I keep hearing about this very strict peri who teaches in schools all over my town. Several of my pupils are her ex-pupils, and they have frequently regaled me with stories of how nasty she can be. I know I probably shouldn't listen, but on the other hand...why not? The stories all match and the children don't know each other.

Another pupil, who I've just taught this morning, and who has never been taught by her but attends one of this peri's schools, tells me she often sees children leaving their violin lessons in floods of tears.

I had a phone call just this week from an upset mother asking me if I'd like to start teaching her daughter aged 11. She's been learning 4 years but is on the verge of giving up due to the cruel treatment from a peri who tells her she's "rubbish", "useless" and "not musical". With a sinking feeling I asked who the peri was, and yes you've guessed it.

The thing is, this peri is evidently a good teacher on the technical level - they've all obviously been pretty well taught, with good posture, nice bow-hold etc etc. I've also heard she's very nice to the pupils who work hard and practise a lot, and very nice to adults.

So my question is, do teachers here think there's ever a place for this kind of strictness, which to many of my pupils seems like cruelty? Could she just be a no-nonsense type of teacher who gets good results where she can and weeds out the slow, the "disinclined to practise much" and the frankly unmusical? Is this wrong per se?

I must be a big softie, because one of my pupils seemed utterly impossible to teach at first - her guitar peri had done a similar thing to the violin peri described above, and told her she was all the usual things -"rubbish", "useless" etc etc. It's taken a unbelievably long time - 3 years!!! - but this child can now play in tune, makes a decent sound, and is finally getting ready for her Grade 1. It has been worth it.

However, this may well be because I teach her on her own at home, and I have to admit to sometimes feeling great bursts of agitation in schools when I have a group and one or two of them seem frankly useless and unmusical etc, and uninterested in practising; I sometimes feel like blowing up at them, but I manage not to, because on the one occasion I did (with a home pupil), she came to her next lesson in tears and then gave up. I did that girl a disservice.

But that's just my view - being very much a believer in the firm but warm, fun, ever-encouraging approach etc etc. Well, that's the idea, anyway. (My drop-out rate is about 6% a year, but growth rate 20% at the moment. Grade exam results mostly merits and distinctions but then I don't encourage them to take an exam until I feel they can get at least a merit - I see little point.)

What do posters here think?

And do you think there's any cause for concern about this strict, possibly cruel peri? Altogether I've had 6 independent children tell me how much she's hurt and upset them - and frightened them. These are all primary school children by the way.

Violinia

It's always hard to comment on somebody else's situation, but...

From Viohazard's experience, I am not surprised that it has taken a child 3 years to recover from a punitive or negative teacher. Viohazard flatly refused to give up violin, but even then, it took a long, long time to recover, and he resists any kind of pressure at all now.

So, no, I don't think there's a place for undue harshness, however tempting it may be. It's just too hard to repair. We stuck with Viohazard's first teacher under the impression that perhaps this was just how music lessons would be in Japan, and really, nothing, nothing, nothing was gained, and maybe something irretrievable was lost.

It could be that this peri thinks that being "firm" is the only way to motivate students to come adequately prepared to their lessons and motivated to work. However, being scared is not the same as being motivated.

I've found it's all too easy to scare even university students, so primary school doesn't seem too old to be frightened of a teacher.

Thanks for your comments, and I think you're most likely right. You do hear about amazing players who had terrifying teachers, but I think you've got to be a certain type of person to be able to withstand that sort of onslaught without irreperably losing your confidence. You'd have to have enormous reserves of unassailable self-esteem, and be very driven to reach your goals. How many primary school violin pupils fit this description?

Does anybody think the behaviour of this teacher should be brought to the attention of the local music service who employs her? I've known about it for years and haven't done anything because it would seem like sneaking, and she'd probably deny it anyway. "It's only the word of children after all..." How would one go about this anyway? By writing a letter? Calling the music service? I just can't bring myself to do this - it's a small town etc etc... but meanwhile, child after child is put off irretrievably by this woman..

Violinia

Hmm...I think the most straightforward thing would be to remind parents that they can complain to the school about such problems, and let them know what the procedure is, if necessary. Perhaps it would help if some other adult "assisted" at the peri's lessons...

If you were to take action directly, perhaps all you would need to do is to contact your local education authority and ask what the correct procedure would be *if* you, as a violin teacher, had some concerns about comments you were hearing regarding a peripatetic instrumental teacher. On your side, it's hypothetical, but on their side, all they have to do is put two and two together...or is that too machiavellian?

A sharp tongue doesn't always seem to be a problem (though not ideal ) if a teacher is otherwise supportive, but if kids dread lessons, then the teacher's whole attitude sounds problematic.

Um, I should just add...not that I necessarily think Violinia should (or shouldn't) report the behavior she keeps hearing about - just that that's how I would go about it if it were me...

...veteran parent of the Japanese school system that I am!

Thanks, all ears. I think you're right about suggesting the parents do this and even take it up with the Music Service if they're concerned. It's quite adequate, and if I do anything I risk being labelled a trouble-maker. I could give the parents the number of the Music Service, couldn't I!

Violinia