I had a parent email me earlier this term and give me 1/2 term's notice that her daughter was going to give up at half term. Had my last lesson with her tonight, but in the last week I have gained a new pupil who began last week and one booked in for September...... The one who finished today really NEVER practised....I had kind of expected her to give up-.The one coming in Sep is doing his Grade 3 this session and my new beginner who began last week is great! I also have been told that there is another child needing lessons who is going to contact me....

I was a bit down when I was told the pupil was giving up- but I needn't have worried.....there were more around the corner.

Just needed to share my joy....

Well done - glad things appear to be going well

Going through something similar myself - my best pupil is probably going to move away within the year. However I've had another couple of very promising students start recently. Wish I could shed a few non-practisers!!

Doors closing and doors opening...good news, ClariNicki!

How do you keep teaching someone knowing that they're going to give up in a few weeks ?

Well, everyone stops lessons at some time....I had to stop when I went to Uni (after doing my Grade 8 - but I was sad not to go on to do the Advanced Certificate (as it was at the time) with my teacher who'd taught me from scratch.

He kept teaching me right til the week before I moved city.

Why would you think that anything would be different because they were going to be giving up in a few weeks?

It was a bit weird- I just kept finding different pieces for her to play. She was a bit sad. Her mum said that she was just going to play at home now (she only does that about 1 week a term). I asked her what she was going to play.... and she said 'I don't have anything fun to play'.... (I've lent her a lot of music this term, trying to find her something she'd like to play)- I reminded her that she had Junior Guest Spot Abba.... Razzamajazz, and I found some suitable pieces in a book she had..... I hope she will play from time to time. I tried to encourage her with what she had learned (how to read music, lots of different pieces she could play).

The pupil for September literally rang up just after she'd left after her last lesson!!!

I think a lot depends on the reasons why they are giving up. If it's moving house or going to university or something like that I generally try to keep going and give them something to be getting on with while waiting for a new teacher or I try to suggest help what to do if they are not going to be able to continue lessons.

What I find difficult here is that occasionally I get the message first from the child. Last week I had an nine year old boy who said"I might give up after the concert." Mother used to come in and chat fairly regularly but that has been difficult this year as he is the last one before a very short lunch hour for both her and me.
I have noticed a lack of enthusiasm and don't seem to have been able to motivate this little boy. He has had some health problems and missed a few lessons.

Here in France parents seem to talk to teachers less than in England. We even get children taken away from our junior school and put in a school down the road (and vice versa) with no explanation and often a refusal to discuss. So the same thing sometimes happens with music lessons.

I know I can ring the mother but in a way I would rather the first move came from her. I don't know at the moment whether she wants the child to continue and this is just a phase because he is rather tired, or if she doesn't mind if he gives up. If I ring I think I will have to talk about progress in general and wait to see what she says - because I am afraid she might have told the child not to tell me. If anyone can comment on what they do in a similar situation it would be helpful.

Because there's no real purpose....if you want to stop then stop....I don't see the point in dragging out. I'm sure we'd all like to see our students with a long term view. We never stop learning when it comes to instrumental study. If they want to stop their lessons (through lack of enthusiasm) then I'd just stop it straight away and not waste any more of my time or their money.

Of course though, as some have pointed out, if the student is moving from the area then giving them something to carry on with is a great idea - as you know they will still want to continue their instrumental studies with a new teacher.




Great news on the new student! I can see how it must have been a bit odd for you. Like I said I'm not sure I would have seen the point continuing for those remaining weeks....just sounds a bit unfulfilling. Unless of course you were hoping they'd change their mind...?

I try to make those last few lessons fun and perhaps a bit different - we might step aside from pieces and do some simple keyboard harmony or a bit of improvisation. I agree if the lessons have slid into disinterest it can be hard to inject positive vibes, I think the trick is to do something quite different. If there are some pieces on the go it can be useful to complete one, if the spirit is willing, or I might ask the pupil to prepare a mini-concert for the last lesson - even if it means going back to some easier older pieces that were enjoyed.

It's good to finish on a positive note if you can - however much you feel it's the end of a difficult journey!

Clari Nicki well done on your new pupil - isn't it odd how things sometimes happen!

I had a coincidence too the other day ... exchanging thoughts on a less-than-enthusiastic pupil with a parent, and the phone rings - it's a mum with two children and a baby-grand.

I had a similar experience recently, when a mum told me her 2 boys (9 & 11) had been 'dithering' about their clarinet lessons, and so would be discontinuing. I was a bit surprised, but also, I have to admit, slightly relieved, as their progress had been erratic of late, and I was finding it quite difficult at times to find ways to motivate them to practise and to keep them 'on task' in lessons. Anyway, we agreed that, rather than finish abruptly, a month's notice would be 'served' (I don't yet have T's & C's in place, but am working on them!)

Well, a couple of days later I got a call from a lady enquiring about lessons for her 2 daughters (theory & recorder) and the slot that was being vacated turned out to be ideal for them - so they will be starting after half-term! I briefly considered telling the first mum that I'd found replacement pupils, so her sons could finish immediately, and then start the new ones off, but I felt this would give the message that I just wanted to be rid of her children, which wasn't the case ......... (they're lovely boys, but just not interested/motivated/self-disciplined/mature enough to practise in a structured way, and mum seems quite happy for them to take up something for a couple of years and then, having tried it, drop it and move on to another activity/hobby!) .......... so I decided with the pupils that, over the final few weeks, we would work on a new piece and 'revive' a couple of their favourite 'old' pieces, then, in their last lesson, give a little concert to their mum.

So that's what we did. Mum was happy and the boys were happy (especially with the 'goody bag' of sweets I gave each of them - not to be eaten before tea!). They gave me a nice 'thank-you' card, and I felt: sad (to see them go), guilty (because I felt relieved), and also a bit of a failure (because I hadn't succeeded in maintaining their interest).

Anyway, I'm now looking forward to commencing lessons with the 2 sisters. Oh, and I've acquired 2 new adult recorder pupils in the last few weeks, so my front door might have closed, but the back door and a couple of windows have opened!!

Allegra

The majority of pupes stop when the logical time comes - maybe GCSE, Grade 8, AS/A2, moving away etc. However, I recently introduced a clause in my private teaching contract which states tuition will be given during the notice period at MY discretion. This safeguards one against the (albeit very rare - it's only happened to me once) occasions when things may have become stressy, unpleasant or uncomfortable.

As one door closes another opens so I hope you thoroughly enjoy working with the new pupes.

Bag x