Conference mr1pst::music

    >  I have an 8 yr old taking piano lessons. It seems we are running up
    > the national debt buying music books etc.
    
    This raises a familiar flag...
    
    Do you buy the books from the same people that give the lessons?
    
    Slimey places often beef up their lesson income by having the students
    buy lots of books.   They'll deliberately only teach the kids one or 
    two things from each book so that they're constantly buying books.
    
    Could that be what's going on here?  There's a place in my town that
    did this to my neighbors kid (and sold him lots of outdated equipment at
    ABOVE list price).
    
    	db

    
    The music teacher is not selling the music, however based on the size
    of Bosie, Idaho selection ie competition is non existent. We found
    the same to be true when we lived in Spokane. Oly one shop carried the
    music. I was hoping to get all the titles of the books we may consume
    this year and make a one time purchase. I'm certain to save doing that
    on the local level, would expect to compound that at a wholesale house.
    
    Suggestions

    
    I have two daughters doing piano lessons here in the UK and I reckon
    there's a real rip-off being conducted with regard music for exams etc.
    It seems that every step of the way we have to cough up money for more
    piano books. My eldest is at Grade 4 and, along with set pieces for
    festivals, we have a pile of piano books literally about 6-9 inches
    high. I also estimate that only one piece in any book has been touched.
    
    Along with standard pieces, books also contain the authors 'own
    compositions. Is this a mechanism for getting your own music published?
    Do you then get royalties on each book (especially when the 'standard'
    pieces' are by long dead composers)?
    
    On the subject of festivals, they require a copy for the adjudicator
    (and obviously one for the player). Do you know some festivals here
    refuse to accept a photocopy for the adjudicator (or for the player for
    that matter!)? So, unless you know someone who has a copy of the book
    you are using you need to buy TWO copies.
    
    This also leads onto the wider debate of the 'rip-off' factor in most
    other kids extra-curricula activities. For instance, dancing exams
    include a mark for costume. So, for each exam our 3 daughters have
    required new dance costumes (or my wife burning the midnight oil for a
    month) making them. Anyway, this is another debate.
    
    Forever the cynic,
    Richard
    Basingstoke, UK

    
    Oh yes, and another thing, the piano books are obtained by the teachers
    (at least in the two we've had) and we pay the teacher. Now, admittedly
    we only pay what's on the books cover BUT with possibly 20-30 students
    you can bet your bottom dollar the teacher has a commission arrangement
    with a local music shop hence backing up a point made earlier.
    
    Richard

    
    
    Well, music education isn't the greatest job in the world...I don't
    blame the teachers for trying to supplement their income.
    
    Maybe you should ask the teacher for the titles you're going to need so
    that you can mail order them...
    
    

    > Well, music education isn't the greatest job in the world...I don't
    > blame the teachers for trying to supplement their income.
    
    I do.  Just because your job "isn't the greatest in the world" doesn't
    justify taking advantage of other people.  MY job isn't the greatest
    in the world either.  ;-)
    
    This is a scummy practice and my advice is that if it really looks
    like this is what the teacher is doing (as demonstrated by having
    to get tons of books, learning only one or two things from each,
    etc.) then DUMP the teacher, he's taking advantage of you.
    
    	db

    
    No, its worse than that. The Examining Boards here in the UK and
    Festival Organisers seem to be the main culprits by virtue of the set
    pieces they choose.
    
    Richard_who'll_support_any_conspiracy_theory!