| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 687.1 | The oldest trick in the book | DREGS::BLICKSTEIN | db | Fri Jan 06 1995 20:14 | 16 |
| > I have an 8 yr old taking piano lessons. It seems we are running up
> the national debt buying music books etc.
This raises a familiar flag...
Do you buy the books from the same people that give the lessons?
Slimey places often beef up their lesson income by having the students
buy lots of books. They'll deliberately only teach the kids one or
two things from each book so that they're constantly buying books.
Could that be what's going on here? There's a place in my town that
did this to my neighbors kid (and sold him lots of outdated equipment at
ABOVE list price).
db
|
| 687.2 | Wise to old Tricks | NWD002::MURPHYRO | End Loser Sales Rep | Sun Jan 08 1995 04:17 | 9 |
|
The music teacher is not selling the music, however based on the size
of Bosie, Idaho selection ie competition is non existent. We found
the same to be true when we lived in Spokane. Oly one shop carried the
music. I was hoping to get all the titles of the books we may consume
this year and make a one time purchase. I'm certain to save doing that
on the local level, would expect to compound that at a wholesale house.
Suggestions
|
| 687.3 | | LARVAE::BRIGGS_R | | Mon Jan 09 1995 09:07 | 28 |
|
I have two daughters doing piano lessons here in the UK and I reckon
there's a real rip-off being conducted with regard music for exams etc.
It seems that every step of the way we have to cough up money for more
piano books. My eldest is at Grade 4 and, along with set pieces for
festivals, we have a pile of piano books literally about 6-9 inches
high. I also estimate that only one piece in any book has been touched.
Along with standard pieces, books also contain the authors 'own
compositions. Is this a mechanism for getting your own music published?
Do you then get royalties on each book (especially when the 'standard'
pieces' are by long dead composers)?
On the subject of festivals, they require a copy for the adjudicator
(and obviously one for the player). Do you know some festivals here
refuse to accept a photocopy for the adjudicator (or for the player for
that matter!)? So, unless you know someone who has a copy of the book
you are using you need to buy TWO copies.
This also leads onto the wider debate of the 'rip-off' factor in most
other kids extra-curricula activities. For instance, dancing exams
include a mark for costume. So, for each exam our 3 daughters have
required new dance costumes (or my wife burning the midnight oil for a
month) making them. Anyway, this is another debate.
Forever the cynic,
Richard
Basingstoke, UK
|
| 687.4 | | LARVAE::BRIGGS_R | | Mon Jan 09 1995 09:11 | 8 |
|
Oh yes, and another thing, the piano books are obtained by the teachers
(at least in the two we've had) and we pay the teacher. Now, admittedly
we only pay what's on the books cover BUT with possibly 20-30 students
you can bet your bottom dollar the teacher has a commission arrangement
with a local music shop hence backing up a point made earlier.
Richard
|
| 687.5 | the other side | EZ2GET::STEWART | fight fire with marshmallows | Mon Jan 09 1995 19:32 | 9 |
|
Well, music education isn't the greatest job in the world...I don't
blame the teachers for trying to supplement their income.
Maybe you should ask the teacher for the titles you're going to need so
that you can mail order them...
|
| 687.6 | You could say the same about being a cop | DREGS::BLICKSTEIN | db | Tue Jan 10 1995 18:16 | 13 |
| > Well, music education isn't the greatest job in the world...I don't
> blame the teachers for trying to supplement their income.
I do. Just because your job "isn't the greatest in the world" doesn't
justify taking advantage of other people. MY job isn't the greatest
in the world either. ;-)
This is a scummy practice and my advice is that if it really looks
like this is what the teacher is doing (as demonstrated by having
to get tons of books, learning only one or two things from each,
etc.) then DUMP the teacher, he's taking advantage of you.
db
|
| 687.7 | | LARVAE::BRIGGS_R | | Wed Jan 11 1995 08:13 | 6 |
|
No, its worse than that. The Examining Boards here in the UK and
Festival Organisers seem to be the main culprits by virtue of the set
pieces they choose.
Richard_who'll_support_any_conspiracy_theory!
|