Trumpet lesson

[Palfrey1]

Hi everyone I’m new and hoping for other people’s opinions

My daughter has 1-1 trumpet lessons in school and today she didn’t have one. I texted the teacher to ask why and she said that she tried to see DD in 3 different occasions.

First time was break so DD didn’t want to go, 2nd and 3rd time she wasn’t allowed out of her class as she hadn’t finished her work. Teacher finished text by saying she was in school tomorrow so could try and squeeze her lesson in then.

I texted back saying OK but I didn’t think this was ‘ideal’ (as she has piano and PE tomorrow but didn’t say that in the text).

Teacher then responds but saying or we can just skip this week and do next week if you’re not happy with that! Got the distinct impression I had somehow upset her or pissed her off.

Have I done something wrong? Really don’t know if IABU? It’s not my DD’s fault if she wasn’t allowed to go to her music lesson was it?

I thought due to the updates it wasn't when she was meant to be there so morning break and not in the afternoon as its meant to be, but I might have misunderstood.

Oh if she randomly turns up that's just weird. There should def be appointments arranged with the school. But if her appointment that day was break she should have gone.

JustKeepSwimming wasn't rude, nor over reacting. Under normal circumstances - which, in the absence of other information at the time she posted, it's reasonable to assume they are - she was spot on.

The information you've added about the trumpet teacher sneaking in to school, roaming the corridors trying to persuade pupils to come to untimetabled lessons sounds incredibly strange. How does the trumpet teacher even get in the building? . Even a professional who was DBS'd and known to the school wouldn't get past most school Receptionists if they weren't due to be there. Indeed why would a teacher come into a school in the hope of trying to persuade a child to come to a lesson, when the policy has already been made clear, that children can't come out of lessons in the morning ?

At that age the school teacher should be helping children get to their music lessons. And certainly the timetable should be planned to accommodate children going out for lessons. You can't let many children learn instruments if you are going to be so restrictive!

It sounds like music lesson timetabling needs to be discussed urgently with the school though to sort this one out.

Initially I was thinking, yes this is a situation where I'd expect you would be charged for the lesson. With your updates it sounds more of a grey area - but I'd be very cross with the school not the teacher if organisation doesn't improve and soon.

My eldest is on a music scholarship and if she misses a lesson - "free" as part of her scholarship - then we get charged for it.

I'm a brass teacher in a primary school. Of the kids doesn't turn up, they don't get a lesson. This is usually outlined to parents and kids at the beginning of the agreement.

Initially, if they forget the first few times, I'll go and get them from their class, but after the first few weeks I don't...I mark then on my register as absent, and the school takes it from there.

If I am in two days in a row, and the child has a genuine reason for missing, I'll try to squeeze them in, but my time is also tight, and it's not fair to the other pupils who turn up on time, ready to work.

I understand the whole "I pay for these lessons" thing, but then it's your responsibility to ensure your child actually knows that they have to go (of it is important to you)...

You wouldn't expect a class teacher to move around their whole timetable to accomodate your child... And you pay for their general education through taxes etc.