Yes, I’m on a tear again about the study of music!  When I was a kid my parents saw my talent and on the advice of a music teacher of mine in school, put me into private lessons.  Here is what they did NOT do…take me out for the summer to “give me a break,” rearrange everyone’s schedules and call the teacher last on the list to rearrange the lesson time or worse yet, if the teacher didn’t miraculously have a new time for me then take me to another teacher.  Yes, that’s the current music-study scenario.  And did I forget another thing my parents didn’t do?  They never, I repeat never, called the teacher at the last minute to say I wasn’t coming nor did we ever blow off the teacher altogether.  I never did that as an adult professional student either!

So what does this say about my parents?  Conscientious people.  Period.  Really cared about someone else including their kid (me) so that I had the lessons with the teacher that was recommended and who I wanted to study with.  Consistency breeds success.  That works in business too by the way!  Imagine moving your child from school to school every 3 years!  Think they’ll learn anything?  Maybe.  Not the same as with consistent study in the same place.

I don’t expect everyone to be a professional musician but I do expect people to be reasonable and actually think.  I’ve been teaching for 25 years and I have to say, I’m rather tired of it at this level.  I would honestly give my eye-teeth for 5 serious students that would study, evolve into good musicians and make me proud.  But the attitude people have now is just not worth my time most of the time.

So there!  All of you guilty parties have succeeded in frustrating your private music teacher into quitting!  Let’s see if I actually do.  Have to stay tuned to my blog!