<p>The time is fast approaching when we will need to end lessons with the music teacher. Child has attended weekly lessons during the school year for 5 years. What sort of parting gift is appropriate? Also, how to decide on the date of the last lesson? We paid him quite a bit over the years, so cash doesn't seem appropriate. How did other "break up with" their children's long term music teachers?</p>
<p>I believe there was a thread on this topic in the Music Majors forum a while ago. There was general agreement that this relationship, being longer and more of a one-on-one than the typical student/teacher relationship, seems to call for a more personal type of gift. In my own case, my kids have led the way here, identifying something (not necessarily expensive) they thought would have special meaning for the teacher. In one case, it was a handmade collage that included photos over the years.</p>
<p>Thanks Stradmom, I think I can guess your child’s instrument of choice? I will search the music thread, good suggestion. It’s a bit awkward for us, because the teacher has always maintained a fairly high level of formality. However I like the idea of something meaningful and sentimental rather than elaborate. We’ll need to start bouncing ideas around and search music related web sites. I guess I’ll bring up the “last lesson” date the next time they begin a new piece.</p>
<p>My son wrote a fairly long, heartfelt letter to his private instructor, with whom he had been working weekly (sometimes more often) for 7 years. He wrote about how much the instructor’s mentoring had meant to him as a musician, as a student, and as a boy growing into manhood. He gave it to him personally. It was the most meaningful gift he could give.</p>
<p>(We had a lot in common with this instructor, his lessons were given in his living room, and through the years we all became pretty close friends. He and my son talked about more than just music over the years, so there was a lot to thank him for. Had it been a more formal, cold, music-only relationship, a letter like that might not have been as easy to write, or as meaningful to receive.)</p>
<p>I think the best thing to do is for the kid to continue with music and keep in touch periodically with the teacher about their musical progress.</p>
<p>How thoughtful of you to think of this! Might your student write a letter, and then contribute to an organization that supports music or music education in the teacher’s honor?</p>
<p>Our kids took private lessons in grade school, high school, college and one in grad school.</p>
<ol>
<li>Grade school- teacher was a personal friend…she got a gift card to a coffee place.</li>
<li>High school teacher- gift card to a favorite restaurant of his near where he played in a summer festival. </li>
<li>College teacher- took out to dinner with family (he did that with all of his seniors), and a gift card to Starbucks (he loves the place).</li>
<li>Grad school- took teacher out to dinner and made a donation for her studio to the college for her use for the students in the studio.</li>
</ol>
<p>In all cases, DS wrote a very nice note to the teachers too. He did the same even for short term teachers at private festivals…and when he had sample lessons prior to applying to college.</p>
<p>Tickets to the local Symphony would be nice.</p>
<p>Why must the relationship end ? My D still connects from time to time . Sometimes , when she is home , they go out to lunch .</p>
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<p>Check first. In the case of my kids, several of their music teachers were IN the symphony, and the others already had subscriptions.</p>
<p>Our local public radio station is offering a new incentive this year during fundraising; a USB flash drive loaded with NPR programming (audio and video). I’m thinking we could do something similar, with perhaps a short video of D playing and some professional itune recordings of his favorite types of music. I guess with a large enough flash drive we could put all kinds of things on there! I like the idea of tickets too, but his schedule is so tight it would be difficult to choose a date.</p>
<p>One of the most appreciated holiday gifts we ever gave a music teacher was a gift certificate to a local music store specializing in classical CDs. They’re out of business now, but maybe an itunes gift card? No chocolates, coffee mugs, etc!</p>