Recruiting New Students

[Saul Davis Zlatkovski]

I always look at the American Harp Journal’s ad listings for teachers. Not everyone has websites, but they are certainly useful to look at those who do. I wouldn’t rely only on the internet. It is only as helpful as what you find, and if you don’t use other resources as well, it can become a hindrance. I found my graduate teacher through her publications, and a poster for Tanglewood that was posted at my college.

[Elizabeth Volpé Bligh]

Sam, I am a little puzzled by the term “fishing” for students. I enjoy contributing to these discussions, and a side-effect is that some students have been inspired to

[carl-swanson]

Elizabeth- You’re right that a side-effect of a forum like the HC site can be that students come your way. This is an excellent way for a potential student to learn about your ideas on teaching, method, etc. But you never come out and say that you’re looking for students, or worse, suggesting that another contributor come to you to study. That is what I would call ‘fishing’ for students.

[Elizabeth Volpé Bligh]

Thanks, Carl. That’s the clarification I was seeking.

[Saul Davis Zlatkovski]

I wouldn’t call that fishing, either, but there’s nothing wrong with fishing, if you’re trying to catch fish. How else to get fish? They don’t jump in your lap, usually. Anyhow, these are open forums. But, here, I’ll make a statement that is clear cut, and not baited in any way: I love to teach, and

[kimberly-houser]

I am seeing, according to some people’s opinions, on this forum that “fishing for students”

[carl-swanson]

Kimberly- The mention of Marion’s name almost brings tears to my eyes. She is the most gracious caring person I know. I had met her several times in the United States when she came to Masterclasses at Hartt College where I was a student. Then, at the end of my first year living in Paris, I spent the entire summer in Gargilesse and Marion was there for the August masterclass. Pierre Jamet had found me a room in the village that I got for free, but I was on my own as far as meals were concerned. When Marion showed up and checked into the Hotel des Artistes along with most of the other students, she quickly figured out my situation. The second day there she came to me and said that she had talked to the owner of the hotel and that starting that evening I was to come to the hotel every day for both lunch and dinner. I was speechless. This arrangement lasted for the whole 4 weeks of the summer course! At the end of the summer I gave her a record that I had found at the Paris flee market of Pierre Jamet playing the Mozart with his son-in-law Christian Larde, and the Handel Concerto. Marion didn’t want to take it but I assured her I could find another copy. Only after assuring her many times did she reluctantly take the record. I never did find another copy. Many years went by. Then about 4 years ago, a package arrived in the mail with Marion’s return address on it. I couldn’t imagine what she was sending me. It was the record. There was a note from Marion that said “I’ve had this long enough and have enjoyed it. Now it’s time to give it back to you.” This past summer she called me and we had a wonderful talk. When I think back on some of the most important people of my life, Marion is right up there.

[sherry-lenox]

It would be a great privilege for me to study with anyone on this board, but I have studied with three fine musicians (not harpists) in the past ten or so years who were not able to understand what I wanted from a teacher, in spite of my gentle but constant attempts to indicate my wants. They did not understand that although I am older than dirt I wanted to achieve as much as possible with the instrument I was attempting to learn, made fun of my very expensive hand made instrument, and spent large amounts of lesson time talking about themselves, and how well they played.

Although they were interesting, I wasn’t getting much out of their time. My harp teacher, on the other hand, demands of me what she demands of her other students, expects me to use correct technique, and keeps the bar high, and I love her for that. She is well organized, and appreciates my current general music skills without getting carried away with them. Consequently, I see progress from every lesson, and although I’m not playing any profound music yet I love the little 24 measure gems she has me play. I see absolutely no indication that I won’t continue to increase in skill, although I may be 84 before I can play a nicely rolled chord, and if it takes me that long I don’t care, because I’m getting so many other good things and I LOVE the sound of the harp. I don’t agree with everything she does- she feels that it’s unlikely that I’d be able to manage a pedal harp, and from curiosity, I’d like to see if I could, but I dearly love the lever so I can live with it.

I certainly don’t think of any of you as being unprofessional for laying out your credentials for prospective students. I haven’t seen anyone who acted that way

[unknown-user]

Hey Kim,

I’m not sure all the background on this discussion, but I also don’t see a problem with people who teach harp letting that be known online.

The bottom line is that students are free, autonomous individuals who have a right to choose to study with whomever they wish. Providing information about a teaching presence aids in that process. Hiding information about one’s availability as a teacher doesn’t make any sense to me. Isn’t the problem with ‘fishing for students’ and such when teachers are making direct contact with individuals who have already chosen a teacher or who may not wish to take lessons? As long as the student’s space is respected (that sense of being free to choose a teacher) then providing factual information about services in public settings seems reasonable enough to me.

I suppose there could be some issue in a discussion forum of spamming with teaching adverstisements. That is not an ethical issue, but more an issue of public annoyance. There is some call for discussion about teacher availability here I would think, especially in the teaching harp subforoum. There are also sites online devoted to teacher listings where you can submit a blurb and contact info, or link up your professional website. I have consistently received random calls for gigs and students by having such a web presence. Its results tend to be unpredictable and come in spurts.

[Anonymous]

I have spent the past few days figuring out how to define what I mean by fishing for students, only to find that Carl has done it for me in a couple of sentences–“But you never come out and say that you’re looking for students, or worse, suggesting that another contributor come to you to study.

[unknown-user]

I understand the basics of what you are saying, but what if someone comes online asking for a teacher in some particular area? Should they be ignored, or just wait for someone from another state to list a few names? Should a teacher list their own name along with a list of others? Should the potential teacher/performer reply through email only? This site is a little different from some forums because it is structured for people to post in search of performers and teachers. There is an entire Harpists Wanted subforum. How do these issues relate to that specific forum. Maybe the mods or admins could clarify.

[unknown-user]

It could be worth starting a new thread to explore the ethics of advertising online and in other scenarios. It is especially important to demonstrate through reason what types of harm are caused by a particular action, since that is how ethics are determined. This way readers will not just be told that something is unethical, but gain an understanding of the principles behind it. Maybe I’ll venture. :o)

[unknown-user]

I don’t see the reason why so many people are making all this noise regarding hbarpists trying to attract students over this forum, and calling it unethical.

[kimberly-houser]

Marion has also been one of my most important influences!

[Seoid OC]

This might be slightly off topic but can I just say how lucky some of you are that you have a choice of teachers!

[Author]

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