Today I had a mother come into the studio to pick up her boys and to ask me if I would take her eldest son back when school started. This eldest son has already taken piano lessons from me for four years, but that was three years ago. He stopped when he got into middle school because he was too busy with other interests to continue with the piano. Soccer, gymnastics, scouting, baseball, guitar lessons, etc. had led him astray from the piano. Now, of course, a boy of eleven or twelve years will have these “temptations” thrown into their pathway and rightly so. All of them are exactly what a boy of this age should be doing. Three years away from the piano can sometimes mean a lot of frustration when trying to get back on course though. Do I want to do it? Should I take him back?
I know some teachers do not take students back if they have quit. It is simply part of their policy and students and parents are aware of it when making the decision to terminate lessons in the first place. If they quit, they won’t get to come back. I totally respect and understand the reasons for this policy. Usually, months before these students actually do quit, they are struggling to keep up with lessons, and typically have a bad attitude because of it as well. When thinking about their return, we can’t help but remember what a pain it was to teach them during those last months, and it makes us reluctant to get back into the same scenario. It is hard to start up again too, especially after a long absence, because a lot has been lost and bad habits might have crept in which can be hard to break.
On the up side though, the student is older now and has more maturity. He has tried other things and has decided the piano is actually something he really wants to do. If his attitude has changed, then positive learning can follow. Of course, he’ll have to realize that he can’t just pick up from where he left off. A lot of backing up and reviewing has got to happen first. Is he willing to do it? Am I willing to do it?
The prodigal returns. I don’t have a fatted calf… maybe Friday night at my favorite steakhouse will do.
