Teaching the Singing Student Gratis

There comes a time in the life of every teacher when a student arrives for a voice trial and discloses a splendid yoke. Excited and happy at the prospect of having the chance to work with such fine material, the teacher lets himself go . . . "Yes, indeed, you should study. I feel sure that if you persevere there is no end to the success you can achieve," and so on. Then the blow falls!

"If I have such possibilities," says the student, "why not teach me free of charge? I will repay you when I start to make money." And then, of course, when the experienced teacher, who has lived through many similar and disillusioning experiences, says "No," the student is quite convinced that the teacher exaggerated his possibilities simply to acquire another student.

If the teacher has the time and will tell himself in no uncertain terms, "I will work with this student just for the love of it; no reward expected, for no reward will be received," well and good. But it is fatal for the teacher to expect gratitude; it just doesn’t work out that way. Indeed, although a teacher may believe very firmly in a student’s prospects, what guarantee does he have that the student will persevere? Human beings are fallible. Although a voice may develop beyond fondest expectations, there are so many personality traits that may stand in the way of success.

And even if the student does make a career, what guarantee does the teacher have that the student will not repudiate the teacher? This happens with discouraging frequency, and among some of our most distinguished artists as well as the lesser ones. Some teachers have recourse to contracts, but contracts can be broken and usually are, and the too trusting teacher discovers, once more, that if he expected praise or reward, he has simply wasted his time. When singers make good, they seldom like to give credit to anyone but themselves.

If a student is truly in earnest and really wishes to study, he must make his own arrangements, pay for his lessons, and thus appreciate them all the more. Scholarships tend to weaken morale. Tell your students they must keep their independence and make good on their own.