Klarinet Archive - Posting 000385.txt from 1998/07
From: "Kevin Fay (LCA)" <kevinfay@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Student problems
Date: Wed, 15 Jul 1998 19:34:04 -0400
When I taught private lessons (moons ago) I borrowed a procedure from Bill
Wicker, my teacher in high school--worked fabulously.
All lessons lasted 45 mins., but were scheduled on the hour. This gave me
15 minutes in between to go to the bathroom. Of course, you always "hold
over" a little bit--but if the expectation is for 45 mins, the 5 mins you
spend in the lav is not thought of by the student as "stolen time"--the
extra 10 mins they get is a favor by you.
In addition, all scheduled lessons were paid for, unless there is 48 hours
notice. For problem students--payment in advance. With one guy I went so
far as requiring monthly in advance. If he didn't show, I got my money
anyway. Funny thing--once the payment was going to be made anyway, Mom &
Dad instantly became interested in making sure that junior showed up.
The last point is particularly important, both for the student and you. To
the extent that your student craps out on you, he is stealing the food from
your children's mouths. If you don't have the opportunity to resell your
time to another person, it's just as lost, and he should pay for it.
kjf
-----Original Message-----
From: Maestro645@-----.com]
Subject: [kl] Student problems
If I could impose for more help....
I have a clarinet student. Great player, and quick learner. But he has a
horrendous problem with showing up on time, and sometimes not showing up at
all. Just today, for example. He was supposed to have a lesson at 10:30.
He
did not show up. So I called the residence and was told by his mother "Oh!
I
forgot! Leo's at the Mall of America. Can we do his lesson next week?" I
think I'm being way to nice about this.
With all of my students I give them an information sheet explaining
expectations and blah blah blah. I am a very articulated with my thoughts.
I
even have a lesson evaluation sheet that records their progress and payment
options. It has a rating scale for different aspects of playing, an
assignment
portion, a comment part, payment record, and practice chart. (Now I'm
getting
aheasd of myself here. Backtracking...)
I've stated that with my busy schedule and with having students one right
after the other, I tell them that punctuality is important. If a student is
to be late, I expect a call that day a couple hours in advance. If I am not
notified and they are late, they don't get a chance to make up time. I also
say that if they can't make a lesson call me in the morning or preferably,
days in advance (like this was his vacation, so I should have been notified
last week!). If they pay in advance and don't tell me they will be gone, I
keep the money. (mean, I know, but I do this with the suggestion of one of
my teachers, and it discourages truancy.)
Well, Leo pays every week, so the rule of keeping money doesn't apply. I've
mentioned my frustration to them before, but no improvement has been made.
Now I enjoy teaching, and I like working with Leo (when he shows up on time,
or shows up at all), and i don't want to discontinue lessons with him. I
just
want him to be more respectful of my time. What is a good way to address
the
matter to him and his parents?
Thanks for all your advice!
Chris Hoffman
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