Contract - question, possible problem

[bemi]

Ok guys, long time lurker, first time poster.
Anyway...

I work for musika, which is a music company, I also teach my own students.

Last week, a prospective student contacted me. Her son had been taking lessons for about a year and they were looking for a new instructor. They had already tested one instructor out but were hesitant to accept him because he insisted on a digital piano.

So they contacted me and I set up an intro lesson.

A few days later, musika emails me with a prospective new student. We don't get the names or anything, just the student age and other basic info.  I signed up to be matched with the student.

When I got the info, I realized that it was the same student I had spoken to earlier. Obviously, the mother was looking at other instructors and places.

Now, my tendency is to be honest. But, it seems in hindsight, it was not the best policy.

When musika called and told me I had a new student, I informed them that they had already contacted me for lessons prior to contacting musika and that there was already a trial lesson scheduled.

They said I was contractually bound to teach the student through musika. Even though the student came to me first.

I'm planning on calling and speaking with the director, since I do like the company and have been with it for awhile. But I wanted to get some advice\views from you all.

I read my contract. It doesn't mention anything about if a student contacts me as a private instructor and the company also. Legally, I think that I have a right to teach this student through my studio.


What do you guys think? Any advice at all?

[prongated]

Eh, doesn't it depend on where the mother wants her son to study in? If the mother wants you to teacher her directly (and she hasn't signed anything yet with your music school) then there is absolutely nothing your workplace can do to stop you from teacher her son directly. Makes logical sense right?

[Bob]

In the situations I've seen it looks bad if a teacher is taking students from a music school and teaching them privately.  That's if the teacher is really trying to steal students away.  Then the larger organization is paying for advertising and recruitment and the private teacher is getting the benefits of it.

However if that private teacher leaves, I've seen them leave their contact info with parents.  Then it's up to the parent to decide where they want to go and the private teacher isn't really forcing or demanding the student goes anywhere.

I don't totally understand the details of your student, but if your working for an organization for music lessons, I would follow through on their requirements -- i.e. teach the intro lesson, even if you already have done that privately.  They're two separate situations.  Or maybe suggest another teacher within the organization and offer private lessons through your own channels.  If you've done the organization's intro lesson like they wanted, great.  You followed through.  It's up to the parent which way they want to go. 

That's one of those tricky situations.  Once you get the bounds defined it will be easier in the future.  I know of a few teachers who work for an organization and then do the exact same teaching, but outside the organization's "semester" and get paid directly instead of through the organization.

Outside of the organization though, you can do whatever you want and the parents can do whatever they want.  (Unless you're still using the organization's room, piano, etc.)