There have been many times on these forums that adult learners have expressed nervousness or apprehension about the first phone call or the first visit to a teacher.

What's it like from the other perspective? What do teachers feel about getting a phone call from a potential new adult pupil or meeting for the first time?

Mostly excitement - a new student is always good news.
Slight disappointment if it's someone I can't fit in.

Meeting for the first time - perhaps a tiny bit of apprehension (from wanting that first lesson to go well I guess, and I don't find this disappears with experience), but mostly pleasant anticipation - especially it it's a beginner, since it's helping someone open the door to a new interest and skill.

Hoping there won't be peripheral issues (eg chronic bad time-keeping!) that will get in the way of the real job of having lessons and learning to play.

Looking forward to sending the new student home with a simple tune to play (often that's unexpected) and being able to say before too long "look - you couldn't do that three weeks ago".

I got my one pupil through a music shop - she asked if the owner knew of any teachers in Edinburgh, and although he didn't know if I taught, he gave my name as a possible, given the music I'd bought from him. When she phoned, I was stunned, as I'd never thought about teaching; I told her I'd no experience apart from supervising my kids' practice and my own learning, tried to find her a proper teacher, failed, and she then suggested I give it a go.
Imagine how nervous I was in the first lesson....!

But we both enjoyed the experience very much, she's made a lot of progress, and I'm still teaching her over a year later .

Maybe this post should be moved to the Teachers section? I'd love to hear more answers.

I know my own teacher didn't want a bar of me (self-learning adult for several years hahahahahaha)
but couldn't think of anyone else's phone number to give me and reluctantly said he'd listen to me in order
to think of a possible suitable victim teacher. So I had no expectations at all which actually turned out to be
for the best. He certainly had none!!!!!!!!! Anyway a year later he's not yet suggested anyone else

I thought the responses would be interesting for students to read as well, and I thought teachers might be more likely to visit the Adult Learners forum (as many teachers are also adult learners) than students would be to visit the Teachers forum, if you see what I mean.

But on reflection maybe it would be better in Teachers - I'll ask the mods if they'll move it ....


Edit: PM sent to mods...

Excitement, mainly.

There is always anticipation of the musical journey the pupil and I will have - and the hope that they will enjoy playing their new instrument (if they're just starting out).

I have a new adult pupil starting tonight. I am a little nervous but mostly I'm worried that she just won't turn up - as has happened on a couple of occasions.

Real excitement and anticipation, as you always hope this will be one of the ones who really go for it and take off. I've acquired four new (home-based) students since the beginning of this year - 2 adults and 2 children so have had this experience three times already this year (one more new one starting tomorrow).

I'm always a bit worried when it's a man as you never know if he's going to be a potential stalker, but the man who started a few weeks ago is an absolute delight and could well be one to 'go all the way'. I taught him the bow-hold this week and he got it immediately in the most amazingly instinctive way, bowing as if he'd been doing it all his life within the first minute. He's turning out to be a real natural so I'm very excited about him. He's also very charming, which doesn't hurt.

Also started another new one today - a lovely woman in her 20's with an excellent musical ear. Very personable and nice to teach - she got as far as plucking 'Jingle Bells' in her first lesson today (with a nice finger action and completely in tune!), which was pretty staggering, so I'm pretty excited about her as well and am already looking forward to her next lesson. You really do look forward to lessons with new pupils as it's such an open book and you have the feeling anything could happen.

So yes - new pupils - great!!! We love 'em!!!

Inherited pupils - a bit of a different story as they tend to be a bit of a motley crew. Some of them have been really badly taught and you despair of ever being able to turn them around, though when you do it's great. Some of them are very used to being taught in a certain way so you have to take all that into account - or they may have a favourite book they want to keep working with and that you might not particularly like. So it's a bit swings and roundabouts with inherited pupils, although they can be fantastic if they've been well taught before or if they're flexible and do exactly what you ask them to do.

But brand new ones - I love 'em! Especially the adults, in a way, as you know they're highly motivated and just can't wait to go home and start practising - without being reminded.

Violinia

Generally excitement but also, even after many years of teaching, a little apprehension that I won't be a disappointment to them!

Its an exciting time - it could be the start of something special for them and you. Its great when their enthusiam rubs off on you!!!

The main thing is that they leave feeling happy!