Are you a teacher who performs or a performer who teaches ?

[m1469]

Okay.  I just had my voice lesson and after having a bit of a break down, my teacher talked with me about balancing out performance with teaching, and in her words, there are times when the teaching aspect of one's life and these students must come second to performing.  I will admit, I was feeling like I was really struggling with this idea. 

Starting next Fall, I will definitely be doing more performing than ever before and, between both voice and piano, I have gigs booked through the Spring and possibly into next Summer ... this is a new experience for me. 

Because of time conflicts that I am already aware of, there are going to be times when I may have to cancel my students' lessons.  I generally have not wanted to ever do this to my students, and never have, unless I have been actually physically unable to carry myself through a lesson.  I have wanted to provide an example of stability and commitment to my students, much like I would like to expect from them.

So, it's a bit of a shift for me to be thinking about putting performance first in my life over teaching.  Teaching and building my studio for the last several years has been a huge effort; it has been my very business and my bread and water, and something that I dearly love.   I feel a bit tentative to loosen the reigns...

I wonder, how many of you teachers try to balance both performing and teaching out, and what kind of affect has this had on your studio ?


*reaching some kind of crisis, apparently*

[thalberg]

m1469,

Don't be a model of stability and commitment to your students.  They won't get it, won't appreciate it, and it will cost you in the long run.

Every great teacher I know does a lot of performing and abandons his/her students to do it.  My own teacher would take long trips to Europe and leave me for 2 months at a time.  At my school, the best professors perform and leave their students a lot.

I never felt like my teachers' leaving gave me license to be non-committed or unstable.  I didn't feel like it was bad modeling.  I still knew I was expected to practice, though sometimes I didn't.

If you feel that bad, you can get a substitute teacher--I've done that.  I had to leave my students for 6 weeks each summer and got a substitute each time.  It was actually great for the students because they were exposed to another personality, another teaching style, and they learned there's more than one opinion on how to do things. Sometimes the change makes them listen to you more when they come back.

[keyofc]

m1469,
I agree with Thalberg - plus - in my opinion, you will be a model.
Congratulations on getting the bookings!
I would just tell them I'm going to be on tour for awhile.

I know what you mean about the conflict, though.  I am not that booked- but I have had more opportunity this year than ever to perform.  And I am questioning how much time I should keep just for my own practice time and preparation.  Any times my students hear of me playing at a concert, or some type of event, they seem to be excited that their piano teacher is performing.

If I had as many bookings as you have right now - I would definitely forget the teaching for awhile if I could.   I know it's hard to let go of your students though.  But this is a great oppurtunity for you to shine and enjoy the music from the stage instead of the balcony.

[thalberg]

m1469,
I agree with Thalberg - plus - in my opinion, you will be a model.
Congratulations on getting the bookings!
I would just tell them I'm going to be on tour for awhile.

I know what you mean about the conflict, though.  I am not that booked- but I have had more opportunity this year than ever to perform.  And I am questioning how much time I should keep just for my own practice time and preparation.  Any times my students hear of me playing at a concert, or some type of event, they seem to be excited that their piano teacher is performing.

If I had as many bookings as you have right now - I would definitely forget the teaching for awhile if I could.   I know it's hard to let go of your students though.  But this is a great oppurtunity for you to shine and enjoy the music from the stage instead of the balcony.

Yeah key of c is right--you should model being a performer for your students.  They'll think it's exciting that their teacher is performing, and then they'll know it's okay to go off and perform if they ever get the chance.

[m1469]

These are helpful posts.  I guess other than being a model for my students in terms of stability and so on, I just want what is going to best nurture their growth (and keep my studio afloat, too, since I will still be depending greatly on this income).  I just don't think it's best for them if I am sporadically present, though, I don't think I am in danger of that, exactly, as of next year.... it's just looking like my life is heading that direction.  It is one thing for a Uni teacher to leave his/her students for times, but it's another for somebody like me to leave my students, especially my little ones, for times.

But, I just thought of something along the "sub" idea, if I needed it.  I do have one student who has studied music in college and is getting to know "my system" of teaching, she also already teaches her own students, too.  Perhaps I could consider her if I needed it, she would be perfect .  Thanks for that thought, thalberg !

After I made this thread I went and wrote out a tentative teaching schedule for something that might work a little better along with some of my performance commitments, and I even already asked a couple of my students about the times and they seem to think it would be fine (I am breathing better already).  I will keep working on that a bit.

I will say that when I was studying in Uni, I was one to appreciate my own teacher's commitment to me, by way of their commitment to their studio in general.  I actually have noticed some pretty big differences between studios whose teachers are almost always present (while maintaining a performance career), vs. studios whose teachers are often shifting and cancelling lessons.  I would rather be the former, no doubt about it.

But, you are right.  I can be an example of a performer, too, and that is great for my students as well.  Ideally, I just want to find a way to work it out so that nothing is truly suffering due to something else being present -- I think that would eventually just rip me to shreds.


*feeling slightly calmer at the moment*

[amelialw]

I am a piano student who is going into performing and I just recently started my teaching career, although I only have a few students, they look up to me for being able to perform well.

[lostinidlewonder]

As you progress in your musical career you have to make changes to the way you run things otherwise you cannot make progress! If you increase your concert performances it is natural that your teaching commitments must change otherwise you cannot perform at your peak let alone concerntrate on the business/organization side of getting your concert all together.

If you feel bad for "abandoning" your students now and then you should perhaps arrange a teacher who can substitute for you. Some people might think that it is not your responsibility and your students should accept what you do, but again it is up to how your personally feel about it.

Sometimes a student can benefit from not having a teacher for a period of time as well. A good teacher of course infuses into their students the method to fish for themselves, so a period where the student has no teacher is a good time for that trial and error. You can always work out a study regieme for the students to study by while you are gone and this would definately give them practice to develop their ability to teach themselves. The student doesn't see you most of the week anyway so the small % of time where you guide and tell them what to do, you are always at the end of every lesson hopeful that they understand how to do that when they are not around you, otherwise how can they practice what they learn? With extended periods of absense the student must generate initiative of their own to tackle problems and push through their music which you usually fuel every lesson.

Sometimes your presence as the teacher acts more as a motivator more than anything else, a student need someone to demotsrate what they have done, to approve or disapprove. Without a teacher some students simply flounder about not going anywhere because there is no one pushing them musically, cheering them on! You have to teach these students self motivation since it will improve their music output as a whole not only while you are absent, but you don't have to feel that it's your responsibility if you don't want to.

You should always consider your sense of "happiness" in what you do. You cannot make your life completely performance and teaching and pracitcing music. It is not healthy to only focus on one subject in your life and it sets you up for strife. The reality is that no one will die without you being there whether it be for a performance or for a student. If you cancel lessons or cancel performances it doesn't matter and will not really hurt you. As well you should not have to really make a decision to sacrifice students for performance or vice-versa  IF YOU DON'T WANT TO. Who says that you must? If you believe your performance career will suffer because of being tied down to students then it will! But it won't if you do it and work your way through it. There are no rules really, you can make your way anyway way you like, but every way there is always a force resisting your progress, thus you must simply work smart and hard, it all leads to success so long you stick to it and enjoy it.

[quantum]

I agree with what lostinidlewonder said.  As a teacher my goal is to teach every student to teach themselves how to play and be an independent problem solver.  Allowing them short leaves of absence will allow your students to practice such problem solving on their own.  It will introduce to them gradually the experience they need to work on their own. 

Several of my teachers have been concert pianists with active performing carriers.  I was always excited when my teaches would tell me that they are going to perform some concerts.  It is even more exciting to see your teacher perform in a concert.  So if anything, it will create more interest within your students towards what you do.  Part of the reason I now love contemporary music is because my teachers were willing to share their passion for performing it with me.  I have had the honor of hearing two of my teachers perform several world premiers of large scale works for piano. 

[pianistimo]

when faced with the degree of pedagogy vs performance - i always chose performance.  to me,you can learn pedagogy from a teacher who performs unless they have a terrible pianoside manner or something. usually, it's the other way around.  they have had decent teachers themselves - so they are refined and quick to get to the point.  you may not get past the first page on a lesson, though.  that is the only problem.  with a beginning/intermediate teacher - you let them play the entire piece and don't care about little blips until they have finished the piece (or as much as they can play).  with adult/advanced students - you get stopped a lot until the fine points are worked out.

i tend to like 'casual' style - myself - and continue to like to play in the dark, all the way through a piece (whether practicing or whatever) and just let the details settle themselves.  sometimes it's like the composer tells you what to do.  i'm not as perfectionistic as i once was (which could be a bad thing) - but i just think music was meant to make us smile - to enjoy life - like wine/food. 

back to teaching - i think both teaching and performing should be a completely natural thing for younger students.  no stress.  if there is stress involved -something is wrong.  i mean - too much stress.  sure there are performance nerves - but the teachers that perform themselves probably give their students more performance opportunities.  thus - less stress when they perform because they've practiced performing.

[m1469]

I want to thank each of your for your responses.  I have been thinking a bit about your's in particular, lostinidle.  It seems to have helped to mentally free me up a bit and enable me to have a little more perspective and make some decisions.

Thanks !  Maybe more later .
m1469

[stevehopwood]

I am a teacher who performs, m1469. The benefits are huge.

Earlier in my career, I was a teacher\soloist. I gave recitals throughout the UK and performed some insane concertos. Every musical\technical\developmental benefit I gained from being a performer passed directly through to my students in the form of additional insight on my part.

I never became famous; regardless of the doubtful premise that I had the ability, I certainly lacked the single-mindedness to 'reach the top'. I still gained hugely from the experience.

A decade ago, aged 45 and with a loathing of travel, I stopped promoting myself so the bookings stopped coming in. It transpired that I had a good pair of ears and the ability to accommodate others, so my lifelong love of accompanying quickly provided regular performing opportunities. This continues to this day. Few things give me more pleasure than to be able to offer 'the whole package' to piano students whose main instrument is not the piano - academic, ear training, especially accompaniment for exams, festivals and concerts.

None of the latter would happen had I not spent so many years gaining so much performing experience and developing a technique able to cope with anything.

From a marketing point of view, parents and pupils are hugely impressed when I say, "Sorry to be a nuisance, but I cannot teach next week. I am performing in..........."

Ok, so these days ..........  might merely represent accompanying Kate's grade 4 singing, but the timing is awkward and means I have to cancel a lesson or two. 15 years ago, ..... might have represented playing Rach 3 somewhere. The effect on my reputation is the same, because, "I am performing in ......"

So yes, m1469, develop the performing side of your work for all sorts of reasons. If you are anything like me, you will still be a teacher at heart. As you develop as a performer, you will have more and more to teach.

 

[m1469]

hee hee... now, Steve, you're talking my language  .  Thanks so much for posting in, this is a brilliant post and quite helpful for me .

[m1469]

Hi, All.  I just wanted to give a little update.  This thread was really helpful for me in gaining a little bit of perspective.  So, I have indeed figured out a way to move my students onto days that I think would be better (and it will work for them, too  ), and, I have also decided to start a new system, too, with some students. 

I finally got myself together and wrote a message to all of my students (whose lessons I was worried about) and let them have a bit of insight into what my year will be like next year, listing some of the activities and performances I will be doing.  The responses that I got in this thread and what I realized as a result helped me know what to say and how to word it.  I have gotten a very wonderful response from the parents and they are very supportive !  They are cooperative and not mad at all ... hee hee. 

One even wrote to me and was thanking me for continuing to grow as an artist myself, and that I was right in that the experiences that I will have as an artist will benefit their kids  (this is one thing that I wrote about in my message to them) and then listed numerous things that she sees developing in her daughter and how happy she is as the parent, and how she would like to have her daughter be able to have more time with me (okay, it just made me feel again like I am taking some decent footsteps, perhaps).  And, a number of them have thanked me specially for taking the time that I do with their kids ... well, I guess that just never hurts for any of us.

It's so funny because, I feel like they are becoming (in a sense) a big form of support for me as a musician (and an individual).  I mean, I end up getting encouragement from my students and from their parents ... in ways that are amazingly satisfying... I am encouraged by their individual growth and their appreciation for what they are learning.

Anyway, I think I a coping a bit better at the moment and thank you very much .

[stevehopwood]

Great to read this, m1469.

You wait until you give a performance local enough that your students and their parent can attend.

"That is my teacher" the kids will announce with pride to anybody in earshot.

"That is my child's teacher" the parents will announce with pride to anybody in earshot.

Guess how I know this will hapen? 

 

[lostinidlewonder]

Good stuff  m1469 it is nice to see your students encouraging you, I am sure they are proud that their teacher actually is a FAMOUS public performer!   When you do a concert in your hometown the majority of faces sitting in the hall should be your students, their family and their friends and friends friends. So when you do your initial local concert you really are not breaking that students relationship since they are a part of your concert, it also strengthens your relationship with your students when they actually see you perform on stage, there is a degree of respect, there is more trust in what you teach them in the future I have found. When you start travelling this is a different story, it is unlikely you will have your students following you as the bands groupie !

[m1469]

hee hee... thanks Steve and Lostinidle.  Well, I guess that some of my students might think I am actually famous -- at least I may be to them.

I will admit, if I were going to worry about what people may think of me and my playing, I am most concerned about having things go well for the sake of my students ... I want them to feel good about believing in me.