<p>I swear, I think we are cursed. First, we find teacher from Hell (see previous thread about teacher who called her stupid and badmouthed other students), now this.</p>
<p>My D is having trouble contacting voice teachers to start training for auditions. She has no trouble getting their contact info, but she has called a few teachers close by and they never answer the phone or return her messages. I then called, but again, no answers or replies. Also, they have not returned emails. </p>
<p>Are voice teachers like this normally? Are they just the type that are bad with technology or not into checking messages? I don't get it?</p>
<p>MY big fear is that TFH (teacher from Hell) has poisoned the well and told other teachers not to speak with my D. Could that be possible?</p>
<p>I think it is more likely they are just really busy and may not be accepting new students. I am not saying this is polite but we have had this happen with other music teachers who do not teach voice. The better teachers are likely not to have so many openings but just keep trying. If they cannot take the students maybe they can suggest someone who could. It is a busy time of year for concerts, etc. Good luck.</p>
<p>Hopefully they are just busy. I find it hard to believe your daughter’s previous teacher would tell others not to work with her, especially at the high school level - but who knows. I’ve never had this problem. Be persistent and thorough in your requests to teachers. Normally I email, explain who I am, why I want to work with them, how I found them, etc. And then I call them the next day, and if I don’t have a response within about five or so days, I’ll call again. In my experience, teachers respond quickly this way. I personally (I am the student) make all of the contacts. For my piano teacher (who is fantastic, but runs a fairly full studio, plus performs), it took about two weeks to get a hold of him. I emailed once, sent an inquiry through an online source, and called him twice, I believe. He just happened to be really busy. My voice teacher (voice is my primary) always responds within 48 hours, and always has. Earlier this month, I had an evaluation with another teacher in the area who runs a successful studio, and she responded to me in less than 8 hours (I emailed her before I went to bed and had a response by the time I woke up). In my experience, teachers look forward to meeting with students who reach out to them, and can articulate their goals and expectations. I’d be hesitant to work with a teacher that does not seem enthusiastic to work with me. The student-teacher relationship is extremely important, as you know. I wish you luck in finding a good teacher! While lots of teachers have waiting lists and don’t take new students often, there are PLENTY of fantastic teachers with flexible schedules you can find if you look and ask around enough. I found my voice teacher four years ago through asking local singers about teachers they would suggest. He isn’t one of those teachers that everybody knows, but he has done really great work with me, and I couldn’t ask for a much better teacher right now. Also, I wouldn’t rule out working with men if she really wants a female teacher. After working with a man for four years, I plan on looking for a female teacher for undergrad, but males know their stuff too, and can be fantastic teachers!</p>
<p>MT’sFH can be vindictive and horrible inhuman creatures. We went through it with S and the fellow that he took lessons from. It was an awful year. We were not the only family that went through this with this person. All is well now, everything worked out for the best and I care not to go into the depths of Dante’s inferno to discuss this.</p>
<p>My advice is to call teachers outside of the vicinity you live in and see if they return your calls. The other thing you can do to test your theory is to have a friend make a call for their kid and see if the call gets returned.</p>
<p>This is absolutely one of the busiest times for voice teachers. S(h)e is likely to have numerous students who are preparing for holiday performances, and if the teacher is still performing herself then she probably doesn’t have a minute to spare. Keep trying.</p>
<p>I suspect if you don’t hear from other teachers it is because they are really busy, and to be honest with you, most music teachers fit the stereotype of musicians as being, well, let’s say ‘artistic’ types IME:). I to be honest doubt the current teacher “poisoned the well” in any way, music teachers simply don’t have that kind of fraternity or whatever you call it, and while some might be hesistant to take on a student for extra work without the primary teacher approving I doubt very much they would listen to a blackball from a colleague most probably don’t even know personally. You could try having someone else call and see if they get a response, but even if they do it doesn’t mean the other teachers are ducking you, either, could be they got through when said teacher had 5 minutes to breathe…like I said, given the nature of music teachers a blackball is incredibly unlikely.</p>
<p>I am a private music teacher. I also perform locally for a living. I am insanely busy this time of year (proof: Sat. of Thanksgiving weekend is the only time I can “surf” College Confidential!) I try to get back to anyone who calls me with a referral from someone I know. I have no openings (most good teachers have very long waiting lists). Is your D in music at school? Try to ask the music teachers for recommendations of teachers. We asked our local choral director for a referral for my D, and then I attached a recording of her voice to the email I sent. She has been with the same amazing voice teacher for 3.5 years now, but if I had not sent that recording we would have been waitlisted. </p>
<p>Just a personal thing for me - if a parent is TOO pushy I usually shy away from taking their child. It’s hard to have high-maintenance mom on your hands. I also don’t like to take on “audition” students - those who want your help to get ready for college but will dump you the minute they reach their goal. Try to make learning technique and becoming a better musician your goal of lessons, as opposed to preparing for college auditions. Good teachers want to feel you are in it for the long haul.</p>
<p>Great advice choralmom. I wish more parents would read your post and commit it to memory!
When my D began HS, we found her the “perfect” voice teacher by getting a referral from a local director who knew my D from auditions/performances. She was always fully booked and only took students who had personal recommendations and after a sample lesson to see if she and the student worked well together(not being terribly “tech savvy” and not having time to spend on line, sending a recording via e-mail would have been pointless, but that was 6 yrs ago…!). To the best of my knowledge, she never took on students just for “auditions”- she wouldn’t have been comfortable writing recommendations for them without having spent time working on technique and musicianship.
None of the teachers I’ve ever known would have ever bothered to bad-mouth a student to another teacher. It takes up precious time and isn’t professional.</p>