Comments on: Saying Goodbye http://www.bonnieblanchard.com/blog/?p=22 Musical musings for teachers, students and lovers of music Sun, 18 Nov 2012 20:44:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: bonnieb http://www.bonnieblanchard.com/blog/?p=22&cpage=1#comment-339 bonnieb Sat, 04 Sep 2010 03:29:43 +0000 http://www.bonnieblanchard.com/blog/?p=22#comment-339 We have an unusual relationship-that of the teacher and student. Best friends for years then nothing sometimes after. It would be impossible to remain in contact with all our former students but closure at the end of the lessons is important to everyone. We have an unusual relationship-that of the teacher and student. Best friends for years then nothing sometimes after. It would be impossible to remain in contact with all our former students but closure at the end of the lessons is important to everyone.

]]> By: Janice Smith http://www.bonnieblanchard.com/blog/?p=22&cpage=1#comment-108 Janice Smith Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:36:45 +0000 http://www.bonnieblanchard.com/blog/?p=22#comment-108 I remember the shock I felt when I received my first (regrettably not the last) "quitting lessons" email. Anger was my first response, and then I realized it was because I was hurt and disappointed. Like you Bonnie, this was a student I'd had for over 5 years, and while I knew piano was not her top priority I was still surprised. Music teachers are not like others who are hired for a task - we must reach into a student's life to find and bring forth their abilities and talents. To lose a student and not be given the opportunity for a personal good-bye -- to have no closure to the relationship -- is difficult to say the least. I remember the shock I felt when I received my first (regrettably not the last) “quitting lessons” email. Anger was my first response, and then I realized it was because I was hurt and disappointed. Like you Bonnie, this was a student I’d had for over 5 years, and while I knew piano was not her top priority I was still surprised.

Music teachers are not like others who are hired for a task – we must reach into a student’s life to find and bring forth their abilities and talents. To lose a student and not be given the opportunity for a personal good-bye — to have no closure to the relationship — is difficult to say the least.

]]>