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Friend‘s children taking music lesson time

59 replies

Whatamess582 · 17/06/2021 16:57

Could someone let me know if I’m overthinking this or if I am justified in being a little annoyed.

I have wanted my DSs (7 and 5) to start music lessons for a while now and finally found a teacher in the next village who teaches drums guitar and piano and offered his last two 2x45 minute sessions to my children to have a bit of a music-introduction course before they settle into learning one instrument formally. I love the teacher’s approach and my kids were loving it.
I mentioned the teacher to a friend of mine who has 2 kids of the same age and she said she might speak to him to start her two in September.
A few weeks later she is sitting outside the cafe round the corner from his house when we turn up for our lesson and says ‘oh DS and DD are there having a joint lesson. I rang him and this was his last slot because someone else dropped out.’ Obviously no problem and I’m delighted for them.
Then music teacher says after my youngest’s lesson… ‘it would be great if friend’s DS could have the session to himself and DD went in with your DS2 and then your DS2 could have his session alone’. I didn’t mind so much as I thought it might help my youngest concentrate a bit as he gets distracted and can be a handful so I agreed. We put it to friend and she said ok.
Next week it’s all fine.
Following week my son is struggling with tiredness and the fact his father is leaving for work abroad for 2 months the next day and is a handful and distracts little girl and teacher mentioned it at end. Didn’t think much of it but spend week rooming him to be better behaved for next lesson.
Next week I turn up and friend is sitting at cafe again and says ‘oh DD is in with him. We’ve decided my DS should have 30 mins, then DD, then your DS2 and then your DS1 should have his 45 min session’. I was flustered and on my period and a bit spaced out so I just said ‘oh ok’ but then afterwards I’m going into the lesson to drop off my youngest and am about to mention it and teacher says ‘yes a much better situation for friends DD…. She was getting distracted by your son’. I was a bit gobsmacked that no one had asked me about the session or asked my opinion. I left DS2 there, switched in DS1 after his session and then went off to think about it. Today I get text from friend saying ‘I prefer DD to have 30 mins alone as she didn’t like it with your son, so we’ll leave it as it was this week from now on, ok?’
I’m a bit miffed to be honest. I found the guy, committed to 45 mins each. Primed my children to go. Then primed my DS to share his session and now have to prime him to go alone… And some how I’ve ended up losing 15 mins of one lesson to a friends child who I introduced to the teacher… he charges me less obviously for less time. It’s not the money really. Should I say something or just leave it. On the one hand my son gets a lesson to himself which I think I prefer. and perhaps 30mins is better for a child of 5? On the other I feel someone should have asked me. I feel a bit bulldozed. Confused

OP posts:
Whatamess582 · 17/06/2021 17:16

@pictish…. Sorry…. I got confused writing it. Mumsnet abbreviations 🙄

OP posts:
MarianneUnfaithful · 17/06/2021 17:14

‘Friend’ is getting in first with music teacher and getting what she wants.

Decide what you want and tell the music teacher. Say you originally had the slots, have experimented with different versions as suggested by friend and you would like to revert to the original plan.

Then text friend: sorry it hasn’t worked for us the last few weeks, so I’m going back to our original slots. Ciaou!

mumsiedarlingrevolta · 17/06/2021 17:12

It sounds like the other Mum has gotten in the ear of the music teacher.
I know you were rattled but I do think perhaps you could have nipped the whole thing in the bud by refusing to change/combine from the start as once she got her foothold she was in there!

She is obviously pushy and doesn't care a bit about your DC's arrangements-only hers.

She got the teachers name from you and essentially re-jigged the slots to suit herself-assuming she bull dozed him a bit and he chose the easy life.

Very unprofessional of the teacher to switch your DC at another Mum's behest and very entitled of Mum to essentially shove in.
Neither coming out of this well!

Prime CF territory

aiwblam · 17/06/2021 17:07

I don’t think the teacher likes teaching your children.

And your “friend” is not interested in your friendship, only what she can get for her dc.

pictish · 17/06/2021 17:06

@BeingATwatItsABingThing

I’m really confused. Were you initially taking up 1.5 hours as two individual 45 minute sessions? Now you’re taking up 1hr 15mins because 15 minutes have been given to someone else?

The music teacher didn’t think to check this with you?

Yes is this it?
BeingATwatItsABingThing · 17/06/2021 17:04

I’m really confused. Were you initially taking up 1.5 hours as two individual 45 minute sessions? Now you’re taking up 1hr 15mins because 15 minutes have been given to someone else?

The music teacher didn’t think to check this with you?

ChicChaos · 17/06/2021 17:04

I think you could ask the teacher why you were not consulted about the changes when your had the slots first.

It does sound as if 45 mins might be a bit long for your younger child just now, does he prefer half an hour?

Personally, this would put me off the tutor and I'd look around for another one. My child had the same music tutor for a while and it was an issue with lessons that made me do a very sudden switch and it has worked out really well for us. Having said that, music tuition is not cheap IME and I wouldn't be happy to share a session with anyone with someone who was disruptive. But I do think they should have asked you about the changes first.

UhtredRagnarson · 17/06/2021 17:02

No I wouldn’t accept this at all. I would tell the teacher you will be resuming your original lesson schedule from before your friend turned up with her Dc. You are paying for 45 minutes each child? So that’s what they should have. Your friend and the teacher have acted very badly by switching your lessons without consulting you. I would be very Hmm about this teacher.

pictish · 17/06/2021 17:02

Uhh…it’s probably me but I found that difficult to follow.