Teachers Wasting Lesson Time... Options

[sparkle1980]

I just wanted to rant about teachers who waste time during lessons!!!! Half an hour is short enough but can really fly when all the teacher does is chatter. I teach but have been progressing through my piano grades with another teacher. My specialism is singing. Anyway, she has a cat and we literally spend most of the lesson with me listening to her talk about what the cat has been through this week! At my last half an hour lesson, i did not touch one note on the piano until 20 past the hour which left me with 10 minutes worth of lesson time!! lol.
How can i resolve this as it really is ridiculous. I don't engage in the conversation as much as i used to but i feel really rude if i don't show an interest in what she is saying about the cat. I personally am not a cat person and the cat often jumps onto the piano stool whilst i'm sitting on it! where she'll spend another 5 minute talking baby talk to it! lol. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)
It really bothers me as being a teacher myself, i work the full length of the session with my students and it annoys that there are teachers out there who waste peoples time and money!
i know this has gone on for years and i just wanted to say to parents, beware of teachers who waste time. Make sure that you ask your child what they have done in their music lessons!!

[JohnS]

In a nice way, you've got to tell the cat loving teacher to do what you pay her for. A parent always accompanies a pupil to my lessons, they get 20 seconds or so of small talk whilst they're coming in and then it's down to business.

I hope you sort it out!

[barry-clari]

Anyway, she has a cat and we literally spend most of the lesson with me listening to her talk about what the cat has been through this week! At my last half an hour lesson, i did not touch one note on the piano until 20 past the hour which left me with 10 minutes worth of lesson time!! lol.
How can i resolve this as it really is ridiculous. I don't engage in the conversation as much as i used to but i feel really rude if i don't show an interest in what she is saying about the cat. I personally am not a cat person and the cat often jumps onto the piano stool whilst i'm sitting on it! where she'll spend another 5 minute talking baby talk to it! lol. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)
It really bothers me as being a teacher myself, i work the full length of the session with my students and it annoys that there are teachers out there who waste peoples time and money!

And so it should bother you sparkle1980. Nothing wrong with talking about the cat (or anything else like that, for that matter) just before you start, and just after the lesson has finished (conversations like that are often part of a good pupil-teacher relationship), but if cat conversation is taking up 20 minutes of a 30 minute lesson, then there's something wrong. You pay for her to teach you piano, not to talk about what her cat has done! My suspicion is that your piano teacher is a friendly sort, I'd talk to her about it (in a pleasant way), and see how it goes from there. As I said, nothing wrong with talking about cats before and after the lesson, but the 30 minutes piano lesson time should be about learning about the piano, not cats.
I'm sure the forum would be very interested in how this goes - it'd be great if you can keep us all updated! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[diapason]

I used to gain very profitably from a "fellow" organ/piano teacher in the town, not a million miles from me, who would set her pupils a little keyboard task, then disappear with a cheery "be back in a minute".
One of her pupils (now mine) became quite concerned at her prolonged abscence one evening, and cautiously began to look for her. He discovered her in another room, feet up on the sofa, cup in hand, watching "Coronation Street"

Same teacher gave each of her pupils a moments notice that she was "retiring" and going to live in Spain (which, I'm told, she hasn't to this day)

She charged (up to 2004) £22 per hour and £12 half hour for the privilege of her "time"

IT MAKES ME SO CROSS (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

[jod]

I am known to natter, but I try to keep it confined to the subject in hand. Often students need a minute or two break before run throughs, to help with stamina.

The one time I did bring my cat into a lesson, was when I had a piano student learning "Sleeping Cat" for Grade 1. I encouraged my feline friendly student to stroke him, and use that gentle stroking rhythm in her interpretation.

Gandalf (my cat) was rather non-plussed, but the student got 28/30 for the piece in her exam.

The other thing I do in lessons is listen. Often letting a student unburden, opens up a whole new approach to their playing/singing.

Talk in lessons is vital. But non lesson stuff I try to keep to the time when I'm writing out receipts at the beginning or end of the lesson.


Oh and if I do wander around the room to access some relevant material (or grab a drink of water from the kitchen), I am always listening, and ready to comment about what I've just heard.

[Deborah]

a "fellow" organ/piano teacher in the town, not a million miles from me, would set her pupils a little keyboard task, then disappear with a cheery "be back in a minute".
One of her pupils (now mine) became quite concerned at her prolonged abscence one evening, and cautiously began to look for her. He discovered her in another room, feet up on the sofa, cup in hand, watching "Coronation Street"

What! That's outrageous! I don't even answer the phone if it rings during a pupil's lesson.

Barry's right, the brief conversations at the start and end (and occasionally in the middle) of a lesson are valuable in getting to know pupils - if the youngsters mention that they're bogged down with maths homework I know not to expect too much practice to have been done. Similarly, one of my adults was worried about her son at her last lesson, as he'd just split up with his girlfriend. I think she felt better just having someone independent to talk to about it.

But 2/3 of a lesson? Not even I talk that much!

[maggiemay]

Hmm - I agree with Deborah. Your teacher sounds really nice, friendly - but - a lesson is a lesson. I have a couple of adult students who like to chat - sometimes it's relevant to the lesson anyway and that's ok to some extent. If we chat about other things, I feel I have to give the lesson-time in addition to the chatting-time. If I haven't got flexibility with time I tactfully mention it and try to move on.

It is important to listen though, because your pupil's emotional state will affect what they are trying to do. I try to allow a couple of minutes at the start to show an interest in the person I'm seeing - it is helpful to be aware if they've had a difficult week for some reason, or conversely something they 've achieved or are pleased with.

My cat doesn't often come in when I'm teaching - although some of the little ones love it if she does.

[jod]

Depending on the time of day, I may answer the phone in a lesson, but will normally let it go to answerphone. However if I think it could be my husband telling me that he can't pick up the kids, then I do answer it. I keep time on the phone to a minimum, and if its someone who can ring back later, they are told i'm teaching this is not a good time" and if necessary I'll put the phone down.

[noodle]

That really isn't good enough, Sparkle 1980. 30 minutes isn't long enough for a music lesson. My cat often sleeps in the room when I'm teaching. When he's not there, my little students ask where he is. I'll say he's sleeping or in the garden and get on with the lesson. I never answer the phone during lessons and my mobile is always on silent when I'm teaching. The only time I have ever left a student at the piano was to run out to the car to get an aural/sight-reading book which I'd been using in school earlier in the day.

I think it's fine to chat for a few minutes at the start of a lesson and when a student seems to want to talk longer, sometimes I think it is a delaying tactic to avoid something that hasn't been done. If the chatter continues more than a few minutes, I look at the notebook and say 'would you like to start with scales or theory today?' - - and get on with the lesson. Perhaps you could try something like that. When your teacher starts talking about the cat, you could say 'yes, my neigbours cat does that too. I found the fingering in .... rather difficult this week, or I wasn't sure how to do.... or could you show me how to.... ' That might get the lesson back on track! If not then you really need to talk to her - or change teacher. You probably aren't as cheeky as me, but when it came to half past, I'd tell her that we only stopped discussing your cat 10 minutes ago, I have another 20 minutes lesson time to get.

Good luck! I hope you get this resolved.

[lucietake2]

I had a trumpet teacher rather like that. He used to start talking while i was getting my trumpet out of its case, and he would talk for a long way into the lesson. Only once i think though did i actually not play the trumpet at all. He was rather a chatterer! I had my lessons at school though so there was nothing i could change, and because of my scholarship, i dont actually pay for my lessons...so i felt i couldnt really say anything.

I had one singing lesson, however, the other way round. (again at school). I walked into the lesson quite upset (having just been dumped) and when my teacher asked if i was alright, i burst into tears. We spent the whole lesson talking, me crying quite alot, and no singing done at all. she seemed fine with all that, and i felt a lot better after. I am quite close to my singing teacher though and we talk alot, but it doesnt affect my singing. in fact i think it helps because i'm much more relaxed than i am with my trumpet teacher who never natters to me. I've gone from grade 3 to 7 (not a boasting post, i promise!) in the 2 years she's taught me, so i sont think the nattering has a detrimental affect.

Sorry i've gone on quite a bit here!

I think you really should talk to your teacher about this - if i was paying for my lessons i would definitely want to get what i was paying for - and with 2/3 of a lesson talking, you arent. xxx

[salrec]

I had a trumpet teacher rather like that. He used to start talking while i was getting my trumpet out of its case, and he would talk for a long way into the lesson. Only once i think though did i actually not play the trumpet at all. He was rather a chatterer! I had my lessons at school though so there was nothing i could change, and because of my scholarship, i dont actually pay for my lessons...so i felt i couldnt really say anything.

I had one singing lesson, however, the other way round. (again at school). I walked into the lesson quite upset (having just been dumped) and when my teacher asked if i was alright, i burst into tears. We spent the whole lesson talking, me crying quite alot, and no singing done at all. she seemed fine with all that, and i felt a lot better after. I am quite close to my singing teacher though and we talk alot, but it doesnt affect my singing. in fact i think it helps because i'm much more relaxed than i am with my trumpet teacher who never natters to me. I've gone from grade 3 to 7 (not a boasting post, i promise!) in the 2 years she's taught me, so i sont think the nattering has a detrimental affect.

Sorry i've gone on quite a bit here!

I think you really should talk to your teacher about this - if i was paying for my lessons i would definitely want to get what i was paying for - and with 2/3 of a lesson talking, you arent. xxx

I think it's important to show an interest in the pupil - ask how the ballet exam, or football match, or Brownie enrolment went for just a few moments while they get their instrument and music out. But generally, they don't want to hear the teacher's news, they've come to do music, and that's what's being paid for.
I don't have a cat, but often get them to turn around and face the goldfish when we're doing aural so that they can't see the keyboard.

[Frederic Chopin]

I think it's fine to chat for a few minutes at the start of a lesson and when a student seems to want to talk longer, sometimes I think it is a delaying tactic to avoid something that hasn't been done. If the chatter continues more than a few minutes, I look at the notebook and say 'would you like to start with scales or theory today?' - - and get on with the lesson. Perhaps you could try something like that. When your teacher starts talking about the cat, you could say 'yes, my neigbours cat does that too. I found the fingering in .... rather difficult this week, or I wasn't sure how to do.... or could you show me how to.... ' That might get the lesson back on track! If not then you really need to talk to her - or change teacher. You probably aren't as cheeky as me, but when it came to half past, I'd tell her that we only stopped discussing your cat 10 minutes ago, I have another 20 minutes lesson time to get.

I agree with noodle, try subtle things first before doing anything direct or more confrontational. Think of a few tricks that links 'cats' to 'piano' - i.e. 'my friend has a really cute cat.... and he/she (friend, and not cat) plays this piece like this, what do you think etc...'.

[joyjoy]

I had a trumpet teacher rather like that. He used to start talking while i was getting my trumpet out of its case, and he would talk for a long way into the lesson. Only once i think though did i actually not play the trumpet at all. He was rather a chatterer! I had my lessons at school though so there was nothing i could change, and because of my scholarship, i dont actually pay for my lessons...so i felt i couldnt really say anything.

I had one singing lesson, however, the other way round. (again at school). I walked into the lesson quite upset (having just been dumped) and when my teacher asked if i was alright, i burst into tears. We spent the whole lesson talking, me crying quite alot, and no singing done at all. she seemed fine with all that, and i felt a lot better after. I am quite close to my singing teacher though and we talk alot, but it doesnt affect my singing. in fact i think it helps because i'm much more relaxed than i am with my trumpet teacher who never natters to me. I've gone from grade 3 to 7 (not a boasting post, i promise!) in the 2 years she's taught me, so i sont think the nattering has a detrimental affect.

Sorry i've gone on quite a bit here!

I think you really should talk to your teacher about this - if i was paying for my lessons i would definitely want to get what i was paying for - and with 2/3 of a lesson talking, you arent. xxx

I think it's important to show an interest in the pupil - ask how the ballet exam, or football match, or Brownie enrolment went for just a few moments while they get their instrument and music out. But generally, they don't want to hear the teacher's news, they've come to do music, and that's what's being paid for.
I don't have a cat, but often get them to turn around and face the goldfish when we're doing aural so that they can't see the keyboard.

Yeah, totally agree. It's nice to show an interest, but only briefly, then move swiftly on into the lesson. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[benjaminja]

My hour-long lessons usually take at least a couple of hours, due to this. But then, we both know I don't have much else to do so it ain't a problem!

(I wouldn't do it myself with pupils, though...)

[mrbouffant]

But 2/3 of a lesson? Not even I talk that much!

Yes you do. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)