I'm not a teacher but I have observed a few lessons with my partner's teacher and been at a few concerts. There is one really talented girl quite young but can play pretty much any instrument she picks up but her parents are so pushy. It seems like the girl has no life and he father speaks on her behalf all the time.

I was just wondering if this was common and how teachers get around interfering parents?

More just a musing than anything to be honest!

Sadly not uncommon and will likely end in tears.

One of my friends at school was pushed like this, and now she doesn't play at all

I haven't had any pushy parent types with my pupils at all so far

I have a very pushy parent with one of my students at the mo. In 38 years of teaching, I've never come across one quite like this. She's driving me nuts!

Of course, she's not interested in her son polishing pieces. Seems to think it's a waste of time and just wants him to move on to harder and harder pieces.

Kiddo does learn very quick. Incredibly competitive but also very big headed and tells everyone he's Grade 9 Mum encourages this

When I told him that I needed him to practice his scales, he burst into tears and Mum gave him a hug and told him that I obviously had a personality clash with him and it wasn't his fault.

I quite like him really but I think he's possibly on the Aspergers spectrum and just needs a little 'guidance' before he loses all his friends.

i posted a similar thread the other week

check it out:

http://forums.abrsm.org/index.php?showtopic=31295

How old is he?

He'd only had 3 lessons when he was telling everyone he was Grade 9. Bless him.