady, but i think it obvious she may have taken on to much and sees her private lessons as flexible time in which to complete other important matters. Im in the dark really, it just happens, and it happens just about half the time.

[jpianoflorida]

if she has to keep cancelling wed lessons, then she shouldn't teach on wednesdays! there really is no excuse for that kind of unprofessional behavior.    The mother's illness I can understand, but the "i'm too busy"..i can't.

[gilad]

thanks jpiano. I totally agree.

[m1469]

hmmm... well, this is a "situation," imo.  Some teachers need/want that kind of schedule where everybody within the studio, including the teacher, has free reign to cancel and reschedule as much as desired.  Other teachers simply do not. 

After a point, I personally have a difficult time with people giving "explanations" about why they do anything (including myself -- I often choose not to explain myself in situations, even if I see somebody getting the "wrong" impression).   And, I definitely have lost faith in/can't stand a teacher "explaining" to me, as their student, why they didn't show up on time, or why they didn't come at all (or why they cancelled or what have you).

Anyway, simply, if it's not working for you, then it's not working.  You can let her know, but I would wager things won't change just because you let her know what your thoughts are.  Whether the reasons are legitimate or not (she's either truly too busy and will continue to have legitimate reasons to miss, or she is flakey and that habit will not be broken just because you tell her how you feel), you simply must determine whether or not it is working for you just the way it is.  Then go from there in whatever direction is right for you.


m1469

[rc]

Not even as a teacher, but as a person, to break her word repeatedly like that - her word becomes meaningless.  A major breach of trust.  You shouldn't let someone treat you like that.

If it were me, I'd at the very least give her the benefit of the doubt when I go to cancel my lessons with her - she may not know what she's doing wrong.  I'd let her know exactly why I won't be her student, and definitely not in an apologetic way.

[imbetter]

Hey pianowolfi. You posted the first movement of that Rachmaninoff. I thought it was extraordinary.

Back on topic. I know your getting fed up with your student, but you just have to cope with her and try and comprimize with her.

Best of luck with your student

[atticus]

Hi Gilad,

Sorry to hear of your teacher troubles. 

I had a similar problem...my former teacher kept cancelling due to a hectic schedule.  It was disappointing after having practiced hard all week and rearranging my work schedule to be available at the "supposed" lesson time.  Then when I finally had a lesson, I was tense the whole time because I never knew if she was about to drop me or what was going on with all the cancelled lessons.  I was reluctant to change though because when I had a lesson she did help me. 

I finally ended up changing teachers and I'm much happier now.  I don't have to wonder "will she cancel this week, etc".  That kind of thinking was casting everything in a negative sort of light and consuming too much of my energy.  Can you scout around for another talented teacher and keep them in mind just in case things don't improve with your current teacher?

Good luck,
atticus

[gilad]

lol imbetterthanyou.
thanks rc and atticus.
im glad you're happy with your teacher atticus. ill start looking right now for a different, its a good idea to proactive now rather than leave it till the last minute.

[rc]

Glad to hear you've decided to help yourself, I'm sure you'll find a better teacher...  Especially if you mention during interviews why you left your former teacher - the new teacher will make damn sure to respect your time

Let us know how it goes.

[gilad]

cool, thanks all.

[gilad]

Well, I have not had a lesson since november 18th. One week i was away. She cancelled the lesson when i arrived back and then rescheduled for a month later as she decided to take a leave of absence. tomorrow was supposed to be the date we resumed lessons. i called her to confirm and she told me some sh*t about getting a call and having to leave town till the 24 of jan. I might have work commitments this year that will interfere with our lessons and that i will let her know b4 the 24th, which she will mostly likely cancel anyway. I decided on the phone that i am over with her. I never told her, or said why. If she can't work that out, then she is an idiot. I have called another teacher already and I look forward to putting this aweful cancellation nightmare behind me once and for all. thanks so very much for your input, and a happy new year to everyone.

[penguinlover]

Good for you!  Sounds like her loss.  Have fun with this new one!

[atticus]

Hi Gilad,

Glad to hear it!  Best of luck with your new teacher.  I hope it works out great!

atticus

[gilad]

thanks guys.
New teacher is great. I think its going to work out well.