Skie

Yes, it's plenty! The choir teacher can talk about her musicality, her ensemble sensitivity, reliability, leadership ability, etc. She can also compare her to the many music students she has encountered over the years. This is a very valuable rec!

myau

So, what's appropriate for such a letter? Should just the teacher's impressions from the lessons be in it? Or should recitals, competitions, festivals, evaluations be mentioned, too? Is it appropriate to tell about other people's (teachers, musicians, other students' parents ) impressions of the student's playing in that letter or should there be strictly that particular teacher's observations only? What kind of musical terms and expressions the student's piano skills are usually desribed with?

(I think I'll talk to the teacher once more and try to convince her to write that letter, and if not, I'll try to write it by myself (there are parents who teach their own children, aren't there? ); in any case I'll need some advice on the imformation mentioned above - either to provide the teacher with it or for myself).

Skie

Myau, I'd advise not getting so involved in the writing of a rec letter by your d's choir teacher. If she has already agreed to do it, then she clearly feels warmly toward your d and has plenty of positive things to say about her as a musician. If your d has a resume that she wants to provide so that the teacher has more details on her musical involvements, that would be fine. But trust that the teacher has written many letters before and will know what to say. No teacher wants to be told by a parent what kind of letter to write!

myau

I was not talking about the choir teacher - everything is OK with that rec, I hope (generally, I'm not involved at all in anything that has to do with my kids' schools ).

I'm still musing about the ways to deal with the piano recs.

binx

Myau - I think schools are used to receiving recs from all sorts of teachers, and I wouldn't worry too much about what it says. I think the only critical points would be:

1. How long has the teacher known/taught your D?

2. Can she address any particular strengths? (anything from coming well-prepared to lessons or talent or technique or public performance or ...)

It really doesn't have to be long or involved. I think the schools are only looking for verification that the student has actually had private lessons, and that they are teachable. The CD will tell them anything else they need to know.

thumper1

Adding to Binx's post...my guess is the OP's case isn't the first time a person whose primary language is NOT English has sent the colleges a letter. Just let the teacher write the letter. It will be fine.

myau

It's not about "letting". It's about persuading.