Sadly, he has already withdrawn through the registrar’s office. Elapsed time from “wooing” by new teacher to withdrawing: one day. If that weren’t the case, I’d be inclined to do just as you say.
I’ll tell ya…from what I observed, it was less *ripping off * and more mortgage the house (again) and quit your job so you can spend a ton of money on pictures and go to every audition and take voice lessons and hire a stylist and damn it! Our kid has talent! There really wasn’t much revealed in the way of unscrupulous management. Parents With Blinders was the real problem.
I have a friend who’s convinced her daughter can be a model. Don’t get me wrong, she’s not ugly but she’s no great beauty by a long shot. On a 1-10 scale, I’d have to give her about a 4. Yet she drags this kid to modeling agencies all the time. I feel bad for her daughter. She deals with people willing to take her money now but one day someone is going to be really honest with her.
There oughta be a law…
I’ve seen this on AI, and I’ve seen it in real life. On AI it really shows during Hollywood week, when people have to sing in ensembles. It really separates the men from the boys and the women from the wabbits.
I got a real schooling in this over the past decade, doing some light opera at local universities. Now you’d think that students at places like MIT and Harvard would be pretty smart. Not musically, they weren’t. Talented, yes, a few of them were. But not only musically dumb, but wilfully ignorant. There were exceptions of course, but for the most part I resigned myself to having to feed each one of them their notes.
My eyes were truly opened the sadly few times we got someone from one of the local conservatories (and one particular smokin’ hot MIT chick). These babes would actually show up to the first rehearsal – get this – already knowing their music. Already memorized. And having had only 2 or 3 days to do it in. And with no attitude on their parts.
Wow, it’s been a long time since I’ve thought about them. Caline, Mandy, Amanda, and Vanessa – if you’re reading this, I still love you and want to bear your children.
Ah, professionalism. The ultimate aphrodesiac. Well…professionalism *and * smokin’ hotness! 
I read a thread like this and it just makes me sad. I can’t sing! I want to be able to sing! I would work hard to be able to sing!
Instead, I sound like… actually there are no words for what I sound like. A goose with a head cold, perhaps.
I blame our society’s attitude toward art in general. It’s the first thing to be cut from the budget. We’re taught from a very early age that it isn’t important. We’re conditioned to think it’s a waste of time to even understand it, let alone pursue it.
My parents started dating in 1948. My dad was a budding jazz musician and my mom’s parents were so horrified by the prospect of her dating a musician (ptooey!) that when he got drafted, they moved over a thousand miles away. He was good, but realistic about how lucrative it could be with a mortgage and four mouths to feed, so he worked the ol’ 9 to 5. But it’s hard to ignore the message that society sends to people: Art = Loser.
Just remember…after a couple rum ‘n’ cokes, everyone sounds good on Karaoke Night.
Nonsense, dear. You’ve got star power. If you want it enough, it’ll just happen. Maybe you just haven’t found the right teacher yet.
Without the professionalism, they were still smokin’ hot. The rest of them, I don’t know what they were smokin’, but it wasn’t hot.
Yep. I wonder if things are better in Europe. I’m pretty sure they are in Japan.
If you don’t mind a slight hijack, can anyone recommend an good primer on music theory? Part of the Academic competition I coach a team for involves basic music theory, and my background in music is weak.
Yep. I’m not in music, but poetry is awash in people who don’t understand the first thing about poetry, or writing, or even grammar, but who think that if they just feel something deeply or if they cry when they write something it’s got to be art.
I honestly thought (hoped?) that we in poetry were getting the worst of it since we’re so on the fringe. But it sounds like it’s more common than not.
Say it! Say it out loud! “I’m JS Fucking Goddess, Damn it!”
I just saw a squib on TV about how students who can read music being better at other academic subjects. I didn’t hear all of it, but it was basically saying that it’s importance in all-around education is becoming more understood all the time. I wish I knew where I saw it so I could look for the story.
jsfuckinggoddess, the William Hung of the Straight Dope. 
I’m late to the thread, and can do little more than agree with some previous sentiments.
While there is some intimacy in the (college-level) teacher-student relationship, it is, ultimately, an arm’s length relationship between adult decision-makers. Had the student sought your advice before withdrawing and making the switch, I would have advised you to provide your views in a tactful way. (That is, without casting aspersions, but still making it clear that you feel the student would be best-served by following another course.)
However, the student did not seek your advice. The student withdrew and then informed you of his decision. If the student were your child, or someone else in an emotionally close relationship with you, it would of course be your obligation to take extraordinary measures in an attempt to prevent what you feel certain is a potentially catastrophic error. But he is not your child, and you are not his guardian. Let him do his own homework, and let him learn the consequences of failing to do it.
Thus, not only are you not obligated to give him advice about his decision, I think it would be unwise. First, he may perceive it as sour grapes on your part. Second, based on your description of the facts, it seems at least possible that what you say may be subjected to the big league version of the Telephone Game, and who knows how your innocent words will be communicated and mutated.
I’d tell him good luck.
Actually, I do think poetry gets a worse rap than other arts. I “get” some poetry, but on the whole it is a difficult discipline for me to grasp. I studied it in high school but you really don’t delve into it as deeply as you need to in order to gain a true appreciation for it. I envy those who do.
Oh, man…that mental picture will haunt me forever.