Author Topic: What would you do? (Read 666 times)

Graham · « **on:** September 12, 2011, 04:23:10 PM »

The problem: the family I board with have asked me to help their five year old son practice piano once or twice a week for 20 minutes.

Now, I like the kid, and I think he's pretty smart for his age, but he can't concentrate for ten seconds, let alone twenty minutes. I think it would be a frustrating waste of time for me. I also am starting to feel (and it isn't just from this piano thing) that the parents take my willingness to help them for granted, especially my solicitousness and patience with their children.

So what would you do? I'm leaning towards 'Agree, but make sure they know I'm doing them a favour.' Is that selfish?

Daegus · « **Reply #1 on:** September 12, 2011, 05:30:21 PM »

I believe that you should let the parents know that you expect the child to be on his best behavior. Have them coach him. Let them know that you're doing a favor and you're not being payed to babysit.

I also don't believe 20 minutes a week is enough to get much of anything done. I didn't learn the violin at age 5 by taking lessons for 20 minutes once a week. It took at least an hour or 2. What kind of information could you possibly condense into that time frame? Perhaps my violist experience makes it much more difficult for me to comprehend how such an adventure with a piano would work, but I doubt 20 minutes is enough for much of anything.

I'm not sure what to say. I'm sorry I couldn't be of much help to you.

Vladimir · « **Reply #2 on:** September 12, 2011, 08:35:28 PM »

Quote from: Graham

The problem: the family I board with have asked me to help their five year old son practice piano once or twice a week for 20 minutes.

Now, I like the kid, and I think he's pretty smart for his age, but he can't concentrate for ten seconds, let alone twenty minutes. I think it would be a frustrating waste of time for me. I also am starting to feel (and it isn't just from this piano thing) that the parents take my willingness to help them for granted, especially my solicitousness and patience with their children.

So what would you do? I'm leaning towards 'Agree, but make sure they know I'm doing them a favour.' Is that selfish?

Teaching children music can be frustrating if they are not able or unwilling to concentrate, however it would be a wise decision to fulfill this request.

It may or may not be a waste of time. If the parents see that he is totally disrespectful during your lesson, they may scold him, and attempt to control his behaviour more.

If nothing else, you may learn some great patience from the whole ordeal.

Sigismund · « **Reply #3 on:** September 12, 2011, 08:48:28 PM »

Does the kid want to do it? If not, at that age I think it will be pretty much hopeless.

Graham · « **Reply #4 on:** September 13, 2011, 10:27:34 AM »

Quote from: Daegus

I believe that you should let the parents know that you expect the child to be on his best behavior. Have them coach him. Let them know that you're doing a favor and you're not being payed to babysit.

I'm not being paid at all. They aren't hiring me as a music teacher, just asking a favour, cause I live with them and happen to know the keyboard. And in case you're thinking it, I won't ask them to pay me - I'll either do it as a favour or refuse.

Quote

I also don't believe 20 minutes a week is enough to get much of anything done. I didn't learn the violin at age 5 by taking lessons for 20 minutes once a week. It took at least an hour or 2. What kind of information could you possibly condense into that time frame? Perhaps my violist experience makes it much more difficult for me to comprehend how such an adventure with a piano would work, but I doubt 20 minutes is enough for much of anything.

20 minutes twice a week, plus a 30 minute lesson with his actual teacher - so 70 minutes per week, to be accurate. Honestly, 40 minutes of concentrated practice per week is enough to develop some skills. In learning anything the essential is concentration, time spent is secondary.

Quote

I'm not sure what to say. I'm sorry I couldn't be of much help to you.

No no, thank you for responding.

Graham · « **Reply #5 on:** September 13, 2011, 10:32:19 AM »

Quote from: Vladimir

Teaching children music can be frustrating if they are not able or unwilling to concentrate, however it would be a wise decision to fulfill this request.

It may or may not be a waste of time. If the parents see that he is totally disrespectful during your lesson, they may scold him, and attempt to control his behaviour more.

If nothing else, you may learn some great patience from the whole ordeal.

Well, I'm half hoping that I can help teach him to concentrate. It would be rewarding if I saw improvement there.

Graham · « **Reply #6 on:** September 13, 2011, 10:36:36 AM »

Quote from: Sigismund

Does the kid want to do it? If not, at that age I think it will be pretty much hopeless.

Hard to say. He likes to bang on the piano, that's for sure. A few months ago I was teaching him addition and subtraction and he was quite keen on it. All in all I feel more optimistic about this today.