violin lesson - most interesting barter

February 3, 2015 at 03:29 PM · I'd be interested in knowing if the livestock that you acquired through this exchange is considered taxable income, I would guess that it is.

February 3, 2015 at 04:09 PM · Here, in the UK, I'm fairly sure that cattle are tagged and registered from a very early age so that their movements can be tracked throughout their lives (obviously very important if disease is involved). In which case, if there is a similar procedure in Oregon you can be certain that the tax man will come knocking if there's the slightest possibility of raising tax revenue!

February 3, 2015 at 04:36 PM · I couldn't possibly tell you as the young ladies in question would sue me! (wink) (Only joking - I wouldn't risk the ire of the boyfriends and husbands!!)

February 3, 2015 at 04:48 PM · Peter, have you had a comprehensive medical checkup recently? I recommend it.

February 3, 2015 at 06:19 PM · Yea, I'm as clean as a whistle. Just had an MRI scan and apart from a hysterectomy I'm OK and I'm definitely not pregnant.

My only problem (speaking seriously) is a torn ligament (sort of slipped disc) which is pressing on a nerve. But I still manage 6-8 miles a day, walking my dog, that is. (I got the torn ligament from playing the violin on a 300 foot high tightrope. The brain transplant my wife thought I needed was deemed unecessary at this time).

February 4, 2015 at 04:19 AM · I have exchanged for haircuts for my family. And also cleaning and babysitting. I like bartering and would be open to lots of things.

February 4, 2015 at 12:12 PM · Peter, in what state of cleanliness is that whistle? A couple of weeks ago I had to have my whistle cleaned, as I was due to wear it for something quite formal.

You're having us on about that tightrope - It was only the side of a roof, and you were doing it under the mistaken apprehension that in so doing you would be able to play as well as Isaac Stern. But I have news for you. When Stern made that recording he was comfortably in a recording studio - The fiddler you see in the film is either Tutte Lemkow, an unnamed stuntman, or an animation.

February 4, 2015 at 01:43 PM · For a number of years I had a studio in a finished attic - so I guess I qualified as a fiddler IN the roof!

I did have one offer of house-keeping in exchange for violin lessons, but the person decided that the distance to come to me was too great. I'd still consider that!

February 4, 2015 at 04:00 PM · In fact i keep my dog whistle in my pocket so its probably a bit unhygenic. I only blow it occasionally to get her back (the dog, that is) but sometimes it attracts the attention of pretty birds (of the feathered variety only, unfortunately ...)

PS I have to admit I have never been a great admirer of that fiddler on the roof, and I avoid roofs as the pigeons usualy dive bomb me (And it's hard to get the dog up there).

February 4, 2015 at 04:51 PM · I too am a fiddler IN the roof, in that I also have my practice studio in a room in my loft. I call that room the "Phrontisterion", a rather apt name.

February 4, 2015 at 11:52 PM · Yes Peter, the difference between a pigeon and some of us is that a pigeon can afford to leave a deposit on a house.

February 4, 2015 at 11:58 PM · several lessons for a baby crib and stroller.

February 5, 2015 at 08:16 AM · Had a student show up to a lesson and could not pay so they offered me their joint... Considering I've never touched that stuff in all my life, I respectfully passed, and told them to pay for that one lesson when they had actual funds. I also made them watch those 80s commercials all about how drugs are bad, say no to drugs and how the son learned it from watching his dad. Good times and good laughs.

Only other weird payment was a couch offer from a student whose family was in the furniture business. Eh, why not. =)

February 5, 2015 at 11:32 AM · No-one gives me "couch offers" these days!

February 5, 2015 at 02:35 PM · One student bartered an inexpensive EBay viola for lesson time.

February 6, 2015 at 01:44 AM · Couch offers? We've just had potatoes on another discussion. Coincidence too striking to miss. Clearly we're being told we don't get enough exercise.

February 6, 2015 at 11:38 AM · Not me, but when a teacher marries his pupil, it makes an interesting barter, every time, money plus pupil for violin lessons. Smetana should have had a different libretto (and maybe, to avoid accusations of gender discrimination, he should have written two operas, inverting the subject of the fugue of The Bartered Bride for that of The Bartered Groom).

February 6, 2015 at 01:51 PM · A doctor is not allowed to make a mistress of his patient, but could conceivably make a patient of his mistress. How would that dictum apply to a teacher-student relationship?

February 6, 2015 at 02:18 PM · Have you tried giving your wife driving lessons?

(The opposite seems to pose no problem..)

February 6, 2015 at 02:44 PM · It was early agreed between my wife and me that I should not teach her to drive but only to accompany her when she was practising. That was many years ago and the marriage has survived. In the UK, at least, an unqualified driver must by law always be accompanied by someone who is qualified.

Getting back to music, my Mother was a qualified piano teacher and Dad was a very gifted amateur pianist (concerto standard). When I was a small boy their policy was not to give me lessons but only to supervise my practice as necessary, although Dad would often give me useful tips.

February 6, 2015 at 03:31 PM · True, Adrian - It doesn't make any difference whether you've passed the test or not, or whether you even want them.

February 9, 2015 at 01:50 AM ·

February 9, 2015 at 02:14 AM · Reflexology. I was bummed when she moved to a different state.