Ilona Beck
Vancouver, BC Canada

Making Music, Making Friends

Teacher Referrals

To my fellow teachers:

Each of us as a music teacher has that desire to impart to our students the love and joy of music we ourselves have been fortunate enough to experience. Beyond teaching them technique and skills, I think it is the love of making music we most want to impart—to be able to inspire them and give them something lasting.

Let's face it, most of our students are not going to become professional musicians. Even more, far too many of them will drop out of music altogether when they get to high school, only to wish later in life that they'd kept up their lessons.

I know that most private music teachers do not have the time to undertake the organization and the preparation to teach their students in groups as well as privately. Teaching groups, as I've said elsewhere, is my passion. I create music arrangements geared to meeting the needs of children in a way that gives them new experiences playing in a group, while enriching and reinforcing the valuable instruction they are receiving from their private teachers.

I believe that music is for everyone and that group lessons, as a complement to private lessons, enrich a child's experience. Group lessons expand the possibilities of music, open new horizons, and let children find friendship and growth through music lessons.

In my experience, when children are playing together in a group of their peers they are inspired to work harder, progress more, and stay at it longer. Music becomes more a part of their life as they grow older, rather than something they did when they were children and let go. Not everyone will be a professional, it's true, but a lot more children can continue their musical experience throughout their lives. One reason I've started the Parent & Child program is to help parents who stopped their own lessons when they were young recapture the joy of music with their own children.

I am grateful and honoured when my colleagues send their students to me for group lessons. We music teachers are very protective of our young pupils. We want the best for them, and it is with a deep sense of responsibility that I accept referrals from other teachers.

As well as being grateful, I want to reward referrals with something tangible. It is my policy to give $50 to the teacher for each student referred (applicable to the Year Round Programs, not Summer Camps) payable after the 5th lesson, so as to cover my expenses if the student stops group lessons precipitously.

As I no longer accept new private students, it may also be the case that some of my group students are also looking for private teachers. I am happy to reciprocate the referral service.

It is my wish to maintain easy and respectful relationships with my teaching colleagues. Please feel free to call me at any time, ask any question about my methods and the programs that I teach. I am also interested in your methods and programs. Share, if you will!

To me, anything that keeps the kids playing music longer in their lives and enjoying it more is a good thing. A more musical world is a happier world.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
Ilona Beck