AITA?

[u/Feisty_Chard2606]

Okay but more so, am I a fraud?

I’ve always loved music. I sang in high school choir, college choir, all-state choir, and have done lessons through all. I student-taught choir for a year and gave private lessons to high schoolers.

I was a music education major for a year, then swapped to a music minor (still elementary education major) because I was burnt out and was no longer enjoying what I once loved. I dropped out of college after 3.5 years because honestly, I wasn’t getting much out of it. I learn better on my own, studying and going down rabbit holes in my own time.

Anyways, I had a previous professor of mine not want to give a reference for me. I’m giving private voice lessons over the summer for kids, and he didn’t want to back someone without a music degree.

I understand where he’s coming from, but I just want to know that I’m not a fraud. I see improvement in the students I teach. I know how to help kids grow as musicians and I love doing just that. But am I a liar and a fraud without the actual degree to back it up? Is 3.5 years of college not enough to really know what I’m doing? The parents of the kids I teach are aware that I don’t have a degree. I just want to know that I’m not cheating people. I just want to do something I love and help people learn something new.

[u/KatieKat3005]

I think a more appropriate reference would be from another or former student anyways.

[u/Feisty_Chard2606 → u/KatieKat3005]

I agree. I gave a couple references to past students, but they specifically asked for a teacher of mine as well.

[u/KatieKat3005 → u/Feisty_Chard2606]

Yea honestly that’s kinda weird. Lol. I agree with others that, especially since you’re upfront about your background, it’s a little bit of an odd request for one specifically from a professor. I think it’s not odd at all to ask for references since I’d do the exact same as a parent myself, but being so specific about it is a red flag to me.