<p>So my son comes home from his 1st semester as a voice major, not happy with his teacher; guy seems to be trying to force his voice into a lower register, darker coloring, etc. Goes to see his teacher of 5 plus years who says, yep, all he’s teaching you is completely counter to what you SHOULD be doing. Added to that, son is too intimidated by this guy’s remote, chilly affect to approach him with vocal problems. There ARE other teachers there - is there a best way to write to the dept. head and ask for another assignment? It’s a small world, he knows, in school and out, and he doesn’t want to insult anyone - but this isn’t working out. Ideas?</p>
<p>DD has an academic adviser in the music school that is not her studio professor. Does he have one he can talk to? Writing seems so formal. Exploring options may be best now. Some have made changes at DD’s school and KeyofH’s D made a change this year at her school. Not common and not always without hurt feelings, but there should be someone he can talk to.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t have him put anything in writing but rather ask to see an adviser in a confidential meeting. Perhaps, rather than an academic adviser, a psychological counseling adviser. I don’t mean to imply that your son has any psychological problems, but rather that such a counselor would surely have counseled other students through this same issue and may be in a position to give concrete advice in a privileged situation. In other words, it would be a good idea for your son to protect himself against potential backlash by talking to someone who is obligated to keep his issue private and may be able to speak more freely than a dean.</p>
<p>Unfortunately this can be a huge sticky wicket at many schools. I definitely agree that he should explore it options by visiting with Deans, advisers or heads of the departments. Even talking with a few selected older students can help him get the lay of the land. There may be a policy in place already. Some teachers are easy going about this type of thing others are not at all. I am sorry that so many teachers take this sort of thing so hard. Often times it is simply not a good match or personalities do not mesh.</p>
<p>I know this does not help you in your current situation and I feel like a broken record, but please, voice students, select you school for the teacher you want to study with.</p>
<p>datripp feel free to PM me.</p>
<p>OK, just talked to son - his teacher IS his adviser. I’m going to suggest he take it up with the department head, who is responsible for teacher assignment. As he did badly in his term juries, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that there’s a problem somewhere.</p>
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Actually, this may be good news. Your S has a jumping off point - “It’s not him; it’s me.” He wants to do better, but doesn’t seem to be able to do what this teacher wants him to do, and wonders if it’s time for a “second opinion” - perhaps spending a semester with another teacher might help him sort it all out.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Not doing well in juries is definitely a red flag and reason to seek a change. A student should be well prepared for juries by his studio professor. He may need to be assertive. He also may want to ask around quietly and see if he can find out if a lot of this professor’s students have trouble with juries. As binx says he can always use the “I just must not be able to understand him” approach, but finding out how others are doing is good G2. This is also a reason DD hesitated to accept at schools where they did not assign studios until fall.</p>
<p>datripp you have a private message.</p>
<p>Thanks, guys. I’m going to suggest that line of discussion to him for when he talks w/the Dept. head. Oy. Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water…Wasn’t I on this forum whining about school auditions a few minutes ago!?</p>
<p>In voice…it never ends. Look at it this way, he is learning how to take charge of his music education and the well being of his instrument. Nothing wrong with that!</p>
<p>Absolutely, Musica. His long-time teacher said the same!</p>
<p>I changed teachers this semester. Unfortunately he is most likely going to have to speak with his teacher. He needs to verbalize what his issues are, what specifically is not working. This is SUCH an awkward conversation and is one of the hardest things he’ll have to do (believe me I know). At my school, policy is that before you can speak with another teacher you MUST speak with your own.</p>
<p>Request denied by department head, on grounds that most people like the teacher, and that it’s a lot of trouble for the bursar’s office. I kid you not.</p>
<p>Hmmn, now that’s a problem. Will he stay at the school? We’ve known of singers who have left their schools for this reason. I’m sorry to hear this. What will your S do next?</p>
<p>Oh dear, I am sorry. That says a lot about that school’s priorities. However, at this point your S must now learn to communicate his own needs with his professor. It took DD a while, more than a few months, to learn to let her first real voice teacher know when she was not understanding what he wanted. He also was intimidating and demanding and she was very shy. She has learned to be better at letting her various teachers and coaches know when something is not working for her. </p>
<p>I am still disturbed that the professor let him go into his first juries unprepared, but maybe it was his way to try to teach a lesson to your S, too. Has your S done what was asked of him? The transition to college from HS is big. It is the change from singing to studying music. Fortunately DD’s HS voice teacher taught her at a college level, expecting certain levels of preparation prior to lessons such as already knowing the music for the most part, advance prep of the translations and history behind pieces, etc. If your S is still thinking like HS where they often learn the piece in a lesson, he may be having difficulty with the different expectations and not getting as much out of a lesson as he should. He absolutely has to have the conversation with his professor as to what was lacking and what he needs to do to improve. . He will not be able to transfer if he does not do well this term and they may not let him stay in the program where he is. He should find that out, too. .</p>
<p>I’m sorry that his request was denied. Can he take it to someone higher than the department head?</p>
<p>He’s looking into other options. Fortunately he’s got solid technique, thanks to his long-term teacher, a great singer herself and an excellent pedagogue. The problem was less the transition I think - she always had very high expectations of him in terms of working on his music - and more that, frankly, this new teacher was pushing technique at him that is simply unworkable. It wasn’t until all of this started that I listened to a recording of the teacher singing, and knew exactly what the problem was. If only it was a lack of communication! So he’s working on his next move. Sometimes you have to shift around, I guess , and I agree that the priorities are more than a little screwy. No talk of putting him out of the department.</p>
<p>Though, btw, I agree that he needs to speak up, albeit respectfully, to his current teacher, and verbalize the troubles he’s having. Tough lesson to learn for young folk - as well as some terminally polite adults.</p>
<p>OP, support your singer and trust his instincts. The voice must be protected.
This is a tricky situation and there may be various reasons for it and the denial of changing studios, in the end one would wish the institution would put the best interest of the student FIRST.</p>
<p>Thanks for that vote of confidence, late. I agree. He wants nothing more than to progress, and went in all optimism. I’m glad he’s got sense enough to know when it’s not working.</p>