Students move, transfer, or sometimes just quit.  What do we do at that last lesson?

I guess it all depends on why they are leaving.  I try to be positive when they are transferring to a new teacher.  Sometimes the transfer is recommended by me.  Other times, the transfer is because their family is moving to a new place.  Either way, I review past repertoire with them to let them see how much was accomplished.  They are also reminded of awards they have earned and recitals they have participated in.  I always end with an open invitation for them to drop by anytime to visit and let me know how they are doing with their new teacher.  Over the years, many students have done just that and I always ask them to play something for me when they do.  It’s great…a definite perk in the life of a piano teacher to see how old students are progressing.

When a student decides to terminate lessons because they just don’t like them, then that last lesson can feel like a big waste of time.  What do we do?  Yes, parents have paid for the lesson and should get their money’s worth, but with no future goals to work towards, it’s kind of a dead end. I still try to be positive and tell them how much I have enjoyed teaching them.  Sometimes I encourage them to keep up with some sort of music even if they don’t want it to be the piano.  Perhaps joining their school choir or band and switching to an instrument they can enjoy would be a better route than just quitting music altogether.  Teachers are, after all, ambassadors of music.  That last lesson could be one last influence towards keeping a child interested in music.

What do you do when teaching that last lesson?  Leave a comment and let everyone know.