Klarinet Archive - Posting 000196.txt from 2004/02

From: "Karl Krelove" <karlkrelove@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] How would you reply to this student?
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2004 16:41:06 -0500

I've gotten to the point, especially with adult students, where if the
student hasn't practiced much and isn't feeling up to snuff (for whatever
reason), I'd just as soon not spend an hour listening to the result. Adults
are either self-motivated or not. They aren't studying because Mom or Dad
says they have to or because they want a better seat in the school band. I'd
just thank him for letting me know so I could use the time for something
else and ask him to call me when he feels ready for the next lesson. If he
calls, it's because he's practiced something. If he doesn't, oh well.... Of
course, last minute cancellations can't become a habit for a particular
student - that's an unfair imposition on the teacher's schedule and the
student needs to be told so.

I know (as does David) that many teachers charge for missed lessons, most by
charging a month at a time in advance and simply not offering a refund. For
me, as a matter of personal style, that kind of thing has too much potential
to become confrontational. It isn't for me worth the stress to try to
enforce rules about paying for missed lessons (though, in a situation as
flagrant as this one, if he felt guilty and offered to pay for the missed
session, I probably wouldn't refuse).

Karl Krelove

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Film & Music Promotion Management
> [mailto:FilmPromotion@-----.net]
> Sent: Friday, February 13, 2004 10:23 AM
> To: klarinet@-----.org
> Subject: [kl] How would you reply to this student?
>
>
> This student is 24 years old - An Adult beginner who played for 2
> years in High School and started up again this past Sept.
>
>
> -----------------------------------
> Dave,
>
> I have to cancel I partied too much. plus I have not practiced a lot.
> Let me know that you received this.
> Sorry once again.
> Best Regards,
>
> Dimitrios
>
> -----------------------------------------------
>
> What I wrote back was:
>
> Hey, you've got to be responsible about your lessons - If that means
> no partying past 12:00 AM on Thursday than so be it. The only
> acceptable reasons for cancellation are Sickness (real illness, not a
> hangover). Also 24 hours is required to not have to pay for the missed
> lesson for any reason other than sudden illness (and not
> practicing/being prepared is never an acceptable reason - cause we can
> always work on sight-reading skills).
>
> Your choice not to come today, but it is a chargeable cancellation.
> (no teacher in the world would let a student slide for having a
> hangover and not being prepared :)
>
> I'm away next Thurs-Sunday. How about we have a lesson on Monday (the
> one for today) so you get a lesson.
>
> Let me know
>
> David B.
> --------------------------------------------------------
> David Blumberg
>
> http://artists.primetones.com/blummy
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc. http://www.woodwind.org
>
>

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc. http://www.woodwind.org