Old Time Instruction

How often do we teachers of the piano hear the repeated complaint that it is impossible to take up piano instruction when other studies are on hand – that music has a tendency to hinder studies or detract form the work in hand.

Mothers of children use this as a regular complaint when urged to agree to music lessons.

Attention should be paid to the fact that more hours exemption from school are necessary for the purpose of music lessons generally.  In former years both city and country schools had a ruling that permitted an hour’s exemption from school if a note were handed to the teacher or principal of a school which had been signed by the music teacher.

Nowadays the school sessions are lengthened and there is positively no rule to exempt a scholar for a music lesson.  As the above title proves the schools would be the losers if all the piano teachers were to go out of the profession.  The school boards should be influenced to take up the matter and unite with all music teachers in the effort to organize full chance to advance this necessary and fundamental brain-building art.

All musical education tends to enhance poetic feeling, also artistic appreciation of the beautiful in fine arts and sculpture.  As music therefore is an essential fundamental for all studies why not have it considered as such by all school boards to the extent of hours of exemption for music lessons?  It is a subject of vital necessity to the music teachers as a body.

1. Never permit your student to become discouraged. Be tactful when criticizing and explaining always taking into account your student’s disposition and state of mind. Make your students leave your studio feeling musically uplifted and benefited, recharged with a new love and interest for their work.
2. Always give the best you have. Teach with your heart and soul. Be conscientious with each student. Be capable of offering new ideas and suggestions for the student’s benefit. Make each lesson the tide of advancement. This is the secret to retaining students.
3. Insist on parental cooperation. Children are but human parrots when it comes to imitating their elders. If the parents did play an interest in music the child will not have to be forced to practice and study. Parental cooperation also offers a splendid opportunity for teachers to spread the gospel of our wonderful art!
4. The importance of personality. Never permit your students to see you in an unpleasant light. Always be courteous, pleasant and conscientious. Shower ambition and encouragement along your path. This creates a feeling of respect and admiration of the part of the student and quickens his desire to learn. Remember that our fortune in this world depends to a very large degree on our personality.
5. Business ability. Charge what you honestly believe and know your services are worth and do not deviate from this price. Always remember this fundamental principle of business if you expect to succeed, “charge one price to all”. Advertise in musical journals of character but make your ads contain a message for its readers and still be of a refined character. Keeping one’s name before the public is good policy but like all other good things this can also be over done. Too much advertisement is as good as none whatsoever from more than one standpoint.
6. Cultivate a large circle of friends. They will prove a valuable asset to your business. Remember that the greatest form of advertisement is recommendation. Always remember that teaching is an art and though not always classed as such, it is a musical station that has more responsibility connected with it than all the other phases of musicianship put together.