how to tell a teacher you're moving on..?

lhampton · Post by **lhampton** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 6:54 pm

I've been taking private lessons from my teacher for 3 years now. He has taught me just about everything I know about the flute! He's helped me accomplish many things. But I feel like he's not teaching me anything anymore. Of course, at first having lessons with him was wonderful, and gave me the advantage over everyone. However, he's a saxaphone player, he played professional when he was a senior in high school, and switched to flute in college because he was playing on a higher level than his teacher was. But frankly, I need a new teacher. He's not working on phrasing or dynamics with me. I desperately need assistance with double tonuging! So, I'm letting him go and switching to another teacher, who plays flute in the symphony orchestra, but I have no idea how to approach the situation. How should I tell him that... I no longer need HIS services

thanks

Leanne

fluting4HIm · Post by **fluting4HIm** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 7:51 pm

I had to deal with a very similar situation last year. I had to tell my private teacher, that I am VERY close to, that I wanted to take lessons from another teacher. It was very hard because she had taught me from the very beginning and I was sort of like a daughter to her. But sometimes you just need a fresh appoach in order to grow as a flute player. It will be difficult to swap teachers of course, but from my experiecne it has been well worth it and I've grown close to my new teacher very quickly. About how to handle it... I don't know if I'm one to give advice. tell him how much you appreciate what he's done for you over the years first of all. Tell him what you just said: that he's taught you almost everything you know and that he's given you a major advantage in the past. But then tell him as kindly as possible that you would like to take some lessons form another teacher. You can't get around it. Teachers have to deal with losing students all the time and most of the time they will wnat what's best for their students, even if it doesn't include them. At least a good teacher will. My former teacher had a difficult time with me leaving her studio at first but she did recognize that my new teacher has a lot of experience that she doesn't have (orchestral experience) and is happy for me now. We are on very good terms and keep in close contact. Your teacher doesn't think he can keep you forever, so don't worry too much about it. I just made no sense, but trust me, however you decide to tell him I do think it will be worth it.

Kendall · Post by **Kendall** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 7:57 pm

Tell him you feel you need to take lessons from a proffessional flute player that was "recommended" or "suggested" to you by someone who felt it would help you improve.

That's a kind of white lie but it is quite a bit easier to say

embum79 · Post by **embum79** » Thu Sep 02, 2004 4:01 pm

I wouldn't lie, just say exactly what you feel.. that you have learned a heck of a lot from him, but you need to grow more as a flutist. And that you need a different perspective. It's amazing how different flute teachers can be. If he's a good teacher, he will understand.

lhampton · Post by **lhampton** » Sun Sep 05, 2004 7:55 am

thanks, you guys helped me out a bunch! I'm still really nervous; but your advice calmed me down. thank you!
Leanne