Re: When a student is teaching before they are ready

[unknown-user]

The desire to be helpful and positive is good and important, but when
it prevents truth from being told, it is not so good. It can be
weakening. You have the right to tell your student she is not qualified
to teach beyond “a certain level.” You can express the hope that as her
student progresses she will encourage her to move on to an experienced
teacher. Sometimes we have to be cold. I had a prospective student play
for me whose agenda was to be told she was or could be professional.
She played fairly well, but with no sense of rhythm at all, so I
swallowed and told her no. We work very hard to be professionals, and
it is an insult to compare yourself to us if you haven’t worked for it.
Not that everyone has to be as good as the rest. She never came back,
but I did what I am sure was right. I could have pandered to her, and
pretended to agree so she would come back, but that wouldn’t have been
honest of me. Yes we have to be careful about judging people, but it is
upon us to set and maintain at least minimum standards, like playing in
rhythm, with tempo control, dynamic range, reasonable tone quality and
volume, reasonable facility, and musical understanding. Salzedo and
some pupils tried a licensing setup at one time, but it didn’t take
hold, needless to say. We could establish minimum standards, like being
able to play the Taco Bell Cannon, or Grandjany’s Automne or something.
But this is a democracy, so that won’t happen. Since it is a free
market, you are free to say what you want.