Tamago wrote:
Let me now explain my whole experience with Matt's Music:
First of all, they can't organize a piss-up in a brewery. The account was always a mess. Before I even started I was sent an SMS that I owe them money. No problem I paid it. They seemed to constantly want payment in the middle of the month, kept sending me SMS messages like debt collection attorneys do. I explained to them upfront I get paid on the 28th of the month and sorry I just don't have money in the middle of the month. I work on a budget.
With regards to music, I tried my best, I honestly did. Unfortunately things at home were not so good and money was very very tight so I could not afford to do certain things like having the damn guitar set up because apparently the truss rod is f**ked up and the neck is bent (Nice one Andy McGibbons!!!!). I could not afford even R200 to get it set up, money was that tight so what could I do? played it like that. Its still in that condition and I feel nothing for it anymore.
I was made to feel I had a crap instrument, then I was made to feel like a retard because I'd come there tired from lack of sleep due to the baby and try my best, and they'd not be happy with progress made. Then came the time in May when I had to work a Saturday at work... nobody told the teacher and he was upset that I just didn't pitch. Then later in 2010 when I got so critically sick and was off for 3 weeks, I didn't make any of the lessons, and when I tried to explain this to the manageress she was all funny with me.
By October I was really just gatvol of this whole little setup and shelved the whole idea. My wife was on my case about the time spent practicing so I canned it, and decided to be there 100% for the child, which I did. Said child then got into a routine and by November I found I had tons of free time on my hands. So I worked on nights/weekends fixing our vehicles, which is just as well as my wife's car and mine started to give serious crap.
Now I am sorry, I might be an engineer and I might be involved in extremely complex projects (which gets perceived as me being able to master this like its ice cream) but that's no reason to hammer me or throw me in the deep end. My problem is that I lack strength in my hands and my hands do not take too well to a guitar, from years of neurosurgery on microelectronics they are that way. I don't battle with the music theory, I battle with the practical application thereof, and that is, working the instrument.
I feel I have posted far too much of my personal life on the internet now and I fear I am now being seen as a forum emo!
Yeah man, crap just happens... Messages there were always delayed, sometimes 3 days after the students lesson had already happened... or not happened (whichever way you want to view it)... and yes, the manageress at the time you went there would be unruly, no argument there (the previous one would have been super nice to you).
As for a system... none to speak of as such. They do try though, that much i know... Not going to mention names but the ones i worked with did their best and did the business thing of prolonging the students (read into that what you may... hopefully it is the one intended). Also remember that that particular music school runs like most music schools, iow, a sheep or cattle farm. We are only allowed to teach within those half hour brackets... and we are just so looking forward to the break to feed our lungs ?
Sometimes a half hour is not enough... but... if the teacher knows how to read the student, that half hour is plenty. And a lot of progress can be made, depending on you of course. With your situation you had at the time, they could have arranged for you to sort things out and come back when you are ready... but yeah, they're a business and forget that it takes other people, ie: customers, to make their business function.
Pity you had to go thru hell man... but glad things worked out on one side for you. You do still seem hungry for music which is a very good thing. Take your time and find a teacher you can gel with, which is what you are after anyway. I wish you luck on your quest dude... ?
