Singing lessons and CRB checks.

[queenceleste]

We're just considering giving ds some singing lessons as a present from some relatives. I've found a good teacher but I'm wondering about the etiquette of asking about CRB.
Obviously I should simply ask, but feel a bit embarrassed to do so. Also this teacher belongs to a Musical association. If I ring them to check his crb status, will they tell him?
Pathetic of me I know, I just wonder if I should just ask him himself! I just never have before because ds has never had one on one teaching before like this.

[queenceleste]

bump

[igivein]

Just ask! They won't be offended. But remember that all a crb check tells you is that the person hasn't been caught doing anything, rely on your gut instincts about the person. If they're any good they'd also be happy for you to speak to the parents of other students.

[AMumInScotlandsAMumForAThat]

I think you should simply ask him - anyone who works with children will understand that parents are concerned, and he shouldn't be offended at the question. Or you can phone the association, again they can't mind people asking such an obvious question.

[boccadellaverita]

I think anyone offering unsupervised tuition to children has to have a CRB check. Ask him. If he takes offence, look for another teacher.

[queenceleste]

Thanks! I'll just ask, I know the crb check only tells you about past convictions but that's better than nothing I guess!

[boccadellaverita]

How did you find the teacher? I always think it's best (not just for anything CRB-related) to get a personal recommendation.

[FloriaTosca]

As a private singing teacher myself I would say ask, I certainly wouldn't be offended in fact, not being attatched to a school, I trie d to get one done but it was difficult to get myself police checked without paying a fortune for an independant company to get the check done on me for me so, like me, he may not have had it done.... but I dont teach under 16 without a parent/guardian for the first five lessons at least and am happy for prospective students to talk to the parents of my other pupils ...I actually get most of my new pupils by personal reccommendation anyway

[queenceleste]

I would normally agree, but a relative found this guy on the computer and I was v impressed when I spoke to him on the phone, he just has areally good attitude I thought, very professional and knew his stuff as well, no hard sell at all.
But I will also see if I can get any word of mouth too, it's always best if you can, I agree.

[islandofsodor]

My dh is a private singing teacher. He has CRB's comeing out of his ears as he also works in schools. He would not be at all offended at being asked about it.

However as Floria says it can be hard for a private individual to get a CRB check done (in the same way as nannies not employed by an agency can't). The Musicians Union are starting to offer them but membership of musical organisaiotns such as ISM, MU or AOTOS have nothing to do with CRB checks so they wouldn not know if a member had beenchecked or not.

[queenceleste]

thanks island. What's the norm for a singing lesson in your experience? Would I take ds and wait or drop and go? He's now 8 years old. I need to call this guy and ask him how it is.

[queenceleste]

thanks island. What's the norm for a singing lesson in your experience? Would I take ds and wait or drop and go? He's now 8 years old. I need to call this guy and ask him how it is.

[islandofsodor]

Well 8 is a bit on the young side for individual lessons. dh would not normally take children that youjng. His youngest is 10.

I would expect most teachers to have somewhere for you to wait. Dh would not expect the parent of a young child to leave. He has a studio (converted garage) and parents wait in our living room. Some do sit in on the first lesson but it can be offputting for the child (they tend to get self-conscious with Mum sitting in.)

The first lesson is a consultation, finding out what he can do, what sort of things he likes to sing, what he wants out of the lessons etc.

Do be prepared that he may be too young. Individual lessons are hard for that age. Dh tends to find they respond to group sessions. It can also sometimes be too vocally demanding at that stage of development.

[BoffinMum]

I'm an ISM registered singing teacher. Private music teachers can't get CRB checks. We fill in a form annually and sign to say we haven't got a criminal record, otherwise we get thrown off the register.

I really don't think CRB checks are very useful because your feelings about the teacher are a lot more important. It is quite normal for parents to attend lessons with very young children, or sit nearby, and that will tell you all you need to know.

[BoffinMum]

BTW Queen, I imagine attending the first couple of lessons would be enough, and after that you will probably feel more comfortable about leaving your DS and/or hanging around in a different room.

[queenceleste]

Thanks v much for all the advice, the lessons are a gift from the grandparents who think his voice is angelic (baleful emoticon) I think his voice is just totally fine but nothing to have a fit about.
I'll think more about his age before booking the lessons!

[BoffinMum]

I prefer teaching them about the age of 9-10, I have to say. He's a good age to start piano though.

[BoffinMum]

Who is the teacher you have found for him, Queen? Maybe I know him?

[FloriaTosca]

As I said before, I expect parents to sit in on at least the first few lessons and I have a music room with a sofa behind the place where my pupils stand so they dont distract the child too much but they also can remember what I was teaching and help them practise.
I do take children from age 7 but only if they are absolutely desperate for lessons (not because parents/grandparents want them )however it is only to keep them enjoying their own voices and stop them getting into bad habits by copying the latest pop idol and I only let them have one half hour lesson per fortnight.They can have half an hour a week from age 11 when they can really start learning something and an hour after 16 when they are physically stronger.
I agree with Boffinmum, 8 is a great age to start an instrument and piano is a great asset if he wants to take up singing later.

[queenceleste]

thanks very much for advice, actually he's just 8 now, i just wondered if you can do any damage by having few lessons now?

[queenceleste]

sorry typing with baby on lap, dribbling onto keyboard danger, forgive brevity...
This teacher seems very aware of pitfalls that you mention and is not pushing me to book at all, he's saying many of the things you are all saying here.
dribble alert:put baby in air and back away from the keyboard!

[islandofsodor]

No damage as long as the teacher knows how to deal with young voices and what to avoid (constriction, belting, pushing the coice too far etc etc).

Its more that they probably don't gain a huge amount of benefit individually so young and may find it hard going. In a group lesson they feel less isolated and self conscious when trying out new things.

Saying that my 7 year old does a little one to one with dh every so often. But its just 10 minutes here and there as and when she wants or when she has a solo in a school play etc.

[queenceleste]

thanks!

[GColdtimer]

Boffinmum, DH is a private music teacher and has his CRB check. Not sure how he got it but I think the MU advised him he had to. Will check.

Sorry, I know the thread has slightly moved on.

[AMumInScotland]

Children can certainly sing from age 7 or 8 - that's the age at which they start in cathedral choirs. But it's important that the teacher knows about the way the voice develops at this age range, and doesn't treat them like small adults.

[seeker]

We were told that we shouldn't have singing lessons for our dd until she was at Secondary school - I don't know if that was just her (the person who advised us was her primary school music teacher who knew her very well).

And my dd has been going to clarinet and saxophone lessons since she was 8 and I never thought to ask him for anything - CRB, teaching qualifications....anything! [bad mother emoticon]