Dogs

[joyfulmusic]

I go to most of my student's homes.  Some families have very nice dogs.  Some implore me to love their annoying dog.  but last week was over the top.  Family has a new puppy who was tied outside the window where we were at the piano.  She barked every darn minute.  Mom was out taking another child to something.  When she got back i asked if next week we could have her inside so she doesn't bark mom snapped at me... do what you want she's a dog that barks. 

I'm annoyed enough to drop the student.  what would you do?

[a-sharp]

That is very annoying. I am with you on this. Do you have a policy that states what type of environment is necessary during lessons? How did you phrase the question? Sometime you have to be unnecessarily polite - "Hi - if it is at all possible to make sure Susie's lesson time is during a time when there are no physical or noise interruptions, I'd totally appreciate that. Is that at all possible? Perhaps we could reschedule her lessons to a time when you're able to take the puppy for a walk or something? That would be so helpful. Thank you so much! "

Grrr. Actually ... dogs are happier when crate-trained as they are den animals - it totally helps with the barking issue.  But that is perhaps another issue entirely...

[queenrock]

Next time bring a tranquilizer.

[syncope]

I'd say to the parents that under those circumstances you can't teach, so a good solution would be for the kid to come to your house for lessons (they'll realize how much easier it is to keep the dog somewhere else during the lessons compared to having to drive the kid to pianolessons). (:

[andric_s]

Uggh, that does sound annoying!

I would tell her that you can't teach under those conditions.    If she's not receptive to that (as it sounds she's not), then I would drop the student.

It's hard enough to be self-employed, but at least we get to set our own working conditions.  We may as well take advantage of that freedom and not subject ourselves to unpleasant people or situations.

[rachfan]

Hey, dogs are getting a bad rap here!  Dogs are music lovers and many want to study piano too.  That's why he was barking outside the window--he wanted in to be part of the lesson.      

You don't believe it?  Check out this YouTube clip of the artist Nelson Friere playing Alma Brasiliera.  His dog is like a rapt student in a master class there!  The dog also plays Villa-Lobos, but just hasn't posted any videos yet.

Enjoy!

[slobone]

The dog also plays Villa-Lobos, but just hasn't posted any videos yet.

That's because dogs aren't as smart as cats:

[rachfan]

Hi slobone,

We'll I can't weigh in on the dog/cat controversy, as we have a ferret.  But unlike the feline in the video who plays a few repetitive tone clusters within the octave (minimalism, but, admittedly, way better than Philip Glass), the ferret utilizes the entire keyboard when he performs, thus attaining a higher level of complexity.  He can't operate the pedals though.       

[slobone]

I was thinking more of Webern, but point taken.

Let's see some ferret videos! I always wanted to have one, and name it Ferret Fawcett-Majors...

[rachfan]

Hi slobone,

I don't have a video here of our ferret's artistry, but here's one I found on YouTube.  He could use a page turner to be sure, but other than that it's a fully creditable rendition of a Schoenberg early Romantic period piece.   

[slobone]

Hi slobone,

I don't have a video here of our ferret's artistry, but here's one I found on YouTube.  He could use a page turner to be sure, but other than that it's a fully creditable rendition of a Schoenberg early Romantic period piece.   

Fakakte Nacht, isn't it?

[rachfan]

Sure sounds like it to me.