I had to share this because it's incredible bad luck (funny because it's so incredible)...and maybe not too unusual for a place that has very few cultural opportunities. My voice teacher was to have maternity leave until the 12th of this month, and if you have followed this saga you'll know I haven't had a lesson on well over two months due to her being at home, during this time she refused to return phone calls and if you were fortunate enough to speak to her she was aloof and annoyed. She didn't show up for her first lesson after maternity leave and would not answer her phone. Yesterday I called the music store where she teaches and was told that she would indeed be in to teach another "first" lesson after maternity leave. She never showed up. Which is laughable! I called her twice and finally she answered the phone and in a rather bored annoyed voice told me "no, she wasn't coming in" I asked her when she planned on teaching another lesson she said maybe sometime in May. I could actually feel my face getting red when I was talking to her. I told her I hadn't seen in in over two months, she never returned phone calls and at this point I thought perhaps I should find someone else. She said "whatever if that's the way you feel" I asked her if she could refund the month I had already paid for and she said she would have to look in her notes, I asked her to take down my address so she could send me a check and she said "no, I am holding my baby right now" I was just about to the boiling point when she said that. I asked her why she hadn't called any of us to reschedule and she did't say anything. I asked her about her recital and she said, "well I will just move that up I don't know when" and mind you she has students who have been scared to death they would be performing selections they have had no teacher for NEXT week. She called NO ONE to tell them not to worry or to chill out...she simply did nothing. I honestly just had to laugh. I cannot imagine who in their right mind would defend a teacher like this! OH and let me add....she ended the call by saying "I am a very busy person you know and I have a lot going on right now" It was classic. her hand out of "policies" seems like toilet paper, because everything it says is nonesense. I would like my month refunded, I do plan on contacting the music store about her, and requesting they get some sort of address for her so that I may write and ask for a check.
So it just goes to show you it IS possible to have really really bad luck finding a teacher. I cannot imagine how her behavior could be defended, when I asked why she wasn;t coming in yesterday she said "well we're moving so I am packing". And I know for a fact that she had students waiting for her at her studio. No one was called and frankly she couldn't have cared less. If she had cared less she would have been in a coma!
SOOOOO teacher number THREE....who is supposed to be the BEST around. Very elderly man named Gordon Gaines, has taught several opera stars, and many a voice teacher. He was Professor Emeritus at my university for 35 years. I have full faith he won't flake out!!!!
Lea Ann
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