Teacher requests purchase of music and then decides not to use it., Parent out of pocket Options

[owainsutton]

Surely a good music teacher with a good working relationship with the shop/supplier can arrange a short term loan of items, which can then be bought or returned (in good nick of course!).

Not all teachers live within reasonable reach of a local shop which displays any real understanding of sheet music. Actually, I'd wager that the vast majority don't.

I have to admit to, once or twice, asking pupils to purchase books I'd not seen. This was due to a particular piece being on an exam syllabus which they'd be working towards, and the other options not being ones I was so keen on, but at least with it being an album there'd be plenty of use for the book anyway.

[Halka]

Teachers! Have you ever misjudged a students ability and given them pieces that have proven beyond their capabilities and if a parent has suggested this to be the case, how would you react? I'm definitely not trying to be provocative but I'm concerned my son has been given pieces which are beyond his capability for an audition which is five months away. Five months may seem a long time but his summer holiday is filled with residential courses and a very long instrument-free vacation. I have explained this to the teacher, who will not be teaching him from the end of June (long story, not relevant and all very amicable), but he seems to think this is plenty time. The pieces will be the most advanced pieces he's ever played. Should I keep a couple of easier pieces ticking over in case it will prove too much? Obviously I will make sure he puts in as much practice as possible and follow the teachers advice.

Seems to me ?23 may be the price you pay for being right....? Maybe the teacher got the negative vibe and, in the face of your opposition, gave up on this piece?

[Czerny]

What on earth was it that cost ?23 for a few sheets? Something French?

[FullofWind]

Teachers! Have you ever misjudged a students ability and given them pieces that have proven beyond their capabilities and if a parent has suggested this to be the case, how would you react? I'm definitely not trying to be provocative but I'm concerned my son has been given pieces which are beyond his capability for an audition which is five months away. Five months may seem a long time but his summer holiday is filled with residential courses and a very long instrument-free vacation. I have explained this to the teacher, who will not be teaching him from the end of June (long story, not relevant and all very amicable), but he seems to think this is plenty time. The pieces will be the most advanced pieces he's ever played. Should I keep a couple of easier pieces ticking over in case it will prove too much? Obviously I will make sure he puts in as much practice as possible and follow the teachers advice.

Seems to me ?23 may be the price you pay for being right....? Maybe the teacher got the negative vibe and, in the face of your opposition, gave up on this piece?

Huh? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) I have no communication whatsoever with the teacher and have made no comment to my son about this. In fact the piece of music in question is regarding my other son on a different instrument! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

What on earth was it that cost ?23 for a few sheets? Something French?

Yes, it's French! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

[Czerny]

Yes, it's French! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

How did I guess?!

[Scooby Doo]

Gah, French publishers, nightmare prices every time!

With that in mind, you can probably get a good price for it on ebay or Amazon Marketplace...

[Splog]

My local(ish) music shop has a sign up saying that sheet music cannot be returned, and something about making sure you have the correct book before purchase. I suspect that they are having problems with people copying songs and then returning books.

Choosing music is becoming more of a problem with sheet music shops closing down due to the increased level of online sales. I like to look through music before buying it, as I did today, to try out new music with a student. It didn't cost much, so I'm not bothered about whether it is suitable or which of us is paying for it, or whether the shop will take it back. But I will try not to write on it before deciding.....

It is a big consideration for parents - if your child plays flute, piano, violin or clarinet, you can get all your exam music for a few pounds per grade, certainly at the early grades. Otherwise you can be paying 8 or 9 pounds each for three separate books containing one piece for one grade. It shouldn't be the teacher's responsibility to stump up for this either. I am lucky enough to have a large stock of music I can use with singing students, but I had this for my own use before I started teaching, and also have access to school resources.

Not saying I don't agree that the teacher in this case was wrong, (especially to write in the music), just that it is symptomatic of a wider issue.

[Maizie]

There was a piece on the G6 (I think) syllabus that my teacher thought might be worth a look. It was a Boosey custom print one, though, so not cheap (but not 23 quid either!) He recommended getting it, but if it wasn't the piece he thought it was/turned out not to be for me, he'd then buy it from me as he'd be bound to have someone who could make use of it. I liked this deal (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
(Turned out to be a piece we did play, and I've kept it; amazingly enough, one movement of it I recognised and could virtually play from memory - I'm pretty sure it was in one of my grade exams 20+ years ago!)

[dotted quaver]

I don't think this is acceptable either! The teacher could have let your son try the piece to see if it were suitable before asking you to purchase it. I would never ask a parent to spend ?23 on a single piece or even a book which only one piece would be learnt from. Could you sell it to the teacher or on ebay maybe?

[owainsutton]

It is a big consideration for parents - if your child plays flute, piano, violin or clarinet, you can get all your exam music for a few pounds per grade, certainly at the early grades. Otherwise you can be paying 8 or 9 pounds each for three separate books containing one piece for one grade.

This is true, but it's also the case that if a teacher plans ahead, there's quite an overlap from one grade to another, or even across three or more grades, within specific books for some instruments.

[Roseau]

I don't think this is acceptable either! The teacher could have let your son try the piece to see if it were suitable before asking you to purchase it. I would never ask a parent to spend ?23 on a single piece or even a book which only one piece would be learnt from. Could you sell it to the teacher or on ebay maybe?

My gripe about my daughter's trombone teacher is that he lends her a photocopy and asks me to buy the piece immediately - stressing that the photocopy is illegal and is just so that she has it to work on while waiting for the piece to arrive. I have to order it because the tiny local music shop doesn't stock any trombone music whatsoever and have always done so as soon as he asks. When the piece arrives a week to ten days later, her teacher uses it for maybe one lesson and then decides it isn't suitable after all.

[soccermom]

I don't think this is acceptable either! The teacher could have let your son try the piece to see if it were suitable before asking you to purchase it. I would never ask a parent to spend ?23 on a single piece or even a book which only one piece would be learnt from. Could you sell it to the teacher or on ebay maybe?

I agree it's very annoying, but the teacher may not have realised that it would cost that much, especially if it's only a few pages. Over the years I have bought lots of music that my children have never played (usually alternative pieces on exam syllabuses) - though admittedly never costing ?23 a time. On the other hand, O have also bought lots of cheap music that I have had masses of use out of, so it balances out. Unused stuff reappears as sight-reading material a year or two later, so it's never entirely wasted.

Too late for this occasion, but perhaps in future if recommended music is v expensive, tell the teacher how much it is, say you don't want to spend that much without being certain that it is going to be a suitable piece and ask them to buy it off you it it proves unsuitable or ask them to recommend an alternative piece that you can find more cheaply.

[Tenor Viol]

Gah, French publishers, nightmare prices every time!

With that in mind, you can probably get a good price for it on ebay or Amazon Marketplace...

Choral example: Faure Requiem, Novello - about GBP5, Durufle Requiem, Durand GBP25 (and that was ten years ago). Oh and the Durufle looks and feels like it's printed on recycled loo paper (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

If you want howls of anguish, speak to an organist about French music publishers... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

[Splog]

I don't think this is acceptable either! The teacher could have let your son try the piece to see if it were suitable before asking you to purchase it. I would never ask a parent to spend ?23 on a single piece or even a book which only one piece would be learnt from. Could you sell it to the teacher or on ebay maybe?

My gripe about my daughter's trombone teacher is that he lends her a photocopy and asks me to buy the piece immediately - stressing that the photocopy is illegal and is just so that she has it to work on while waiting for the piece to arrive. I have to order it because the tiny local music shop doesn't stock any trombone music whatsoever and have always done so as soon as he asks. When the piece arrives a week to ten days later, her teacher uses it for maybe one lesson and then decides it isn't suitable after all.

That's ridiculous. If the photocopy is illegal he shouldn't have it in the first place. If it's ok to use the photocopy for one week it's ok to use it for three weeks. I would simply wait before ordering the music; if it's an issue, pretend you have ordered it and it hasn't arrived yet.

It is a big consideration for parents - if your child plays flute, piano, violin or clarinet, you can get all your exam music for a few pounds per grade, certainly at the early grades. Otherwise you can be paying 8 or 9 pounds each for three separate books containing one piece for one grade.

This is true, but it's also the case that if a teacher plans ahead, there's quite an overlap from one grade to another, or even across three or more grades, within specific books for some instruments.

Yes, that can be true in some cases. I have to say I am a big fan of that part of the ABRSM website which shows you which publications are available for each piece in the syllabus, and, on selecting a book, will tell you what other grades it can be used for. Very nicely designed.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Aquarelle]

Not saying I don't agree that the teacher in this case was wrong, (especially to write in the music), just that it is symptomatic of a wider issue.

As a teacher who has spent a considerable amount of money over the years on music might I make a small contribution?

I think if the teacher repeatedly askes parent to pay for music not used then there is an issue to be faced. But as splog says it is increasingly difficult for teachers to buy over the counter. My nearest music shop stocking even a moderate amount of music is 60 kilometres away and shut on my day off. I am more than grateful for the opinions about books and pieces of music of other teachers on this forum.

I have bought books with a pupil in mind and have leant the book - often for exam purposes and for just one piece. I have done this to avoid parents who have already paid for the ABRSM exam book and the exam fee having to fork out yet again - particularly when I know they are not very well off. If the book I have bought has been one of the AB publications with a collection of pieces covering a couple of grades it has often come in useful again. But I have a number of books which I have never used again - either for other pupils or for myself.

So parents aren't the only ones to lose out. The difference is that as a teacher I can decide for myself to take the risk or not. If we put parents in front of a fait accompli I think we must expect a complaint. The odd mistake is excusable and I would hope parents would understand but I think we should be careful not to repeat it.