Student studying with another teacher on the sly

[rgh55]

Today when teaching one of my students, I noticed markings on a lesson piece that weren't mine. The piece was dated at the top (like I do) and markings throughout the score.   (I have taught this student going on 2 years and also have been teaching her mother for a little over a year now.) It appears that they have recently gone to another teacher.  I asked the student who made the markings in her book and she said her mother. I'm not sure about that. First of all, it was on a piece that I didn't assign.  Anyway, I'm not sure what to do. I have a lesson with the mother tomorrow morning and may just ask her point blank what is going on.  On the otherhand, I could ignore it and collect tuition for this month and see what happens.  Has this happened to anyone else?

Thanks

[keypeg]

How has your student's playing been the past few months.  Has it improved or gotten worse?  Is your student doing all the work that you have assigned, and to your satisfaction, or not practising what you assigned?  Does your student attend all lessons and do you get paid?

If a student has a second teacher, then the student might not be able to practice what he's been assigned, and then he comes to lessons unprepared.  That would be a problem.  The other teacher may interfere with what is being taught, so that the student's playing gets worse.  That is a problem too.  But if your student is playing the same or better, and coming in prepared doing what you assigned, is having a 2nd teacher a problem? 

[fleetfingers]

It's quite possible that it was, in fact, the mother who made the markings. It's interesting that the date was on the top, which is something you do. The mother may have been using the same types of notations, since she is your student and has learned them from you. Also, she knows that her daughter would understand them.

If you are interested in finding out, maybe you could ask in a positive way (as opposed to accusing). For instance, you could say, "So, your daughter said that you made these markings? Is she working on other pieces, too?" And say it like it's a good thing that she would go above and beyond, that way it's not awkward. At that point, she will tell you whether it was her or another teacher. Then, you can have an open conversation about it and let her know how you feel either way. Maybe her mother is assigning her more because she runs out of material to practice? In that case, you may want to give her more to work on. Or, you may feel that she needs to work more on the piece she is on before moving ahead. Either way - whatever your direction is as a teacher - you can have the conversation.

And if there is indeed another teacher, you can voice your opinion to the mother about it. If it were me, I would at least want to be aware that there was another teacher. Beyond that, I'm not sure how I'd feel . . . I guess it would depend on how it affected what I was teaching. Anyway, have the conversation, but bring it up gently and casually. Whatever is going on may not end up being a big deal. Good luck.

[iansinclair]

It would be helpful to know if there were another teacher.  Beyond that, however, assuming that the student's playing was not getting any worse, my own feeling would be that it was fine.  I might see if it might be possible to coordinate with the other teacher, but that might be a stretch; it would depend a great deal upon both my ego and the other teacher's ego.

But then, I never did think I had all the answers to anything, so I encourage folks to look around...

[teran]

You know if the student is lying about seeing another teacher on the sly, you really think the mother would fess up?

Parents are usually the orchestrators, if anything she'd probably lie far more convincingly. Tbh I imagine they'd only lie in order not to offend, since I imagine most teachers would take offence to having a student see another teacher I dunno.

Although I don't actually see what's so bad about seeing more than one teacher, but whatever.

[Bob]

Just ask the parent briefly how they think you're doing as a teacher and let them know how their kid is doing.  You just want to know if they're confident in you and if they'll stick around.  It doesn't matter who made the markings.  If they were really hiding something, they could have a separate book series for another teacher that you never see. 

If they're going to leave, you can get some info from them.  Or you could change or show them you'll change, if that would keep them.  Or explain why you're doing something a certain way, if they think it should be a different way.