Years ago I started conducting and interview and evaluation/assessment with every prospective piano student and their parents. This is so helpful in getting to know the families, the individual student, and their musical expectations and aptitude. I’ve recently been coming up with some new questions that I’d like to add to the forms I use, and just came across a list of 40 questions from Yellow Cat Music Education that has some possibilities I’ve never even thought of! These are very thought-provoking and so helpful in establishing clear expectations regarding practice right off the bat. This would actually be a great list to send to parents even before the initial interview so that they have a chance to look over it and think through their level of commitment to their child’s musical studies.
Linda Brad says
Seriously???
I have taught piano for 32 years and always give an interview prior to accepting a student, but it is for the purpose of starting the relationship off on a positive note. Many of the questions on your list are not only intrusive, but aggressive. A responsible parent will ensure that a young student has an environment that supports his/her progress –after all, no parent wants to throw money away on lessons. As instructors, it is our job to teach well and to let a parent know if the student doesn’t progress in a timely way, period. Any thinking adult will figure out that a tv going all the time won’t optimize piano practice!