Sweet Dreamer
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 503
- Location
- Heaven
Ok, this is a bit of a rant, so fasten your seat belt.
Background
I would love to have a music teacher. Actually I would prefer to have an "instrument teacher", or "technique teacher". By that, I simply mean that I need more help in terms of learning the technical aspects of playing an instrument, than I need in term of learning things such as "music theory". Not that I'm opposed to learning music theory, it's just that I can pretty much do that on my own without the help of a teacher.
So I'm seeking a "technique teacher" and potential "incentive coach" to help me learn to play various instruments. And I have no problem studying scales, intervals, arpeggios, etc. In other words, if they want to teach music theory on top of that, fine. But my main reason for seeking out a teacher it to gain help with technique.
"The Teacher"
I live in a very rural area so there aren't many choices for music and/or instrument teachers. In fact, for all intents and purposes there is only one multi-instrument teacher in town. He brags about offering lessons on just about whatever instrument you care to play. So he considers himself to able teach students on almost any instrument. And he advertises as such.
He lists his credentials as having worked as high school band leader, as well as teaching orchestra for both high schools and community projects. He plays in a town band. In the band he plays trombone mainly. He considers trombone to be his primary interest.
He also advertises that he will work with students to set up lessons that are tailored to their special needs and requirements.
Finally, he says that he's hurting financially because he doesn't have as many students as he would like to have (he just told me that in person when I spoke with him).
My Offer
So I go to this guy and I tell him that I would like to sign up as a student. He has "monthly rates". You pay a monthly fee. Go in for lessons once a week. So 4 lessons a month. I think the lesson is 30 minutes long, for the basic fee. But you can pay more for longer lessons if you like.
He claims to be very flexible and anxious to accommodate the needs of the student.
So he asks me what instrument I play.
I explain that I play saxophone, trumpet, fiddle, cello, flute and drums, and that I would like to have lessons on all of these instruments. So I ofter to him a DEAL. I'll become his student and pay the monthly fee, if he'll simply give me "lessons" or "pointers" on all these various instruments (one instrument a week, as required by me). I'll be glad to even learn the very SAME pieces of music on all the instruments if that would be helpful for him. All I ask it that he work with me to help with all these different instruments. I'll even let him know ahead of time which instrument I'd like to have a lesson on for the following week.
By the way, he claims to be able to teach all of the instruments that I listed above. He has them all listed on his brochure as instruments that he can "teach". So I'm not asking him to do anything that he isn't already advertising.
The Very Weird Thing
He OBJECTS!
He refuses to have any parts of it. He claims that I could never get anywhere trying to learn all of those instrument simultaneously, and argues that the whole thing would just be a total failure.
That doesn't sound to me like this guy is ready to work with people's needs.
So I ask him, "What have you got to lose?"
Here I am offering to sign up a monthly student. I even told him that if I feel he's helping me I might even go for 'double lessons'. His doubly-expensive monthly program. And stretch each lesson into an hour long session.
I'm offering this man BUSINESS! He just got down telling me that he's hard-up for students.
He replies, "My reputation is at stake".
I ask, how so?
He says that if he starts teaching insincere students who aren't willing to focus on a single instrument they will not improve and it will be a bad reflection on him.
No Contest
I didn't bother to argue with him.
Here I am offering the man some money to put in his bank account and all he can do is give me excuses why he's not interested in taking on a PAYING student.
To be perfectly honest about it, I didn't get good vibes from this guy anyway. I question his ability as a teacher, and in the end I'm probably better off saving the money and just continuing on my own self-learning path.
But at least I gave it a shot. I personally think he should have taken me up on the deal at least for a month or two to see how things go. I'm sure that it wouldn't have been a bad mark on his reputation if things didn't work out. Who would know anyway?
And even if people did know, he could just tell them, "Well the guy was trying to learn a gazillion different instruments at once, it's hardly my fault he didn't get anywhere".
Sincerity
By the way, what does the number of instruments a person is interesting in learning have to do with their sincerity?
I'm retired. I have all day long to practice. I'm also only looking to learn to play for my own enjoyment. At my age I'm not even thinking about making a "career" as a musician.
I'm retired! I'm not even looking for work.
Personally I think this man just did himself out of an easy customer.
Like I say, if I felt that he was actually helping me I would be willing to move up to his doubly-expensive lesson package.
He REJECTS potential customers?
Well, he better never complain to me that he has no students! ))
I mean, really.
Background
I would love to have a music teacher. Actually I would prefer to have an "instrument teacher", or "technique teacher". By that, I simply mean that I need more help in terms of learning the technical aspects of playing an instrument, than I need in term of learning things such as "music theory". Not that I'm opposed to learning music theory, it's just that I can pretty much do that on my own without the help of a teacher.
So I'm seeking a "technique teacher" and potential "incentive coach" to help me learn to play various instruments. And I have no problem studying scales, intervals, arpeggios, etc. In other words, if they want to teach music theory on top of that, fine. But my main reason for seeking out a teacher it to gain help with technique.
"The Teacher"
I live in a very rural area so there aren't many choices for music and/or instrument teachers. In fact, for all intents and purposes there is only one multi-instrument teacher in town. He brags about offering lessons on just about whatever instrument you care to play. So he considers himself to able teach students on almost any instrument. And he advertises as such.
He lists his credentials as having worked as high school band leader, as well as teaching orchestra for both high schools and community projects. He plays in a town band. In the band he plays trombone mainly. He considers trombone to be his primary interest.
He also advertises that he will work with students to set up lessons that are tailored to their special needs and requirements.
Finally, he says that he's hurting financially because he doesn't have as many students as he would like to have (he just told me that in person when I spoke with him).
My Offer
So I go to this guy and I tell him that I would like to sign up as a student. He has "monthly rates". You pay a monthly fee. Go in for lessons once a week. So 4 lessons a month. I think the lesson is 30 minutes long, for the basic fee. But you can pay more for longer lessons if you like.
He claims to be very flexible and anxious to accommodate the needs of the student.
So he asks me what instrument I play.
I explain that I play saxophone, trumpet, fiddle, cello, flute and drums, and that I would like to have lessons on all of these instruments. So I ofter to him a DEAL. I'll become his student and pay the monthly fee, if he'll simply give me "lessons" or "pointers" on all these various instruments (one instrument a week, as required by me). I'll be glad to even learn the very SAME pieces of music on all the instruments if that would be helpful for him. All I ask it that he work with me to help with all these different instruments. I'll even let him know ahead of time which instrument I'd like to have a lesson on for the following week.
By the way, he claims to be able to teach all of the instruments that I listed above. He has them all listed on his brochure as instruments that he can "teach". So I'm not asking him to do anything that he isn't already advertising.
The Very Weird Thing
He OBJECTS!
He refuses to have any parts of it. He claims that I could never get anywhere trying to learn all of those instrument simultaneously, and argues that the whole thing would just be a total failure.
That doesn't sound to me like this guy is ready to work with people's needs.
So I ask him, "What have you got to lose?"
Here I am offering to sign up a monthly student. I even told him that if I feel he's helping me I might even go for 'double lessons'. His doubly-expensive monthly program. And stretch each lesson into an hour long session.
I'm offering this man BUSINESS! He just got down telling me that he's hard-up for students.
He replies, "My reputation is at stake".
I ask, how so?
He says that if he starts teaching insincere students who aren't willing to focus on a single instrument they will not improve and it will be a bad reflection on him.
No Contest
I didn't bother to argue with him.
Here I am offering the man some money to put in his bank account and all he can do is give me excuses why he's not interested in taking on a PAYING student.
To be perfectly honest about it, I didn't get good vibes from this guy anyway. I question his ability as a teacher, and in the end I'm probably better off saving the money and just continuing on my own self-learning path.
But at least I gave it a shot. I personally think he should have taken me up on the deal at least for a month or two to see how things go. I'm sure that it wouldn't have been a bad mark on his reputation if things didn't work out. Who would know anyway?
And even if people did know, he could just tell them, "Well the guy was trying to learn a gazillion different instruments at once, it's hardly my fault he didn't get anywhere".
Sincerity
By the way, what does the number of instruments a person is interesting in learning have to do with their sincerity?
I'm retired. I have all day long to practice. I'm also only looking to learn to play for my own enjoyment. At my age I'm not even thinking about making a "career" as a musician.
I'm retired! I'm not even looking for work.
Personally I think this man just did himself out of an easy customer.
Like I say, if I felt that he was actually helping me I would be willing to move up to his doubly-expensive lesson package.
He REJECTS potential customers?
Well, he better never complain to me that he has no students! ))
I mean, really.