Teachers Wasting Lesson Time... Options

[jod]

From a teachers perspective, I'm in the process of getting a recording machine for my use, and, with pupils prior permission, would be very interested to listen back to lessons, to help me get the level of chat right.

The times I really can't stand are when, with the best will in the world, family interupt lessons. The kids are meant to be in bed asleep, but occasionally I find myself having to deal with them. Ironically, my pupils play better when they don't think my attention is on them, but I still would like it if other family members would remember that people are paying for my time, not my lack of attention due to patching up nosebleeds.

Even given that, my pupils are generally happy. A quick hello to the cat does no harm, paying cat more attention than pupil is a no no. My oboe teacher's cat used to sit on my feet when I was playing. I liked the homely non-treatening environment of her lessons, and hope that that is what I offer my pupils too.

[WelshClarinet]

All except one of my private students have half an hour a week-with the exception of one adult who has half an hour a fortnight due to work committments. And in state schools, half an hour is actually an unusually long lesson time-20 minutes or even 15 is the norm in some places!

The norm of lesson lengths in my area is (state schools);

Primary School - 7.5 minutes
Lower Secondary School (age 11-14) - 15 minutes
GCSE (age 14-16) - 20 minutes
A Level/Sixth Form - 30 minutes

This is all irrespective of standard so I was meant to be learning piecers of grade 8 standard last year in lower school with 15 minutes per week!

[willobie]

[This is all irrespective of standard so I was meant to be learning piecers of grade 8 standard last year in lower school with 15 minutes per week!

When I had violin lessons at school I had 20 minutes a week up to grade 8 and beyond...

W

[jpiano]

The norm of lesson lengths in my area is (state schools);

Primary School - 7.5 minutes
Lower Secondary School (age 11-14) - 15 minutes
GCSE (age 14-16) - 20 minutes
A Level/Sixth Form - 30 minutes

This is all irrespective of standard so I was meant to be learning piecers of grade 8 standard last year in lower school with 15 minutes per week!

Wow-7.5 minutes-it must be hardly enough time to take a woodwind instrument out of its case and tune it! I didn't know time slots of even less than 15 minutes existed.
I meant to add before that in my experience, the 15 minutes on piano works fine for very young children, in a small school where they don't have to walk very far to the room and can come straight in and get on with the lesson. I do find though that when they get to approx grade 1, and especially when exams start looming, that they need to be extra conscientious practicers, (or have especially supportive parents) as their practice needs to be even more productive than usual to get the most out of such a short time. As my only state
school is primary, I don't encounter the issue of short lessons and more advanced students.

[anacrusis]

I had to share my 15 minutes of music lesson at school with another player....who was better than me and so got the lion's share, right up to my grade 5. However, that was about 100 years ago, and I would hope things were generally better now.
When teaching, I try to keep chat to discussions relating to the music - a bit of background or comparison with other pieces. I avoid going down the personal-problems route as my proper job involves far too much of that sort of thing already.
When I'm being taught, chat also revolves around the music, only rarely venturing into other fields, but it is still relaxed and interesting.

[Dulciana]

....proper job???? Please tell me you didn't mean it like it sounds...

Sorry for going off topic...

AGREE

[anacrusis]

forgive me - I haven't a clue what you're talking about.
If it has an innuendous meaning, I didn't realise that.
My main career is not in music.

[jpiano]

....proper job???? Please tell me you didn't mean it like it sounds...

Sorry for going off topic...

AGREE

it's just that it implies teaching music isn't a 'proper job'-I'm sure it was just a figure of speech and not meant in that sense.
Anyway agreed 15 minutes shared lesson is shocking-I mean what is the point? I don't know what some schools are thinking of-I'd like to say I think it's better nowadays but sadly don't think it always is.

[anacrusis]

Of course teaching is a proper job. It's just not mine. I did not imply anything else. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

[Lexa]

There seems to be a lot of talk here about teachers dealing with family, phonecalls, et al and wasting lesson time. That is maybe a problem if you have lessons in your teachers home.

I just started having music lessons about a month ago. I took up an instrument I have not played since i was at secondary school. Anyway, I attend a purpose built music school near where I live. So I do not go to my teachers home for lessons, I go to the school. The rooms are purpose built for learning music with no furniture in them: only instruments and music stands.

There is a reception area and a place to get your own drinks while you wait and there are office staff to look after you if you need any help before/after your lesson.

Bottom line: you get your lesson totally distraction free. As you are attending a school for your lesson and not the teachers home, you get your lesson with no distractions including phonecalls and family, et al.

Perhaps it is somehting to look into if you have a teacher with too many distractions at their home.

[violincjj]

Some teachers kids are VERY good at not interrupting without a good reason......

Took my son for a violin lesson a few years ago. The teacher had a very obediant 5 year old son who knew he could come and watch lessons whenever he wanted BUT he was not allowed to talk or be distracting.

In he came. Looked a little anxious. Sat down. Caught his mothers eye and smiled, she smiled back. He waited a while......moved nearer to her, sat down. A minute later he tapped her arm and went to whisper something to her. She told him NO. He waited. At the end of the piece she told him "If it's very important, tell me now" and he stage whispered to her "Just that the kitchen is FULL OF SMOKE"!

[sarah-flute]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Bless. What a star.

[musicbox]

I'm the one who actually does the talking in my lessons! Still it is unacceptable that teachers waste the time and money of other people when lessons are actually quite expensive!

[stevensfo]

Hi,

I've missed a lot of this thread while on holiday. I agree with just about everything that's been said. One comment made me really furious though.

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.

Sorry, not furious with the person, with whom I sympathise, just with this idea that we often have that because WE are not paying cash for it, it's not as important.

You DO pay for it! Every time you buy something from a shop, 17% is going to pay for it. Your parents are paying for it through tax. Every litre of petrol? About 80% is paying for it. Cigarettes, beer, drink, council tax, even the interest on your meagre savings!

Scholarship or not, without you and people like you, this teacher would be living in a cardboard box under a bridge and begging in the streets. Okay, exaggeration...just a little. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) But you get my drift.

As for cats and dogs, my son's piano teacher has both. They are NOT allowed into the room during lessons.

Hope everything gets sorted out soon! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Steve

[Meiangie]

It is one thing when a teacher tries to talk about her cat for 3 minutes in the middle of a lesson just to give the child a little break. Then after that 3 minutes or so, she goes back into the lesson.

If not, i guess you must have warned the teacher of her unneccessary chatter & if she doesn't comply, fire her... you can hire another teacher for your child who is more dedicated in her job :-)