When You Are Considering Changing Teachers

 

While changing teachers should be a relatively rare event in each child’s life, there comes a time when students can benefit from the perspectives and experience that another teacher provides. Changing teachers is a big decision that deeply affects students, and how one pursues and executes that change makes a world of difference. 

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Remember, many students see their violin teacher more often than they see their own family members. (Once a week for 40+ weeks a year really adds up!) As teachers, we value our families and genuinely care about them. Please carefully consider this advice to ease into this transition with grace, kindness, and respect for everyone involved.

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Have a conversation

Before even contacting another teacher, please take the time to have a

conversation with your current teacher and let them know your concerns.

Request to meet your current teacher (without your child present) at your

regular lesson time or schedule a separate parent-teacher conference. If it's

easier to gather your thoughts on paper, do so, but avoid initiating this

conversation via e-mail. 

 

There may be meaningful advantages to continuing the existing

relationship; your current teacher is intimately familiar with your child’s

history, experience, and learning process. Good teachers are flexible and

can adjust their teaching style as needed. When you let the current teacher

know your child’s current wishes and needs, a change of teachers may prove to be unnecessary. 

 

Sometimes, it's just not the right fit anymore and that's okay. If you ultimately choose to part ways, be open, honest, and courteous to stay on good terms. 

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Making the transition

Parents often approach changing teachers like changing jobs, trying to have the new teacher lined up before informing the previous one. However, quietly pursuing lessons with another teacher is often experienced as a betrayal of trust by the current teacher, who has a deep emotional investment in your child. Furthermore, it puts your child in a very difficult position and dramatically affects their relationship with both teachers. In contrast, approaching the transition openly honors the relationship and ensures that the relationship ends with positive feelings for all involved. 

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Most students see their teachers weekly for 5-10 years and your teacher becomes a good family friend. Students often like to visit their first teacher (even after they've left for college!), so parting on good terms will ensure that they always feel welcome to stop by and say hello. 

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Please provide ample notice to your current teacher so they can plan on a final lesson to say goodbye and fully acknowledge the significant contribution your teacher has made in your child’s life. 

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If you are wishing to transfer your child into my studio, you are welcome to come observe lessons to get a sense of my teaching and to connect over email, Zoom, or phone. Please only schedule a trial lesson with me once you have given proper notice to your current teacher. This does 2 very important things: 

 

1. It  helps me keep positive relationships with my colleagues

2. It ensures that your child enters my studio with their best foot forward. 

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If you were with your teacher for a long time, keep in touch. When your student has a performance, send them a video. When your child has a successful audition or musical experience, write a quick email to share it. You can always send a holiday greeting card.

 

I can't speak for every teacher, but I assure you that this is more common than not: I remember all of my students and it warms my heart when they take the time to reach out and share with me. 

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To move forward with joining my studio, please visit the Contact page.