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 Elton Joel RW2   2'25
With apologies to them both. A rock piano solo without lyrics.

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Recording (mp3, 1.9MB)


 Elegy RW2   2'25
Many, many parts to weave and balance - needs ensemble skills, even though it's for solo piano.

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Recording (mp3, 1.6MB)


 Grumpy Trolls RW2   2'25
A contest piece with bite. Storms and stamps all over the piano before the jump-up-and-bow finish.

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Recording (mp3, 1.2MB)



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 Snowflakes RW2   2'25
A delicate picture piece - how many shades of quiet can you play?

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Recording (mp3, 0.9MB)


 MicroWaltz RW2   2'25
Less than a minute long. For early intermediate students.

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Recording (mp3, 0.8MB)


 Processional RW2   2'25
A concert opener that quickly breaks out of its initial stately reserve.

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Recording (mp3, 2.6MB)


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Deadwood Students                 back to magazine homepage

by Philip Johnston

 

Introduction | Groundhog Day Students | "Whatever Students" | Phantom Students Bookless Wonders | The Bulldozer Chatterbox | Mannequins | The non-practicer
The Arguer
| Painful Parents |"Can't do" students | Checking the final score


Type 9: Painful Parents

You might be working with a delightful and capable student, but if you want to hide in a cupboard every time their parents show up, then there's trouble brewing.

Dealing with difficult parents is a core part of the job—they've got every right to be both demanding and proactive in the pursuit of the best possible outcome for their child. But parents who constantly interject during lessons, berate their children for the slightest error, are late for the pickups, and then want to use 10 minutes from your next student's lesson to fire questions at you...they're not just pushy, they're making your job impossible.

 

It all adds to your stress levels in a job that doesn't have to be stressful. It's all about the people you work with—maybe you'd be better off not working with these particular people.

 

DEADWOOD CHECK: Just how painful are this student's parents?
A) Don't even start me. I think I'm going to need therapy because of these people (10 points)
B) They're not impossible, but they really do make life much harder (6 points)
C) They're occasionally tricky to handle (2 points)
D) They're fine (0 points)

.

 

Show me the next Deadwood Student! .