Instrument teacher has a day job in an unrelated field

[Anonymous]

We are looking at a new instrument teacher for DD. We had a different teacher and just felt it wasn't a good fit culturally: very laidback, not enough focus on technical training, no thought to building performance experience for the kids... I found another teacher who is from a similar cultural and musical background and has a lot of classical training and past experience teaching the instrument. Which is great!

However, this new teacher also has a day job in an unrelated field. I have no idea the hours of this day job and I think its sort of a small family business. What say you, DCUM? Is having an instrument teacher with a non-musical day job, ok? DD is still fairly young and has been playing her instrument just under a year.

[Anonymous]

How much do you plan on paying for lessons? Keeping in mind that kids are in school during the day and that there is marginal demand for adults who don't work taking lessons, do you think a teacher could make a living just teaching in the afternoon?

Every music teacher either has a day job, is retired, or has a spouse who is the primary earner

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are weird

Well I already know that. I'm not asking about my weirdness, I'm asking about music teachers.

[Anonymous]

I can not figure out why this would be a problem. What potential problems are you imagining?

[Anonymous]

Unless you see a reason why it's not OK, of course it is.

Our piano teacher launched a day job as a consultant in a specific area and tried to use all of her students' families to bring in business for the new day job. That was not cool, but didn't impact her ability to teach my kids piano.

[Anonymous]

Your poor kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can not figure out why this would be a problem. What potential problems are you imagining?

That they aren't as dedicated to the music as OPs children are. Or well, how dedicated OP wants her kids to be

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can not figure out why this would be a problem. What potential problems are you imagining?

It suggests the teacher is not in demand, and having an unrelated job can detract from teacher. Especially if the day job is 9-5. That means most of their time is not spent on music.

[Anonymous]

Do this person a favor and pass. You seem like a judgemental nightmare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How much do you plan on paying for lessons? Keeping in mind that kids are in school during the day and that there is marginal demand for adults who don't work taking lessons, do you think a teacher could make a living just teaching in the afternoon?

Every music teacher either has a day job, is retired, or has a spouse who is the primary earner

This is OP. Yes I've known many teachers who had day jobs, but always in music. I guess I'm asking it's ok the teacher spends most of her day not with her instrument/music. Like let's say someone works as in bookkeeping 8-4. Would you hire that person to teach classical piano or cello?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are looking at a new instrument teacher for DD. We had a different teacher and just felt it wasn't a good fit culturally: very laidback, not enough focus on technical training, no thought to building performance experience for the kids... I found another teacher who is from a similar cultural and musical background and has a lot of classical training and past experience teaching the instrument. Which is great!

However, this new teacher also has a day job in an unrelated field. I have no idea the hours of this day job and I think its sort of a small family business. What say you, DCUM? Is having an instrument teacher with a non-musical day job, ok? DD is still fairly young and has been playing her instrument just under a year.

What the ...? I honestly can NOT believe this can be a true question or something someone actually worries about. Get a life

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much do you plan on paying for lessons? Keeping in mind that kids are in school during the day and that there is marginal demand for adults who don't work taking lessons, do you think a teacher could make a living just teaching in the afternoon?

Every music teacher either has a day job, is retired, or has a spouse who is the primary earner

This is OP. Yes I've known many teachers who had day jobs, but always in music. I guess I'm asking it's ok the teacher spends most of her day not with her instrument/music. Like let's say someone works as in bookkeeping 8-4. Would you hire that person to teach classical piano or cello?

Your kids have been playing for a year. It's not like they are the most gifted kids in the world. Why don't you just TRY the teacher before assuming the worst.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unless you see a reason why it's not OK, of course it is.

Our piano teacher launched a day job as a consultant in a specific area and tried to use all of her students' families to bring in business for the new day job. That was not cool, but didn't impact her ability to teach my kids piano.

This is OP. This is what I am asking, thanks. I just wonder if a teacher who works in the field of music would have better experience and connections in terms of performance opportunities, info about local youth ensembles, connections with other teachers, for example.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much do you plan on paying for lessons? Keeping in mind that kids are in school during the day and that there is marginal demand for adults who don't work taking lessons, do you think a teacher could make a living just teaching in the afternoon?

Every music teacher either has a day job, is retired, or has a spouse who is the primary earner

This is OP. Yes I've known many teachers who had day jobs, but always in music. I guess I'm asking it's ok the teacher spends most of her day not with her instrument/music. Like let's say someone works as in bookkeeping 8-4. Would you hire that person to teach classical piano or cello?

Hahahahahahaha.

I teach people to fly on the weekends and sit behind a desk during the week. Would you expect me to be an airline pilot? Because guess what? Those people don't want to teach, same as someone who spends all week with their own music.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are looking at a new instrument teacher for DD. We had a different teacher and just felt it wasn't a good fit culturally: very laidback, not enough focus on technical training, no thought to building performance experience for the kids... I found another teacher who is from a similar cultural and musical background and has a lot of classical training and past experience teaching the instrument. Which is great!

However, this new teacher also has a day job in an unrelated field. I have no idea the hours of this day job and I think its sort of a small family business. What say you, DCUM? Is having an instrument teacher with a non-musical day job, ok? DD is still fairly young and has been playing her instrument just under a year.

Is this a joke? How much performing do you expect your child to do with under a year of experience playing an instrument. I think a teacher with non-musical day job is fine for your young child who just started playing an instrument.