DEAR HARRIETTE: One of my friends is an incredible pianist. I used to take lessons as a child and have retained barely any information. Can I ask my friend to give me music lessons? I don't want to make him uncomfortable about asking for a freebie, but I don't want to insult him if I offer to pay. -- Wannabe Mozart, Jackson, Mississippi
DEAR WANNABE MOZART: How fortunate you are to have a friend who is a pianist. Does your friend teach? As you probably know, being a pianist and teaching others to play the piano are two very different things. If you already have knowledge that your friend teaches, then it could be fine to ask if you could hire him to give you lessons. It is appropriate to ask to pay for professional services. It would be inappropriate to ask a professional to give you services for free.
If you are unsure as to whether your friend teaches, you would be better off to ask for a referral. You can tell him that you studied piano as a child and he has inspired you to take lessons as an adult. Find out if he can recommend a teacher who would be a good fit for you as a beginner. If he volunteers himself, all the better.
(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)