To be upset with DS cello teacher

[DesperatelySeekingSu]

I’ve found out that the other children in my sons cello lesson have been entered for their grade 1 but not DS9.

They are all at the same level and started at the same time.

I contacted the cello teacher to ask why and she was very blunt and I feel insensitive. She said she decided not to enter him as she doesn’t feel he works hard enough or takes his lessons seriously!

She also said he can’t play in tune and maybe should try guitar or percussion! I believe his scales and pieces are up to scratch and feel he has been singled out.

I don’t agree or feel satisfied with this response, should I contact her employers to ask for further investigation?

OP sounds a right pain in the arse. Lucky teacher not having to deal with you and your made-up children anymore

Just a thought but if it’s group lessons and he’s clearly practicing and from a musical background is he bored and acting up in class?

Oh dear the silly posters are back.

Hands OP the worlds smallest violin! 🎻

Well maybe this explains all those excruciating tv talent shows.

Professional music teacher says kid isn't good enough.

Kid's mum says he is wonderful.

I wonder which one is right... toughie!

Do come back and let us know how he gets on.

Such joy to find a good old fashioned MN classic!
Posting then drip, drip, drip, flounce.
We have been taking it in turns to reas out the green bits in the staff room

I'm sure the cello teacher will be devastated to lose a child

Well the OP has lost a child between threads so ought to be far more devastated. Maybe she's out looking for them now, that's why she's left the thread?

To the PP who thinks cellist are somehow not boy-ish enough... My DS plays the cello. He’s also a very keen rugby player. Indeed he quite often goes to has cello lesson with muddy legs and stud marks on his thighs.

You can do both, you know...

I should have smelled a rat when the OP claimed she had LRSM violin and a music degree yet sent her child to group cello lessons.
I just find this bizarre. Group lessons are ok if there is no other alternative available - eg. lack of teachers, lack of money to pay for individual lessons. But children make far more progress with individual lessons and I can't imagine such a highly qualified violinist sending her child to group lessons instead of one to one - so yes.. there's a rabbit away here.

Oh dear, sounds like he is shit at cello. Maybe start him off on something a little easier, try a couple of spoons and go from there

She sounds rude and is forgetting you are paying for these lessons so you have a right to know the whole picture. She needs to understand that she is there to offer a service and not be high-handed. Maybe get rid of her and let DS try new teacher who will be more respectful to you as parents? Definitely complain about her though to her line manager.

Some parents whose DC have been on the X Factor auditions thought they were brilliant when they were really crap.

Unless you have any evidence to support your theory that the teacher doesn't like your child and is discriminating against him, you should respect her views. She is clearly better placed than you to make the judgement.

"Reminds me of the time I entered myself for Grade 5 clarinet without my teacher’s knowledge. .....It was a huge misunderstanding"

love this

@Pookie and @Rosie and @Spirit If you can't read the full thread at least read the OPs own updates. Would save you time.

My son improves his arpeggios on his cello whilst playing rugby .... you just have to keep the bow above the scrum and thrown the rosin to a friend if the ball is coming.

"My DS plays the cello. He’s also a very keen rugby player. Indeed he quite often goes to has cello lesson with muddy legs and stud marks on his thighs."

I know! It's amazing that one child can enjoy music and also catch a ball. However, I have told him that if he keeps on playing the cello we will have to tell his rugby coach that he's not a real boy. He could play with the girls though.

His bow has been trampled on many times, but he just reverts to pizzicato

I would be annoyed at the lack of communication when it would have been useful, and then the blunt communication when you queried (although it does seem quite possible that your query was phrased in a way that got her back up). Something along the lines of “The deadline for spring exams is looming and I don’t think your DS is quite ready. If he were to work a bit harder though, he could get there, or maybe he could catch up for when the group takes Grade 2 if his attitude improves.” would have been good from her. She should have allowed you to address his behaviour/attitude.
Students do not all progress at the same level, so it’s possible the other children are stronger and she only likes to put children into exams if they will do more than pass. If you feel he is ready now, is it possible that when she had to make the decision (January I believe for Spring ABRSM exams), he was nowhere near ready and messing about too much?

Maybe start him off on something a little easier, try a couple of spoons and go from there

Here!

There's an Art to Spoons!

They're harder than they look!!!

Paper and Comb.

That's where he should be starting off.

Wow some harsh replies on here. Definitely, as you say, get another teacher. I totally understand not teaching him yourself. Obviously it's not your instrument anyway but I could teach DS piano better than his current teacher but it's not a great dynamic as we'd argue. His teacher is not particularly good but she shows him what to do for the exams and I work on the finer details with him. She is a lovely lady though so he is happy.

you just have to keep the bow above the scrum and thrown the rosin to a friend if the ball is coming.

But a forward pass on the rosin results in a penalty, and if the bow is dropped the ref calls for a line out. And sometimes everyone’s offside for no apparent reason.

Ah. I work with many parents like you. My favourite is when parents who have a degree in the subject I teach help (do) with their children's coursework. Then the child doesn't get an A and the parent goes ballistic, blaming me, demanding another faculty member remark it etc. Grade never changes but I find it entertaining. I have a black belt in kickboxing and I'm a qualified teacher. Wouldn't fancy my chances at getting a kid through a kickboxing grading though - level 1 let alone anything more.

:) RiojaRose

Ah yes, she doesn’t think your son is ready for the exam so she’s a “miserable cow”.
Fucking hell-you ARE that parent!