Teaching your own band students privately

[zeign7]

Quite the interesting thread. I myself took lessons for a year with my band director for the first year that I played euphonium. That was spring of my junior year of high school and I auditioned for college the following year. I'd say without his lessons I'd be up the creek without a boat, let alone a paddle. I paid him $24 a lesson out of my own pocket that came from working at Kroger and I would say it is worth it.

Just my humble opinion, but I'll throw it in with what has already been said. I agree with the fact that you must charge to make people aware of its value, if it is free then it is crap in the minds of many, many ignorant people. Also, it is beyond the contract of the teacher to teach privately so I don't see why they can't charge for it. It is true that some parents may not be able to afford lessons or may not be willing to pay for them. In that case, the student should work for it. In the end, the student will have learned much more this way than they would from lessons alone, and they will probably appreciate the lessons more as well.

If it comes down to it and a student will have to quit or decide against taking lessons for financial reasons but you can tell they are eager to learn and really want to, THEN I think it is reasonable to lower the price or even give free lessons. There are other options too, like staying after school and helping to clean up the band room or arrange music. Some of these options may not be viable in some circumstances, I know the law is a pain in the butt nowadays and you can get sued for just about anything but I think you all understand where I'm headed with that.

In the end it is about the students education, but at the same time the value of music education must be maintained. This is a controversial subject and there isn't a completely correct answer, just play it to the situation.

[smurphius]

(like I often have to say to my wife...)

Alright, alright! I take it back!

[Chuck(G)]

In a lot of the "east of the river" schools here, the kids are on their own to learn to play their instruments. Many can't afford lessons of any kind, so what they learn in band is it.

I was chatting with a friend who teaches orchestra and band in a high school here. He said "You know, I think we do pretty well--sure, the kids from South are the ones who get the scholarships to study music, but they've all had private lessons--and many are children of professional musicians. Very few students here arrive as freshmen with any kind of private instruction behind them--and many arrive without knowing how to play their instrument at all."

So if the BD doesn't teach them, who will?

[happyroman]

My HS Band Director provided space for private teachers to give lessons after school. His rule was, take lessons with the teachers he provided, or you had to take a weekly lesson with him (no charge, of course). Naturally, he had very few private students.

[GC]

For free, yes. Paid, no. It's a violation of school board policy in my district to teach paid lessons to your own band students. It's considered a conflict of interest.

Problems can also come up regarding chair placements. If students play better because of private instruction, their higher chair placements can be attributed to favoritism by the jealous idiots (who are often extremely loudmouthed about it).