<p>Thanks all for your very thoughtful replies and good ideas. My D’s situation is that she is the most advanced student in a studio of mostly younger kids. The event that she was not signed up for was a recital of students from the local music teacher’s organization (trying to give her a performance opportunity where she would not be the big fish in the small pond). The teacher missed the deadline. D is very disappointed and of course it’s not the end of the world…there’s another recital a month from now. On the other hand, the teacher said that this was new to him and that’s why he didn’t know about the deadline. I think because he hasn’t had a student that wanted to study music before, every situation we encounter will be new and we run the risk of this happening again and in more important situations.</p>
<p>Rigaudon, it rings very true when you said that “there is a lot of organization/time management/attention to detail and strategic planning beyond the actual teaching involved in helping a student learn the piano repertoire for college auditions, and it is important that the teacher is accustomed to and comfortable with that kind of added responsibility.” Definitely we don’t have someone who is accustomed to that situation. If anything, he has less time now as his studio expands (with younger kids).</p>
<p>On the other hand, he has exposed her to composing, welcomed her saxophone-playing, had her accompany other students, and encouraged her even to sing her own song in the talent show at school. She has a breadth of experience and joy in music that she might not have had with a more narrowly focused teacher (also doesn’t do competitions).</p>
<p>Something to ponder. Thanks again for everyone’s input. If you have more, I would love to hear it!</p>