I ask this because I'm mildly irritated with two pupils at the moment!

One is a long term pupil who has borrowed one of the 'Keyboard Anthology' books. I didn't mind her having it for a few weeks, but now I have a couple of other people that I think it would be good for, and it's my only copy. I can ask them to just go out and get it, but usually I'd like to show them a few of the pieces first (and make sure that I'm confident myself with a couple of the more complex ones!) and it's my only copy. She keeps promising to get it, and keeps...well...not.

The other is a very new pupil who has one of the early Schaum books on loan. This is less of a problem, since I have a couple of copies (thank goodness for second-hand music) of the ones I use most, and the lass had lessons a couple of years before, and is therefore going through the book reasonably quickly. However, it bothers me when someone is asked to get the needed book and doesn't. I've been ill off and on since January and probably not my usual self, since I would normally have made a bit of an issue with it before now!

Anyway, how do other people stand on lending music to pupils? I do prefer it when they have their own copy - even if they're only learning one or two pieces from a book at the moment (I'm thinking of Burgmuller) since otherwise they put weeks of work into something that I then take away from them! But I realise that expense can be a real problem for parents. I have several copies of the Dozen a Day books for example, which I lend out - not enough to do all my pupils at once, but enough that they might borrow the first book, and buy the second...

Discuss...?

I don't lend out music either - except to the odd adult pupil that I know is as totally OCD as me and is therefore a safe bet

I do lend out music but I'm not seeing any benefits to it at the moment to be honest
Two sisters have borrowed about three books now and I think I've had one back. Another adult learner borrowed a beginners book (has had about 3 lessons) was due for a lesson about a month ago, never turned up, no phone call. I can't be bothered to chase her although I'll give it another week then ask for the book back.

I did vote for the third one although that will probably change soon

xx

Not a Teacher so don't know if my opinion counts.

Only one of my daughter's teachers ever lends her music, it's not an issue to get back as it's carried to every lesson in a large folder. I actually prefer to buy the music as it's always there if needed at a later date. She has re-used some of her G5 and 6 pieces long after the exam.

I think if the parent is paying for lessons they have to bite the bullet on the music and exam fees. The music particularly is a huge part of the learning process.

Almost forgot to say that one of the reasons my daughter is a good sight reader is the fact we've bought music. She has been able to to play other pieces from the books as she felt like.

I lend only now and then: actually I wanted to vote for two of the choices ( the second and third) but the poll would allow only one. It tends to be either a) very temporary, or b) for one particular piece. I have to admit to being a bit reluctant to lend, although less so with some families than others.

I lend books for the first couple of weeks if I don't have a copy in stock. I tend to buy all the music for my students anyway, so there are no excuses about not getting the music.

Otherwise, I lend only to trusted, good students, who I know will look after and return my books, and benefit from the loan ie they will actually bother to use the book. I will give a different book each week in the run-up to exams for sight-reading practice.

Some families I will loan to, because they are to chaotic. If a book was returned in poor condition, written on etc I would cry "sold" and charge them for it.

Yes, I do lend out scores to pupils despite the fact that, occasionally, some scores don't return.

I've had two new beginner clarinet pupils start in the last 2 weeks, one has got my copy of team woodwind and the other has got my copy of abracadabra clarinet! Both have copies on order (our local music shop is a bit hopeless - I fully intend to order stuff off the internet for them in the future!).

I think the topic is a difficult one, I got pretty annoyed with my clarinet tutor at uni at the start of first year because he sent me out to buy absolutely loads of new repertoire of which I've used about half (due to it being unsuitable for my performance style, too easy etc) so am now having to spend time and money listing it on eBay. My first clarinet teacher was very generous and used to lend me a lot of books - I studied clarinet, sax and piano with him so you can imagine how many bits and bobs of sheet music I accumulated! I recently found a piano book I'd borrowed off him and had for about 2 years....oops!

The only solution I guess is to be firm, I know it's not the best idea or the most legal but perhaps swap your book for a photocopy of the page she is working on - you don't mention if it's a student or an adult - but perhaps this would hit home that it's only a temporary measure and they really need to buy the 'real thing'?

l lend a lot of music.

I've had hardly any bad experiences, only one comes to mind and obviously I don't lend books to him any more.

That said, for beginners who need a method book and are going to spend quite a few moths on it, I agree with the post-er who said to buy the music yourself and then bill the pupil. The parents appreciate it, it's so much simpler (often cheaper too as you get a discount) and that way there's no cause to get needled.

If I'm truthful, I sort of have to force myself to lend the music - I'm not good at lending novels either, I like them to be pristine.

But, the practical, environmentally-sound part of me says what's the point of me having a huge pile of lovely Grade 1 and 2 music, for instance, if it just sits there and I dont' dare let anyone touch it. Once I've lent it once, I'm better next time.

I also used to think it was important for the pupil to have thier own copy so they could play it again 6 months later. However, I've found that this just doesn't happen - or if it's a real favourite then they've learnt it by heart by playing it so much and so it's not a problem.

Price is a big issue here - I couldn't ask parents to buy all the books and I enjoy the lessons more if we're playing a good variety of interesting music which the pupil likes.

I'm the same but I do have one who several months down the line has still not bought the books.

I'm feeling a bit grumpy about this one just now. Another teacher intends to call by later to see what she can borrow for her pupil . I don't like to be rude but my music is precious and I don't want it going to people I don't teach, or even know. Students should buy their own music - why learn a piece and then give it back? Perhaps that's why they tend to be reluctant to give it back? I have a vast collection of older music .pdfs and I'll offer to print some of them out. Meanwhile I'm resorting to hiding anything likely to be wanted .

Meanwhile I'm resorting to hiding anything likely to be wanted .

Good idea!

Possibly because I'm cautious - I've really only had one bad experience.

A new student, starting A level year (yes I know!) signed in for lessons at the start of the summer holiday and had one lesson. I lent a book to get started.

Come the autumn term, dad phoned and said she had realised she wasn't going to have time to do music. Surprise! anyway I asked if they would at least be kind enough to return the book. I duly received it, only to find that the wretched girl had written note names into two or three of the pieces. I phoned dad and did at least receive the cost of the book - but only after I made a bit of a fuss.

Oh Notmusicmum if only all parents shared your views and common sense approach

I do lend out music quite a bit. I should really write everything down because although I trust people, I'm relying on them to tell me who has what at any given time...

Having said that I borrow a fair bit of music myself so it works both ways. A few of my older students have brilliant collections of brand new sheet music they obviously had money enough to buy the day after they decided they were going to learn the piano

Now I'm feeling mean. There are things of my friends I'd might need ot borrow - but for myself and not for my pupils.

I wonder if the answer to your poll depends on what instrument you teach? When I was learning the oboe as a teenager, I always bought the music I was studying because it was always available in suitable individual scores at reasonable prices or in well planned tutor books / anthologies. My singing teacher, on the other hand, used to photocopy merrily with apparently no thought for legality.

Now, as a singing teacher, I find that single songs often cost as much as, if not more than, compilation books for some instruments. Singing compilations are often planned around a theme rather than difficulty. e.g. I can think of at least two volumes which have items from grade 1 to diploma level all in one book and many books are all one style of music. I struggle to find a range of styles for a student to sing without asking parents/pupils to spend nearly as much on music as they do on tuition!

I find it particularly hard when I'm teaching in state schools. I am guilty of making photocopies too often rather than lose my music because I don't feel I can ask a student to buy a book, 90% of which I don't plan to use with them. And when I ask them to buy it, the chances it will lost within a term are quite high.

I do lend to private pupils but wish there were another option. I know I've lost a significant amount of money replacing books that have been 'temporarily' borrowed and not returned and my music would last much longer if I kept it for my own use. I hate photocopying music but sometimes feel I have little option. I know what I'd rather do, but life doesn't seem to work out like that.

I do lend out a lot of music. I feel awkward sometimes asking people to buy it, except where they NEED their own copy (exam music, etc). But I log everything out in a notebook (at least, that's the general plan, although it doesn't always work!) and then log it back in when it's returned. That way I do manage to keep track of most of my music. A few times something has been lost, or returned in too damaged a state to be loaned out again, and sometimes I have to chase up an item by phoning the parent when the student repeatedly fails to bring it to the lesson. But the upside is that if a student doesn't like what I give them to play, I don't feel guilty about putting it to one side and trying something else.

One does learn, however, which students are not to be trusted! For them, I'm afraid I photocopy until they buy the book. I can't afford to lose that amount of music!

I don't think it's instrument specific, though - although I see Alcie's point about singing scores. My flute / piano teacher lends me music, but also CDs, literature, miniature Eulenberg scores and, most recently, the entire Ring cycle on DVD. But I think there are probably not that many teachers like him!

Speaking from a pupil POV,
My teacher has been very kind in lending me music (not exam specific music however), particularly as I reach 6 and (hopefully) above. When I passed grade 4 a couple of summers back I "inherited" a pile of music that was unrequired by him anymore but that when I got to the appropriate point I could learn...a lot of that music is still in the "far too scary to be opened box", but apparently may come out in the summer. Particularly at the start of this year i've been loaned pieces which I keep separately and have now learnt them for various events. Without my teacher it would have cost my parents a lot more (which they would have paid) but i will be forever grateful for being given the opporitunity as my teacher realises that music sitting at their home unplayed is wasted and me forking out for music that he has bought 20 years ago for 50p that would now cost probably about £10 or more for some of the longer pieces is pointless.

I think that to have a successful relationship with any teacher there has to be some kind of trust. Obviously it doesn't work with all pupils, but the ones it does should be taken advantage of. I know that I would not have such a varied "repertoire" (sp?) without all the loans and donations from my teacher. It has been invaluable.

My oboe teacher lends me books until I have bought my own copy. I have on occasion also lent him books which I have bought in the UK and which he was unfamiliar with. However, he tends to give photocopies of pieces to younger pupils until they have the book (with strict instructions to leave the photocopy at home and use his book in the lesson).

My daughter's cello teacher and other daughter's piano teacher never lend anything and don't photocopy anything either. This has not been a problem as they have been playing out of anthology type books which last a while anyway.

I must admit to being somewhat annoyed with the trombone teacher's approach. He does what the oboe teacher does - gives a photocopy with instructions to leave it at home and to buy a copy as soon as possible. I have always bought a copy for the next lesson via the internet and rather too often for my liking she plays it in one or two lessons and then he decides that maybe it is not the best thing for her at the moment and asks for something else instead. These are single piece French edited pieces so cost me between 15 and 20 Euros each time. She currently has four pieces which I have bought for her and which she hasn't yet worked on.

I lend out a fair few books to my pupils. If I want them to buy the music I don't lend it out.
I lend books out if a pupil wants to learn an alternative piece for an exam if I know we won't use the rest of the book. One pupil borrowed the exam piece CD from a friend and wants to do 3 alternative pieces for her Gr 3. One is in a book that will be excellent material for post exam development. She's bought that book. One is in a book I won't use with her post-exam- I'm lending her that book until she has done the exam. We haven't quite decided on the last piece- if it's from a book she'll use later, she'll buy it- if it isn't I'll lend it to her.
I've never had a pupil not return a book (yet). If I lent it for an exam, I take it off them at the exam centre.

I have a pupil whose lessons are paid for by a trust. Her mum can't afford lots of music. I only get her to get books we will really use. It isn't always the case that people who have music lessons can afford to pay for lots of books. She buys music with her birthday money and I do suggest books for Christmas. But she is never going to beable to buy as many books as some of my other pupils!!!!
Some parents are really struggling to pay for lessons. Books and exams can be difficult to pay for. I am juggling one pair of sibling's exams so the parent doesn't has to pay for both in the same term!!!

I agree with Clari Nicki - it's a difficult situation for many parents.

Web sites with good music that's free to downlaod are another good source of music for pupils who can't afford to buy lots of books.

Equally, just a pet gripe of mine, why are there not lots more mixed level anthologies ?

I would love a well-chosen well-presented anthology that went from Prep level to about Grade 3 with maybe 5 or 6 relatively short pieces for each 'level', so about 25 in all which is normal in a book.

That way I could justify the parents buying it and in between grades and such we could dip in and out. (20 pieces, all the same level, are not much use as an ongoing investment).

Given the lack of them, I lend out my music - I don't feel I've much choice.

I don't think I'd find 5 or 6 pieces at a level enough in most cases. I'd need several such books which rather defeats the object.
I do prefer to be working from 2 or 3 books at a time where possible though and when I have a student who won't get more than one book (I do try to stagger them so they don't have to buy them at the same time) I find it very restrictive.

I tend to lend music for the holidays as long as it isn't a book I"m going to need for preparation for the next term. The books come back at the beginning of the new term. But I only lend to pupils in whom I have confidence and only books that are already well thumbed.

I'm afraid I'm not very generous about lending out music or books.

I usually have them working from 2 or 3 books too but if at least one was their own anthology which lasted several years I could then supplement it with others that I was lending or downloading.

Christmas books drive me mad too - why are they are one level when a child can only play maybe 2 each year but will have moved on a good deal by next year and so the book from last year is no longer suitable ?

N.B. I know what you mean Aquararelle - I find lending them hard too - I'm almost pleased (but only 'almost' pleased) when a book comes back a bit grubby because then I don't mind so much lending it out again.

I lend music only when it is needed as a second copy in festivals. I expect it to be returned at the next lesson, or given to a student who lives in the same road as me and can return it the same day. Otherwise I don't lend any music at all.
My own teacher's music collection is depleted by music she had loaned out but has never had returned.

For absolute beginners I have a small collection of well used library copies which I lend out for a couple of weeks until students get their own. It nearly always comes back and, if anything my stock is growing as every couple of years I include a newsletter item asking for any old music that pupils have finished with and don't want to hang on to for any other reason to add to my music library for lending out to other current and future pupils.

Intermediates - buy the book for them then add it to the bill.

Advanced - lend out a copy (depending on the piece/student) and/or send them to the music library in my nearest city to get an armload of music to help choose pieces. The music library is an especially useful option for letting more advanced pupils try out a few different pieces before making a decision for what to study/buy for the later exams.

Oh... I forgot to say, the other thing I do, is buy the music I know I 'lend' out, on ebay.... then sometimes I sell it at a very cheap rate, or loan this book to the pupil, knowing I have another copy at home........

I'm lucky enough to have a separate music room and when we moved in for the first time in my life had the space to organise all my music - and consequently find it...

I often lend music to pupils. It's nice for them to have varied pieces to play and as an added bonus I don't feel so guilty about keeping every book I ever had. (even found my very first exam I did with LCM when I was 7 few weeks ago).

with beginners I may wait a couple of weeks to see what method suits them best but after that I do insist they buy their own, (again with lent books for me as I tend to mix and match and not stick strictly to one book)

At one school where I work there are a very small number of parents who can take six months to buy a book - if they buy it at all! There is no communication with the parents in spite of notes going home etc. If I don't lend books to these children, they have no music to play! Aaaaargh - this makes me so cross as I know these parents are well able to afford it - and they are also the same parents who have to be chased for lesson fees!

W

I do not remember ever having been lent music by a teacher (apart from this week when my new cello teacher lent me Abracadabra because she didn't want me paying for a book I would only use for a couple of weeks). My parents always bought my books when I was a child, right from when I attempted to teach myself recorder at the age of five: my Dad took me into the music shop and bought me a recorder for £5 and a teach yourself recorder book! (For violin in primary school I got my brother's hand-me-downs as he was two years ahead of me and we had the same teacher). The only time I ever used borrowed music was in an orchestral setting.

If I was a teacher I certainly would never have lent music to my childhood self: it would not exactly have stayed pristine! I would however, have lent music books to my best friend: they would not only have come back in a better condition than they had been lent in, but probably would also have been returned in a protective cover and with a box of sweets to say thank you!