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I'm in southeastern Washington.
Mary Ellen
Neglect Not The Gift That Is In Thee

In a message dated 11/2/99 2:27:56 PM Eastern Standard Time,
megates@...
writes:

<< We have a newly forming private band class in our community, for
homeschoolers and some private school kids. >>

Where do you live?

Laura
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In a message dated 11/3/99 6:06:50 PM Eastern Standard Time, megates@...
writes:

<< I'm in southeastern Washington. >>

Well I guess that's a little far to drive.LOL I'm in Ohio.

Laura

Alan & Brenda Leonard

11/14/02 19:36:

> Unfortunately since these are
> group lessons (there are about 30 kids at each lesson with 3
> instructors that take turns teaching while the other 2 roam around
> the class) we're running into the typical "teach to the middle"
> mentality that leaves out the slower/faster kids. They're doing a
> good job of teaching the basics but sometimes I really squirm when
> they do truly pointless exercises and talk to the kids like they're
> all slightly brain damaged. :/

Beth,

Here's my advice: get out of this program. Find a private teacher. He'll
make faster progress and be happier with his playing faster. At this stage
of the game, he'd probably also benefit from only one person teaching him,
too.

You said something in your original post about this being a program you
could afford. I started teaching at 16. Surely you can find a talented
teenager in the area, or call the nearest college or university or youth
symphony to find someone (ask for the violin teacher). If you want to tell
me where you are, I may be able to send you towards someone. If all you can
find is someone you can't afford, ask about a discout based on your
financial needs. Many teachers would be happy to teach a kid who really
wanted to take but couldn't afford it. But you have to ask. In 17 years of
teaching, I've been asked 4 times to cut my price. I was happy to, and I
think other people would, too.

brenda

p.s. If you stay with the group lessons, don't lie to the teachers about the
practice time. Your integrity is more important than that. Tell them you
think the practice chart is stupid, and that you won't lie to them about the
time your son spends or doesn't spend; you're more interested in him
enjoying practicing than making it a drudge. Hey, maybe *they'd* learn
something...!

wanderingmommy

--- In Unschooling-dotcom@y..., Alan & Brenda Leonard <abtleo@e...>
wrote:
> 11/14/02 19:36:
>
> > Unfortunately since these are
> > group lessons (there are about 30 kids at each lesson with 3
> > instructors that take turns teaching while the other 2 roam around
> > the class) we're running into the typical "teach to the middle"
> > mentality that leaves out the slower/faster kids. They're doing a
> > good job of teaching the basics but sometimes I really squirm when
> > they do truly pointless exercises and talk to the kids like
they're
> > all slightly brain damaged. :/
>
> Beth,
>
> Here's my advice: get out of this program. Find a private
teacher. He'll
> make faster progress and be happier with his playing faster. At
this stage
> of the game, he'd probably also benefit from only one person
teaching him,
> too.
>
> You said something in your original post about this being a program
you
> could afford. I started teaching at 16. Surely you can find a
talented
> teenager in the area, or call the nearest college or university or
youth
> symphony to find someone (ask for the violin teacher). If you want
to tell
> me where you are, I may be able to send you towards someone. If
all you can
> find is someone you can't afford, ask about a discout based on your
> financial needs. Many teachers would be happy to teach a kid who
really
> wanted to take but couldn't afford it. But you have to ask. In 17
years of
> teaching, I've been asked 4 times to cut my price. I was happy to,
and I
> think other people would, too.
>
> brenda
>
> p.s. If you stay with the group lessons, don't lie to the teachers
about the
> practice time. Your integrity is more important than that. Tell
them you
> think the practice chart is stupid, and that you won't lie to them
about the
> time your son spends or doesn't spend; you're more interested in him
> enjoying practicing than making it a drudge. Hey, maybe *they'd*
learn
> something...!

Actually, we are looking into alternatives now. We signed up for the
program because it had been recommended by some other hs-ers in our
area. We decided to give a try and now, 6 weeks into it, it's flaws
are very obvious.

Funny you should mention confronting the teachers about the stupid
practice charts. I've come *that* close to speaking up about them
several times. I've talked with ds about the whole point of
practicing (which is to master a skill, not fill in some silly sheet
in order to get a pencil as reward). I told him it was his choice
whether or not he filled in enough to get his reward and to his
credit he decided it was better to be honest. He's not taking the
carrot! (guess I must be doing *something* right, after all!)

Maybe tomorrow (next lesson) I'll get up the nerve to say my piece.

Thanks for the insight. Beth