Hi all,

I have actually posted this on the Viva Strings forum but would like a wider range of responses/suggestions so am posting it here.

My parents finally allowed me to have music lessons in Australia but I've gotta get a job. I called up the teacher tonight and she's fine in taking me on for both violin and piano. The question is, I've already got a violin teacher back in Singapore and he marked out some pieces and Wohlfhart (sp?) etudes and Sevcik etudes for me. I'm wondering now if I should just let the new teacher work me out on her own or give her my previous things and let her continue from there. On one hand, it's good so that I progress on one track alone but the fact that she might give me new things to try is just too tempting. What should I do?

Piano-wise, I don't have a teacher, so I'll let her work it out herself lol.

Yes, I return to Singapore when every semester ends so I normally have about 6-7 weeks with my teacher in Singapore before returning to Australia hence the little dilemna I have here.

It seems there is a logical answer to this one: inform both teachers of the situation and what you are doing with the other and then let them make the decision about what will be best for you. It's not sensible to keep them in the dark about what you're doing with the other teacher. Just be careful in the way you present what you're doing with the other teacher to them, do it in the way of 'just so you know..., but I will let you make the decisions' not 'I'm doing these pieces because my other teacher said, teach me this'. Generally music teachers don't like being told what to do!

I think it would be very difficult for the teachers to give you a coherent learning experience between them if neither has any idea that you have another teacher, or what you're doing with them.

I guess I will tell my new teacher about what my current teacher has given me then? And let her continue on from there?

Yes. And when you go back to your old teacher again, tell him/her what you've been doing in the interim.

As long as both teachers know what's going on, it should all work fine.

T.