Caring

 

Over the years I've heard many stories, from students or other acquaintances, about their past piano teachers, and in some cases those stories included unkindness, and even a degree of cruelty, towards the student on the part of the teacher.

There is absolutely no excuse for this. In earlier times, corporal punishment and verbal cruelty were considered "necessary" for the disciplining of the students. Now we know how utterly harmful this is. Luckily, at least in the U.S., if this were to happen in a public school it would come to someone's attention and the teacher would be fired (or so we hope).

But if it happens in a private lesson, it's different story.

Thankfully, none of my students experienced physical harm during their previous lessons, but many experienced insults, criticism, and a lack of consideration from their teachers. Sometimes the teacher has such a high opinion of themself that they view their students as beneath them, which somehow entitles them to be high-handed in their approach. Besides the fact that it is just wrong, I don't know how anyone could actually learn in that environment. 

The teacher must show care and understanding towards the student. Of course this applies to both children and adults. If you don't like children, or find teaching to be too aggravating, you have no business being a teacher. Yet there are teachers who teach, from financial necessity or other reasons, but who don't really like teaching. 

Not only does your teacher need to be kind, but they should be very personally invested in your learning, your progress, and your enjoyment of the experience of making music. If they are dismissive of your efforts, or tell you that you just aren't talented enough, they are not doing their job.

If you read my post from October 2022 titled Horror Stories from the Piano, you will hear some of these sad tales. In the coming days, in time for Halloween, I will be posting my second annual Horror Stories from the Piano. Stay tuned.

I'm writing this so that any of you reading my blog who might be experiencing mistreatment from your teacher can realize that it isn't normal, and immediately find a new teacher. If you have children who are taking private piano lessons, either sit in on lessons frequently, or ask your child for details about the lessons, or both, so you can make sure your child's teacher is kind and caring towards them, at the very least.

You know the saying, "No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care."