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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask for a refund for 'piano' lessons

33 replies

Snowfire · 30/01/2013 16:48

DD (11) had some private piano lessons when she was younger but didn't really enjoy it. she has a keyboard which we were given by a friend and over the last few months has been trying to copy YouTube videos of piano lessons and trying to work out how to play her favourite songs.
she came home from school last week saying her music teacher had said she can have piano lessons in school for less than half the price she was having them before and could she pleaseGrin do them? I thought this sounded good so filled in the form and paid the money.
Today she had her first lesson which was with a group of 6 other pupils playing on KEYBOARDS! Lesson consisted of how to change the pre-recorded rhythm depending on the music, no actual piano in sight.
Would I be unreasonable to ask for my money back on the grounds that I paid for piano lessons, not keyboard lessons?

OP posts:
AngiBolen · 30/01/2013 16:51

Schools always give group keyboard lessons in my experience. The letter should have told you this.

I think you should take the wording of the letter with the school, but I bet they won't give you your money back.

Sashapineapple · 30/01/2013 16:53

I would ask for a refund and then get her proper lessons.

Cortana · 30/01/2013 16:53

YANBU. DS used to play piano, he never once had to change the tempo, he did have to know how to use the pedals and about how pressing the keys softly and gently changes the sound. Unless it's a very expensive keyboard it's just press it any old how and a set noise comes out.

Mutt · 30/01/2013 16:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Snowfire · 30/01/2013 17:12

Thanks, that's what I thought. I'll go in tomorrow and explain that I paid for piano lessons, not keyboard & if they can't actually offer piano lessons then I want a refund.

OP posts:
piprabbit · 30/01/2013 17:16

I don't think you are unreasonable to expect to get piano lessons when you've paid for piano lessons - but you do know that keyboards are proper instruments with their own examinations. Maybe keyboards suit your DD better if she has been enjoying playing them at home.

valiumredhead · 30/01/2013 17:16

Make sure it isn't a digital piano before you go steaming in!

Does it matter if it's a keyboard, if she enjoys it? At ds's school they learn keyboard during normal music lessons.

Hulababy · 30/01/2013 17:22

Agree that you do need to make sure that they are not digital pianos, rather than keyboards.

Otherwise yes - if you wanted piano lessons and not keyboard lessons then you can ask, complain and request a refund.

Did the letter definitely say piano?

Goldmandra · 30/01/2013 17:31

I would have a think about what you wanted her to learn in these lessons and whether she will still learn those things on a keyboard.

OK, if she goes on for long the skills she learns will be different but at the beginning the hand position, names and positions of the notes and the music she reads will be almost identical.

I completely agree that they should have told you this was keyboard lessons, not piano lessons but if she's enjoying them are you sure it's right to stop her?

PolkadotCircus · 30/01/2013 17:32

My dc's amazing piano teacher teaches on a digital piano and we have a keyboard at home.Ds has just got Grade 1 piano,you don't need a piano until Grade 2 which I now have to sadly sort out.Grin.Most of the other pupils are learning on keyboards. I always said when you get Grade 1 I'll get a piano so it wouldn't bother me.

CrapBag · 30/01/2013 17:56

Check it isn't digital pianos although I doubt it, they are very expensive. Also keyboard and piano are 2 different things. I used to have piano lessons whilst my friend had keyboard lessons with the same teacher. The teacher said they are 2 different things as piano you are doing 2 different things with each hand but keyboard you are doing the tune with one hand and chords with the other.

If they are teaching keyboard, then ask for your money back as it is different.

Bananapickle · 30/01/2013 18:00

YANBU. It really winds my DH (an excellent pianist!) that there are all these school kids being taught on keyboards under the impression that they are learning 'piano'. They are not, the skills are completely different and if you want your DD to learn piano, get her proper lessons with a proper teacher.

PolkadotCircus · 30/01/2013 18:09

Banana up until grade 1 you don't need a piano.I would have thought at school these lessons aren't even preparing for Grade 1.

piprabbit · 30/01/2013 18:10

The child already has a keyboard at home - why not learn to play it properly?

Mutt · 30/01/2013 18:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PolkadotCircus · 30/01/2013 18:17

My DS got a Grade 1 merit learning on a keyboard at home. Main issue was the lack of pedals(on our keyboard) but knowing his exam pieces to death it wasn't a real issue.His keyboard doesn't have enough keys now for Grade 2 but for Grade 1 it was fine,would defo be fine for a group pre Grade 1 lesson I would have thought.His friend also keyboard at home got a merit and piano teacher's niece got a distinction only having a keyboard at home.

Needs must.7 pupils in one group are not all going to be playing a grand piano!

Chopstheduck · 30/01/2013 18:23

It sounds to me like your dd got confused. She is describing keyboard lessons. The keyboard is played by changing chords in the left hand, which changes the key of the accompaniment and the melody in the right hand. My best friend as a child got to grade 8 on the keyboard.

It def isn't a digital piano, as they simply don't work like that. Piano can have chords in either hand, and there simply isn't any preset accompaniment - not on my piano anyway! I guess you could start learning piano on a keyboard, though you wouldn't have pedals. But what she is describing is def basic keyboard lessons rather than piano.

Chopstheduck · 30/01/2013 18:25

My friend who did grade 8 on keyboard actually started piano lessons after getting her grade 8 - she simply couldn't play it though. They really are very different.

PolkadotCircus · 30/01/2013 18:29

Chops my son has no problem changing between the 2 and he's only just turned 9 had his lessons a piano and practised on a keyboard at home from the age of 7/8. Most of the kids round here do that as not many have a piano to start with.

I doubt said school group are doing grade 8 yet!

NatashaBee · 30/01/2013 18:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Snowfire · 30/01/2013 18:34

When she's playing on her keyboard at home, she just uses the piano setting and doesn't use the other settings on it. She didn't enjoy the lesson today & said it wasn't what she wanted to do. Her friend from primary is grade 4 in piano and DD thinks she's amazing.

OP posts:
Chopstheduck · 30/01/2013 18:34

Yes polka dot, but he is probably learning piano and not keyboard! What the op has described is keyboard, which is a totally different instrument to play in terms of method as I tried to explain.

You can play piano music on a keyboard, but it would be impossible to play a keyboard piece properly on the piano, as the keyboard fills in the accompaniment for you, you change the chords with your left hand. A piano can't do that you play with both hands fully. Hence why my friend found it so difficult.

Chopstheduck · 30/01/2013 18:37

Snow fire, sounds like she really has her heart set in the piano! Maybe it's worth looking into piano lessons again?

My Dd really wants to learn and is working her way through some of my books and using YouTube. We can't afford lessons though, so expensive for piano!

LIZS · 30/01/2013 18:38

But were they actually described as piano lessons or was that your dd's interpretation , did you complete a form which stated this ?

PolkadotCircus · 30/01/2013 18:39

But op if they are being taught piano and not keyboard on said keyboards it would be a great cheap start to see if she sticks with it. If they're saying it's piano lessons then they must be teaching piano albeit on keyboards.

To be frank if she didn't like piano lessons before then you could end up wasting money again,at least with these they are cheaper. I think to test out her commitment it's ideal.