Episode 026: Who’s the Boss?

When you “hire” a teacher, is it the same as an employer hiring an employee?

Are you more like a customer buying services similar to the electric or telephone company?

Is it like a restaurant where you order what you want off the menu and can request a customized meal?

Maybe it’s like using a doctor for his or her knowledge and expertise.

Authority

You, as the parent, have the ultimate authority and responsibility over your child and for your child.

Still, you must submit to your teacher’s authority when it comes to piano lessons.  You must defer to their expertise and knowledge.

Communicate goals you and your child have for piano lessons; but also learn what the teacher has to offer as well.  This topic is also covered in Episode 002.

Power Struggle

Too Much – This parent is too involved.  They might attempt to dictate the course of the lesson, change the teacher’s assignment, demand rescheduled lessons. They try to take too much control.

Too Little – This parent isn’t involved enough. They don’t attend lessons. They put all the responsibility of home practice onto their child. They don’t communicate with the teacher. Worst of all, they don’t advocate for their child.

Just Right – This parent has struck the right balance of involvement.  They defer to the teacher. They help establish good practice habits. They help their child communicate goals as well as struggles.

Caught vs taught

The way you interact with people teaches your child how to do the same. Parents must teach their children to be responsible, to communicate well (even if the conversation is a difficult one), and to submit to authority.