I have a family of four. When dad has another engagement, which is frequently, he asks the other family members to take a longer lesson. This is getting on my last nerve. Am I crazy to give up the money. The two little girls are fine. The adults, not so much. It's pretty much entertainment for them. I get that this guy is a control freak, but it's disrespectful and annoying.
So do I need to take it on the chin for income, or let it go in some way?
I often find the one hour a week for piano class too limited, when students are practising and doing well. So, i'd use the extra time to teach the little girls both together - singing, rhythm exercises, maybe do a little playing by ear and sometimes listening to music - simple songs, and identifying things like repetition in tunes - forte and piano and any basic theory concepts that can be identifyed by ear.
Of course, this is, if the parent still continues, despite no progress.
My music terms specifically state that regular classes will be discontinued if practise is not regular, as it's very frustrating to teach when there's no progress. I'd rather give the slot to a student who uses the class to learn something. I always tell a student and parent that they're wasting their money, if they don't practise.
i currently have a 21 year old student who is doing higher studies with a very heavy curriculum (engineering) and does not practise. So, i've asked him to take a decision - either practise regularly or discontinue regular classes, but have offered him the option of booking single classes.
So, i give him a target of work to be done, with the standard of playing i expect, and when he achieves it, he'll book a class and with me, at a mutually agreed upon time. That way, he too can work with what he is able to do comfortably without stress, and learn at his own pace.
I feel it's just a matter of him making piano playing a part of this daily life - using piano playing to relax rather than as a thing to do or achieve, and he'll be able to practise daily (maybe not a lot, but certainly 30 minutes, which is sufficient for the level he's at) Once he learns this, i know he'll be asking for a regular slot again.