Do NOT use "Mrs Koo" - you have been warned!

R

ReallyUpset

New member
*Hi all, sorry, I've posted the following in two other threads, just for triple protection*

Hi all,

I signed up to SOFT to do just one thing - to get a whole lot of frustration off my chest, and to warn you guys - if any of you are looking to hire a piano teacher, do NOT call "Mrs Koo". Call anyone else but her.

My story started some months ago - I am an adult learner, looking to take the ABRSM 5 at the end of Oct. I wrote to Mrs Koo and thought she sounded quite good. Great credentials (UMichigan M.Mus), years of teaching etc. So she came and taught me about 4 lessons out of a package of 10 (I also paid for her transport to come to my place).

I haven't seen her in over a month. First her son falls ill, then she falls ill, then she double books herself for a function, and today she's "stuck overseas". And strangely, all these notifications of cancellations come a day before we are scheduled to meet. So either she is the unluckiest woman on the planet or she is full of it. She tries to persuade me to accommodate HER schedule, when as a paying customer, should it be the other way around?

She's utterly unreliable and I've given her so many chances that quite frankly I feel quite stupid.

Mrs Koo, if you are reading this - I told you what I'd do if you did this again - I have a moral responsibility to warn others about you.

So guys, pardon me if I sound harsh, but trust me, you'd feel the same way too if you're staring at the upcoming exams with no way of covering the syllabus in time.

So this is what I have currently:
her email is pianist_koo@live.com
she seems to have two phone numbers starting with 8508 or 8509
She is apparently an overseas/Michigan graduate (M.Mus)
She was last seen here advertising intensive ABRSM lessons.

She could change her nick and email, but do ask to see your teacher's certs/credentials. For physical attributes, u can PM me or email me at le_wu_man@yahoo.com (I have to exercise SOME sort of restraint in this public post I suppose...).

That's it - thanks for letting me vent, and be careful!
 
Hi, Adrain, really sorry, but I was really on a trip and couldnt make it back cause of some unucky thing that crop up. I have the hotel reservation receipts with me, but that aside, I can still get you ready for the exams. I just need aother 2 more sessions with you or so.
Thank you.
 
mods, pls delete this and its traces. this poor fella had a bad experience with this piano teacher but apparently his threads are too sore as advice.
 
I think his intention is to warn us. It can be quite frustrating if the teacher keep changing time, etc because the progress will be delayed. Responsibity is important.

Furthermore, I don't think two more lessons will help the student to prepare well for the exam. Preparation needs more time.
 
yes lemonade, you're right. what you mentioned can be frustrating.

but don't spam your frustrations about. this is a forum, not a bitching place.

mods, please. thanks.
 
I think it's well within OP's rights to post a warning for others who might be interested. It's not like the OP created this thread just to whine. Advertiser does not meet promises, it's fair game IMO.

Turbochicken, you really seem to want this thread deleted. Who are you in all this, and how does this thread existing hurt you in any way?
 
Turbochicken, do you know Mrs Koo?

I feel that this thread should stay, as a warning to future advertisers, that if they renege on their obligations, everybody shall know about it.

If every single complaint is taken off, scammers n cheats will be emboldened.
 
Mrs Koo : I don't know anything about teaching piano nor barely playing an instrument. but one thing I know is rendering a reliable service. If you can't deliver. don't put up an offer. If you try, you will have to compensate for free should you be unsuccessful. Fine line drawn between excuses and reasons.
 
Agree 100% with blueprintstudios.


Anyway, for private lessons usually student should pay only after the lessons are given. It doesn't make sense to pay beforehand - sign of a dodgy service for you right there.

Also, I hope you have personally verified the teacher's certificates and qualifications? regardless, M.Mus is overqualified to teach Grade 5. you can get better service and cheaper alternatives easily.
 
no i do not know mrs koo, nor am i involved in any way.

i have been teaching music for a decade now and i would say let's just give grace for both parties. warn us, yes. but avoid spraypainting all over. this frustration thread is seen twice elsewhere in this forum. it doesn't speak well of the thread master, even if you were a victim.

and paying before or after for private lessons, both are common practice. at least in the circle of music friends and mentors i know.
 
ok, pls don't argue over me. This is a nice forum to be in. :(
I am sorry Adrain, but I really can help u complete it in time still. We have a month to go. I am done with the topics, just need 2 sessions to guide u through your papers.
You can still make it in time.
Sorry.
 
This are a few choices of turbochick's relationship with khoo
1.Boyfriend
2.Father
3.Friend
4.Brother
5.Student
6.Son
8.Son's friend
9.Husbend
10.Hater of TS.
 
^ Agreed. TS is just trying to warn fellow musicians alike. Maybe went slightly overboard with posting 2 or 3 same threads, but at least it was limited, in terms of criticism. A general heads-up for you and me.
 
Ironica said:
This are a few choices of turbochick's relationship with khoo
1.Boyfriend
2.Father
3.Friend
4.Brother
5.Student
6.Son
8.Son's friend
9.Husbend
10.Hater of TS.
Click to expand...

i lol'd at this.

but i think, it would be better if the thread starter put the topic as "bad experience with piano teacher", and change his/her tone to a more neutral one, maybe like reviewing a guitar...? just what i think.
 
Hi all,

yes its me again - let me just clarify - my thread was meant only to do one thing - to warn. Honestly I didn't know where I should have posted it, so I posted it in the most logical places so that the right people would see it. Turbo, frustration would be if I plastered this in every single thread. And I didn't post it immediately when she cancelled so I gave myself time to think about what to write, trying to not to go overboard. And I don't think I did. Every single thing I said was fact.

I think we pay good money to get a service, a product etc., along the lines of how it would help us, and if unfulfilled promises and service issues come up, I think human beings tend to react in pretty similar ways, especially if you've given the other party the benefit of the doubt more times that you probably should have.

Mrs Koo - things have deteriorated such that I don't think either you nor I will be comfortable in picking this up again, so let's part ways. The last time before you cancelled on me again, we "shook hands" on the remedial action I would take if you did it again. And you did it again. I'm sorry, but frankly I'm a fairly patient person, and I think you've taken advantage of that. You've told me that you've got "personal issues" and i've told you to sort your life out before taking students because it is the students that will ultimately pay for your last minute cancellations etc.

But before I sign off, let me just say that Mrs Koo is a very good teacher, if she shows up. She does show you the way to tackle questions etc., but the key phrase here is "if she shows up". I do hope you sort whatever you need to, and soon.

For the rest of the readers, again, I hope I didn't sound too bitchy - it wasn't my intention.

On a lighter note,

TGIF!
 
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