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Original poster

Music teacher not giving the full hour lesson

35 replies

oasishelen · 16/02/2022 19:51

Hi,

My daughter (14 years old) has a private piano lesson, the teacher is very good, I usually go with her to the class. However, the problem is the teacher never gives a full hour lesson in each class, always finishes 10 minutes earlier.

My daughter feels a bit annoyed, she likes the teacher can give the full feedback on each week she has been practised. I feel embarrassed to challenge the teacher about the time.

Do you have any good ideas to solve this situation?

OP posts:
LynetteScavo · 16/02/2022 21:22

Most tutors my DC have had leave a gap between students. One maths teacher charged for an hour, taught for 45 minutes and allowed for 15 minutes arrival and departure, including parental questions/chat. He was very upfront about that.

Others will only speak to me during the lesson time, so if I have questions the lesson is shorter. DDs current tutor runs over by ten minutes, even though she's always five minutes late. I do tell DD that five minutes costs me £2.50.

I would have to raise a shorter lesson with the teacher. I would ask at what time the lesson finishes, and pretend I was confused, and act dim and apologetic because I'm pathetic like that.

A580Hojas · 16/02/2022 21:23

Does it matter? Are you hoping to negotiate a lower fee per lesson?

My music teacher does 45 minute lessons which I find long enough. But she does it to give herself a breather between pupils.

One thing you could do though is ask that scales be done at the end of the lesson. Saving the best of the brain for learning pieces is a thing. The brain gets tired quite quickly and scales don't take a lot of complicated neuro work compared to learning actual music.

User48751490 · 16/02/2022 21:26

@LynetteScavo

Most tutors my DC have had leave a gap between students. One maths teacher charged for an hour, taught for 45 minutes and allowed for 15 minutes arrival and departure, including parental questions/chat. He was very upfront about that.

Others will only speak to me during the lesson time, so if I have questions the lesson is shorter. DDs current tutor runs over by ten minutes, even though she's always five minutes late. I do tell DD that five minutes costs me £2.50.

I would have to raise a shorter lesson with the teacher. I would ask at what time the lesson finishes, and pretend I was confused, and act dim and apologetic because I'm pathetic like that.

Yes, this happens privately in other sectors too. I know one of my children had private SALT sessions. The fee was for a full hour, but part of this was talking about the assessment, and also time to get coats off/on at start /end of the session.
Original poster
oasishelen · 16/02/2022 21:28

@Rekorderlig88

Differnet slant here. If they had offered 50 min lessons for the same price would you have gone with that? 1hr is a long time for a piano lesson.
If he can offer the 50 minutes class and can stick with the time, I will be very happy with it. The problem now is my daughter practices every hard each week, she likes him to check every piece and gives some feed back within the quality time slot.
OP posts:
camperqueen54 · 16/02/2022 21:50

I think you're making a meal of it. I would have just naturally assumed a lesson composes of elements to do with coming in sitting down, and at end putting things away. It wouldn't cross my mind to quibble about 10 minutes.

Jjjayfee · 16/02/2022 21:53

Tutors need time to write up about the session and read over next session. At least that was what I used to do. If you don't have time to reflect on the session, the individual focus can be lost.

Sturmundcalm · 17/02/2022 06:58

TBH if she gets started on the hour sharp then I think finishing ten minutes earlier is part of the hour you're paying for...

£60 is a lot of money so I think you need to check what the situation is and then decide if you're happy to pay £60 for 50 minutes - it doesn't sound like he's short-changing her, it sounds like that's how it works with his lessons.

WTF475878237NC · 17/02/2022 07:33

Your daughter wants to address the issue of a man charging you for a service you're not receiving. Let her! Empower this young woman to stand up for herself in life. If he needs 10 minutes prep time his fee structure should say that.

theotherfossilsister · 18/02/2022 12:01

It could well be that he spends ten minutes or perhaps even more prepping for your daughter's lesson and planning which pieces they'll work on.

User48751490 · 18/02/2022 12:08

@theotherfossilsister

It could well be that he spends ten minutes or perhaps even more prepping for your daughter's lesson and planning which pieces they'll work on.
This sounds most likely reason. Especially with the hourly fee.
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