Breaking up with Music Teacher

Is there a good way to do this? We need to move on to a more rigorous instructor and have finally settled on someone new. Now the "Dear John" email...feel bad about it but I suppose this is normal.

Hey, a really good teacher would have been pushing you to move your child on.

Don't worry...

Just end it.

-Ron Carter

Married to a long time piano teacher who moved many, many students on...

Just be sure rigorous is really what your child wants because the best teaching of young children is to help them learn to love music and making music, not mastering the masters.  I'd rather have my kid drawing a group of friends around him/her with a guitar than being able to do Bach.

"Thank you for all you've done to teach NizhoniChild who will now be taking the next step and studying with NewTeacher."

Tom_Reingold said:

"Thank you for all you've done to teach NizhoniChild who will now be taking the next step and studying with NewTeacher."

Certainly, not an email. Maybe a "good-bye" bonus and a letter of recommendation.

A quick we have decided to move on to another teacher and sincere thank you so much for everything in person and maybe a nice note card. Every private teacher is used to student mobility. (I work at a music conservatory...)

I would do it in person. Not by email.

just saying, my kid's music teacher didn't take it well at all and started "talking" afterwards in very nasty ways.  If they're a diva, especially handle with kid gloves.

Thanks all for the feedback. This was the first teacher who didn't tell us it was time to move on, even when we came to him with concerns about upping his game to prepare for music school auditions. This is entirely kid-driven and would be easier on our pocket-book if wasn't. But we want to be supportive if he wants to do the work to get there.

Tom_Reingold said:

"Thank you for all you've done to teach NizhoniChild who will now be taking the next step and studying with NewTeacher."

+1

Honestly a good teacher will understand.  Over the years I've studied with many many many people.  The only person who was weird was my 6th grade piano/composition teacher - she still talks about my leaving (it's been 25 years!!!!!). 

It happens, for a variety of reasons, and the teacher should be a professional about it.  Because it is a close, personal relationship, it does resemble a breakup!! Good luck!