Predicament Options

[After Eight]

I teach a handful of pupils over a couple of evenings, and I enjoy it. However recently, one of my teaching slots clashes with my band rehearsal. I have no other evenings to move these two pupils too, and to be fair, the band was first before the kids and I hoped that band members wouldn't mind me turning up late. I don't think they do but it's bothering me. Over the past couple of weeks I've started to really worry about this and am wondering about dropping the pupils. I can't think what to do. I can't start them any earlier either, and I like the band. I don't know of any other teachers in the area who I could recommend to them so I am worried about leaving them in the lurch. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

[Violinia]

I move students to Saturdays when evenings clash. Could you do this? Or could the students come earlier so you can do it all?

[After Eight]

I travel to their house, and weekends are a family time for me, since my and my OH are rarely in together in the evenings.

[hazel]

Why are you so concerned about turning up late to band rehearsals? We have quite a few members who turn up late due to work or family commitments and nobody minds, in fact probably we respect them even more as they have usually had to come out without getting any dinner, don't have time to change out of work clothes, and some travel a considerable distance for a shorter time as it were. Our band leader is really good at making sure everything is covered, gets other section members to make notes of any cuts or changes to music, and rotates the order in which we practice pieces so that they don't miss out on anything.

Maybe you just need to have a quiet word with your band leader to make sure he/she understands your situation, and then look at moving your two pupils in the long-term e.g. as other students leave, rather than trying to do it now.

[skylark]

Would it be possible to use a side-room for teaching at the place where you hold the band rehearsals, and see if your pupils can meet you there? Then at least you're on site and you don't have to waste time travelling....

[After Eight]

Good point Skylark!!
I play in a ceilidh band, there are six of us so when I'm not there, the harmonies and twiddly bits go missing!! We don't rehearse every week, but are there most weeks. How would it work with insurance if I was in a public building?

[skylark]

Good point Skylark!!
I play in a ceilidh band, there are six of us so when I'm not there, the harmonies and twiddly bits go missing!! We don't rehearse every week, but are there most weeks. How would it work with insurance if I was in a public building?

That I don't know I'm afraid. You'd probably have to make a few enquiries, maybe initially from the people who hire out the hall. I expect the band leader could give you contact details or have better information about insurance, and if it meant you turning up on time for rehearsals, they'd probably be all too happy to help you with it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[AnnC]

Is there any reason why you can't get your pupils to come to you? Travelling to them is OK if you are not busy, but your travelling time is unproductive. If you had these two at home, back to back, you may get to your rehearsal on time.

[Lone Ranger]

My instinct if I were in that situation is that I would be morally and duty-bound to the pupils, who pay me. There may be sentimental attachments and a team spirit in the band, but as good teachers are hard to come by and you did say that you don't know who to recommend to them locally, it's tough on the children if you turn your back on them.

I appreciate the dilemma though.

LR

[Lone Ranger]

PS. to add to the above...

On the other hand, you may owe a duty to yourself socially in that there are friendships built up over a long period with other band members which you would sorely miss out on - and perhaps are missing out on to some extent already. Where there's a will there's a way is my philosophy: if you want to reschedule the pupils so as not to be late for band, as some people have suggested above. you'll find some way of doing so!

LR

[skylark]

Good point Skylark!!
I play in a ceilidh band, there are six of us so when I'm not there, the harmonies and twiddly bits go missing!! We don't rehearse every week, but are there most weeks. How would it work with insurance if I was in a public building?

That I don't know I'm afraid. You'd probably have to make a few enquiries, maybe initially from the people who hire out the hall. I expect the band leader could give you contact details or have better information about insurance, and if it meant you turning up on time for rehearsals, they'd probably be all too happy to help you with it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Come to think of it, when I asked my music college about insurance cover for the Leeds forum concert, they said that they had public liability cover for any event that was held on their premises. So hopefully there will turn out to be blanket cover at the place where rehearsals are held (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[After Eight]

Hello All

I need to manage my time better! My first 30 minute lesson extends to 40mins, and the second (a joint one) goes to almost an hour (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) Well, we have fun!! So I need to put my foot down and not get carried away. I cut them down a little yesterday and shaved 10 minutes of my lateness (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) . I could probably gain another 10mins at the most. Tractors, wet roads, and 'kids having eaten their tea on time' willing.
Thanks Lone Ranger about your thoughts. I am attached to the ceilidh band because it is something different for me. My hubby is also in it and we get paid to play at weddings etc, so although not a huge income because we're not out that much, it does go towards new music FOR ME!!!!!
I shall explain to the rest of the band exactly why it has worked out this way because it has come about via an odd set of cirumstances, and I don't think I've really appreciated that they don't know it's not really my fault!

Thanks again all, I have a lighter conscience now. I also really really really enjoyed my joint lesson last night with the two I was thinking of dropping. Lots of things that we had been working on seemed to come together and we just had loads of fun and achieved so much. Whereas the lesson with my long term pupil before hand was just (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) It's strange how they look at you as if you've just stepped off a spaceship and invented the word 'tonguing', solely for their personal torture.