Independent Music Teachers Forum ISMTA Music Teachers Conference Kemp Recital Hall 11/12/11 Every music studio is different. What works for one, doesn’t work for all, and that is o.k. We each have important skills to share. In order to teach effectively, we must set up our music studios in ways most comfortable to us.

Summer Lessons Pros for Teaching More Income. More Income. Students & parents stay involved. Students & parents stay involved. Students retain more information. Students retain more information. Students have more time to practice. Students have more time to practice. Participation in recitals and contests. Participation in recitals and contests. Cons for not teaching Less Income. Student attrition rate increases in Fall. Students need more review in Fall. Some students don’t practice at all. Performance skills untested in Summer.

Summer Lessons Top 3 Reasons to teach 1. Allow students more freedom in picking the music they want to play. 2. Summer camps can drill skills and allow more “R & R” for the teacher on non-camp weeks. Also it is a chance to gain new students. 3. Summer is often the best time to start beginning students. Top 3 Reasons to not teach 1. I can’t get my parents to sign up for Summer lessons. 2. I need a break! 3. It is too hard to plan for my vacations in Summer if I teach.

Strategies for Summer ► Give students and yourself time off, but give them goals to have achieved by their next lesson. Ask in advance for a non-refundable Fall registration fee. ► Teach your normal schedule, but ask students to take a required amount of lessons in Summer. Tell parents that students not fulfilling attendance requirements in Summer will go to the bottom of the waiting list for Fall. ► Try Summer camps. Drill skills that you may find hard to find the time for in your normal teaching schedule (theory, ear training, sight reading, transposition, harmonization, ensemble playing, music history, etc.).

Studio Policies  If you don’t have one, make one. Update it annually. Every year, something new needs to be addressed.  Your rules that work for you need to be in writing. A studio policy backs up what you need for your business to survive.  It needs to be handed out, mailed out, ed out and placed in a prominent place in your music studio.  It helps to have parents and students fill out and sign a questionnaire to show that they have read and understand your policies. I give the students a treat for doing this task.

Sources for Studio Policy & Ideas  Teachers in your local association. Ask them to share studio policies. Hold a local association meeting at least every couple of years on this subject.  Books = So many, with great teaching ideas and help. Practical Piano Pedagogy, Dr. Martha Baker-Jordan, Warner Bros., Pub. (Includes: sample forms on a CD) The Independent Piano Teacher’s Studio Handbook, Beth Gigante Klingenstein, Hal Leonard, Pub.

More Sources for Studio Policy & Ideas  Internet = So many policies and ideas  Internet = So many policies and ideas pianoeducation.org/pnotspol.html practicespot.com (website that is great and also has helpful books to order) mtna.org – (website, go to: parent & student resources) musicalresources.blogspot/2011/07/truth-about-piano- lessons.html (plus many articles) by Karen Berger (piano pedagogy discussion list – approved policies)

Make up lessons Make them up? Make them up, but specifically list the reasons that you allow for lessons to be made up in your studio policy. Make them up, but specifically list the reasons that you allow for lessons to be made up in your studio policy. Make up lessons should be given only if or when it is convenient for you to do them. Make up lessons should be given only if or when it is convenient for you to do them. Make up lessons you miss, unless it is stated otherwise in your studio policy (National Holidays). Make up lessons you miss, unless it is stated otherwise in your studio policy (National Holidays). Don’t Make them up? Base your lessons on tuition (like school). Strict no make up policy frees up your schedule. No hassles with haggling over lesson make up times or explaining lesson costs. Don’t make up make up lessons.

Make up lessons This is a personal issue each teacher needs to decide for themselves according to their teaching situation. Parents in this economy are going to push for make up lessons more than they have before. Personally, I make up a lot of lessons because I feel students learn more when I do. But, this needs to be each teacher’s decision for their studio. This is a personal issue each teacher needs to decide for themselves according to their teaching situation. Parents in this economy are going to push for make up lessons more than they have before. Personally, I make up a lot of lessons because I feel students learn more when I do. But, this needs to be each teacher’s decision for their studio.

Alternatives for make up lessons ► Swap lesson times with another student (before the make up lesson is needed). ► Students video themselves practicing – you make comments on the video. You can also do Skype lessons. ► Exchange a recording you make to help the student for make up lesson time. Tell the parent how long it took to make the recording. ► A technology only lesson while you are teaching someone else. Computer assignments, ear training, sight reading, transposing, theory, or workbook assignments. Midi files or CD’s can assist the students for this lesson. ► Log all extra time, outside of the lesson, used for each student. Share this information with the parent when they are asking for a make up lesson. They should understand your position better after they know how much you do for them outside of the lesson.

When we share ideas, everything is easier When we share ideas, everything is easier Independent Music Teachers Forum Chairman: LeAnn Halvorson P.O. Box 708 Columbia, IL or I will post this power point on my website: