convincing parents to let me have lessons.

Tubbs · #1 06-19-2006, 11:51 AM

I have lessons at school for free (because i chose music as one of my options for GCSE) but im not learning anything because the teacher isnt very good, i found a local tutor who charges £15 per hour which is very reasonable but i cannot convince my mum to let me have lessons. Anyone got any advice, im really want to learn bass properly (ive been playing 8 months and im very good for that amount of time)

Tubbs

steve66 · #2 06-19-2006, 01:03 PM

If you can swing it, Tell your mom that you will pay half.

SuperDuck · #3 06-19-2006, 02:17 PM

You've probably already spent at least a couple hundred pounds on musical equipment - the small investment of a few more will ensure that your gear will not be a waste of money and end up in the back of the closet next to the tennis rackets!

davetakis · #4 06-19-2006, 02:19 PM

hold your breath until you turn blue. that used to work for me.

morf · #5 06-19-2006, 02:22 PM

Explain to her that the mathematical possibilities of your understanding of music and your instrument can help you develop a more avid and calculating mind for, lets say, math class?

d8g3jdh · #6 06-19-2006, 03:12 PM

Explain how without lessons you will flounder and fail at your instrument, then fail at life, and wind up a heroin addict at age 20.

Clay_Bass · #7 06-19-2006, 03:18 PM

Or you could tell her that its a proven fact that students studying music in general do better on standardized tests, study better, develop better study habits, and do better overall in school when compared to non music students. And just so you know Im 100 percent serious about all of that.

NJL · #8 06-19-2006, 03:18 PM

supergolum · #9 06-19-2006, 03:23 PM

Yeah you can tell her it helps you in school and everything, and you can add some conditions to it, that will help her. Exemple, you will clean your room + do the dishes all the time if she pay for your lessons, or you will keep an average in class above something orshe will cut your lessons.

It used to work for me.... then I found a job, paid for my own lessons and stopped having good grades in class

mike phillips · #10 06-19-2006, 03:54 PM

as a parent myself, i encourage my child in anything that she wants to do as long as its constructive. such as playin an instrument. there are a lot worse things you could do. keep after your mum. when spoken to, end each sentence with I WANT BASS LESSONS.

IanStephenson · #11 06-19-2006, 04:30 PM

Lessons are expensive (you say £15 is reasonable, but obviously you don't HAVE £15 or you wouln't be asking!) I hate to think how much my parents spent on my music lessons. I'm sure glad they did :-) They help in lots of ways other than just the directly obvious.

You need to convince her that you appreciate the cost, and realize that she probably has to give something up to pay for the lessons (in addition to all the other stuff she's probably given up for you...). You need to demonstrate that you're serious by matching that sacrifice.

I presume you get some kind of pocket money? You can start by contriuting some of that.

However I think the most important thing you can do is to show commitment... This means PRACTICING. I had to commit to an average of half an hours practice every day. Doesn't sound like much, but promise to do 30 mins at a fixed time every day, and then stick to it (its tough when there are so many distractions, and I don't mean watching TV while holding your bass - I mean hard study). If you keep that up for a month, and then ask again you might get a better response.

If she still says no, then you've still done a whole load of practice...

Ian