AIBU or is instrumental tutor?

[PegorySpeck]

My son started playing a musical instrument in school last term.

I messaged my sons tutor this morning asking if they were still at school providing lessons as I hadn’t heard from them. She responded and said she had started back at the beginning of term a month ago and was fully booked.

I then said how I was disappointed by this as I had assumed his place would automatically roll over to the next term and I would get notified about payment etc. . I then got quite an abrupt response basically saying it was my responsibility to get in touch to book for any pay for lessons and she thought he didn’t want to continue as I hadn’t been in touch for so long! She added that most parents got in touch throughout the summer to arrange lessons so their child could keep progressing.

I feel a bit upset by this as my son was really enjoying his lessons and liked the teacher. I feel like I did something wrong?

Were you given any info when you first signed him up? I'd expect to be given any info like that from the get go. If I hadn't then I would ask when I came to the end of my original set of paid for lessons.

Otherwise, the teacher would be holding spaces for people who may or may not come back.

YABU
You left it too late. I always ask at towards the end of one term about booking places for the next term. This is standard for every activity my DCs have done. Waiting until after the next term has already started is far too late.

Honestly this is weird.

I’m a peripatetic teacher and my books automatically roll on to the next term. You have to give notice to quit, not to continue. Did you have a contract when you started.

Sounds like very poor communication. I'm surprised school didn't mention needing to rebook, all of the instrument lessons at our school are arranged via letter home that all pupils receive even though it's external teachers that do them. What a shame for your child.

Weird of the teacher. Find another tutor.

How old is your son? Was he given information to pass on but didn’t?

Honestly school lessons are crap. Get yourself on the waiting list for a decent after school tutor. As a stop gap you can try and find a student who will teach your dc. What's the instrument? You can also support your dc to learn at home if you are musical.

Sounds like they communicated really badly as to what the process was, I’d have expected some information via the school or how did other people know they needed to rebook?

Can you find a private teacher instead?

Yes I'd think it strange that the teacher didn't think to mention/remind you of the procedure for continuing lessons. To just cancel them without any communication is bizarre. Does she just work on a termly basis, so you book, say, 12 lessons and then have to book the next 12 rather than continue until you give notice to finish?
She sounds disorganised and abrupt. See if you can find another tutor after school for your son.

So weird. My DD has lessons in school and her teacher emails me a brief comment each week with what she did and what to practice. She is 6. We have to give notice to stop, not to continue year on year!