5 Secrets to Skyrocket Student Retention in Your Music Lessons

Keeping students engaged and excited about lessons and practicing is one of the challenges teachers face in retention for lessons. If the student isn’t having fun, they won’t want to practice; lessons become challenging because you, the teacher, have to reteach the previous lesson, and you can’t accomplish what needs to be done in the lesson and the student doesn’t make the progress they are hoping for. To help combat this cycle, here are 5 secrets to Skyrocket your Student Retention.

1) Give A Little: Have a fun studio atmosphere. Be a little less formal than the teachers were a couple of decades ago. Play music online for them. Have them bring in the music they want to do. Talk about their favorite music and see if you can find sheet music just for that as a “fun song”.

2) I Am Not Above Bribery. Candy is sometimes the best incentivizer. I like to have a bowl of candy in eyeshot of the students during their lesson and allow them to pick from AFTER their lesson. They only get the candy at the end. And you better believe they are thinking about what candy they want to pick from the bowl for most of the lesson.

3) Make Practicing and Assignments Fun. Have fun activities for them to work towards. Create a sticker chart where students can earn prizes for practicing or completing assignments in their theory workbook or other outside assignments.

4) Embrace Holidays. Use holidays to decorate your studio space, and special candy or themed activities year after year so students know what to expect and look forward to each year.

5) Get The Whole Studio Together! Offer group classes, or performance classes where students can practice performing for other’s in a safe space, but also allows them to meet other students in the studio. Never hurts to have a short pizza or ice cream party afterward too!

Unlock the Musician Within: How to Incentivize Music Practicing and Boost Your Student's Skills

Practicing, most people don’t like it. I didn’t like it all that much growing up. And I liken the idea of practicing to my adults to “working out”. We know we need to do it to get better but, you have to make time for it to truly make a difference in growth and ability to progress.

With kids, it’s a little easier, because you have the parent there to remind them to get it done. For my own child, who takes lessons from another teacher, has a reminder on our home speaker device to remind him at 3:15 to practice each day. Here are some top tips to help incentivize your students to practice more frequently.

1. Personal Incentivizing. My kid knows that he can’t go out to play with friends until he is done practicing. He has now developed the habit to practice before the reminder goes off because he really wants to go out and play. So he developed his own personal incentivizing. Talk with the parent about how they can figure out or learn what is a personal incentive to practice for their child. Could be anything from watching tv, or playing with friends. Or creating their own little sticker chart at home.

2. Sticker Charts work wonders. Not only does it allow the student to see their stickers increase over time but they are likening the idea of results-based progress. “If I do this, I get better at this.” Each year, we have a 75 Days of Practicing challenge in my studio to help incentivize consistent practicing leading up to our big spring recital.

3. Candy Bowl. It’s as simple as having a bowl with candy for your students to take a piece at the end of each lesson. But, set rules to go with it. Good lesson and practicing the week before they could take an extra piece before they leave.

4. Have the student perform regularly. You can create monthly or bi-monthly performance classes for your students to perform for each other. That way they are always working towards something to showcase, which means, if they are going to perform it, they have to practice it to be ready. If the student isn’t at a specific level of performance for a piece they can’t perform. It’s harsh but it keeps the kids at a certain level of expectance in their practice habits.

Which tip would have helped you most when you were a kid learning your instrument? Be sure to leave a comment and let me know!

Happy Teaching!

Successful Music Studio Bookkeeping -- NOW AVAILABLE!

Ready to get your books in order, literally? I’m an organizing guru with my books for my studio and I’m sharing all my secrets and in this mini course. Get access to the same templates I’ve been using for years that are easily customizable and duplicatable, year after year and student after student.

What you get:

I walk you through how to organize your studio folder right from the get go!

Lesson Summary (What I call invoices) for single and multiple students, and how to print and send it to your students (Set for every month of the year)

Payment Receipt (with attendance log) (for every month of the year and a yearly summary)

Total Money Earned sheet so you can see in one place, how much you’re earning, gross and net each month and for the whole year across your entire studio (Along with a year by year summary to watch your business grow!)

Tax Expense report

Inventory Acquisition, Lending library, Sale log

Plus 2 bonus!

Each sheet is designed to look simple yet professional, good enough to send to any student, and to be used as official documents come tax season. All formulas included, so all you have to do is just enter in the appropriate information and it’s done.

Tutorial videos included for every sheet on how to customize, use, save and print.

Templates for both Apple iOS Numbers and Windows EXCEL.

Happy Teaching!

Successful Music Studio Bookkeeping Mini Course

It's time to get excited! With covid, and 3 kids at home (feels like forever), development, of this course has been delayed...But no more! Kids are finally back in school and I'm hard at work again! 

Because it's been so long, I've decided to drop a new mini course soon. The one I've been asked for the most...

Successful Music Studio BOOKKEEPING! It’s my next mini course with access to the bookkeeping templates I've been using for since I started teaching (improved along the way!). 
 

In this mini course you’ll get access to the templates I created to help make my bookkeeping simple and duplicatable year after year and student after student.

Templates Included in both iOS and Windows compatible:

• Monthly Lesson Summary, for single and multi-student families (including completed formulas)

• Payment Receipts used for each student with Attendance tracking log (including formulas)

• Tax Expense Report

• Gross and Net Yearly Income Tracking Sheet

• Studio Inventory Tracking Sheet

BONUS:

• Gig Earnings Log (to track additional income)

• Business Childcare Log (because being a mom with 3 kids, my own business, sometimes we need to have help!)

Each template includes a tutorial video to walk you through how to customize the template to fit your studio and needs.

Are you excited for this? Is this something you need? Drop a comment and let me know! Also be sure to get on the mailing list so you’re in the know when this course launches HERE!

For now, you can continue to browse the site! You can get your studio started on the right foot with our Customizable Private Music Studio Policies. Check out more blog posts Successful Private Music Studio Secrets Blog, or head back to HOME.

Happy Teaching!

10 Proven Strategies to Keep Your Music Teaching Business Running Successfully

As a music teacher and entrepreneur, you know that running a successful teaching business can be challenging, but also incredibly rewarding. Whether you are just starting or have been in the industry for years, there are always new strategies and techniques to learn and implement to grow your business and keep it running successfully. In this article, we will explore 10 proven strategies that will help you keep your music teaching business running smoothly and successfully. From creating a solid business plan to leveraging social media and building strong relationships with your students and their families, you will discover practical tips and insights that will help you take your teaching business to the next level. So, whether you are looking to attract more students, increase your revenue, or simply improve the quality of your teaching, read on to discover how you can achieve your goals and build a thriving music-teaching business.

1. Develop those long-term friendships with your student. Make lessons fun, and have a candy bowl. When your student is super excited to come to lessons or practice at home, the parents will see that and will love that they don’t have to work as hard to get their kid into lessons. They will thank you for it and will tell their friends all about you and your business and referrals are GOLD as a small business.

2. Offer a referral incentive. This goes right along with #1. The more your students bring, the more in demand you become. Make sure you have a stipulation, that only 1 benefit is awarded monthly. For my studio, the students will receive 1 free month of lessons once a referral student starts. You can stipulate, max 2 referrals a semester, or good for any month of their choosing. But this is something to have added to your Studio Policy!

3. Create a Lesson Agreement that new students have to continue lessons for 4-6 months (you decide the length) to allow enough time for the student to fully get the basics learned and if music is right for them. This shows the parent you are worth investing in for at least a determined amount of time.

4. Create a solid business plan of a set teaching schedule and even make up lesson frequency, and stick with it. When you treat your business like a business, you will be regarded as a business, not just the neighborhood piano teacher that is doing this in their spare time.

5. Word of Mouth! Referrals are GOLD, but you still have to tell people that you are a teacher/offer music lessons. ADVERTISING is necessary for any business. People won’t know unless you tell them about it. Get business cards made and carry some with you everywhere you go. Hang one up on community boards when you see one. Leave it on a counter at a business where other cards are being left.

6. Think outside of the box in what you can offer. Offer to record music and splice recordings together, be an accompanist, offer songwriting workshops, theory workshops…The list can go on and on! You can check out more ideas in this post about innovative teaching opportunities!

7. Don’t feel like you have to cater to the masses. Limit your studio to what you can realistically handle. And price your tuition at what you are truly worth, not what others think you are worth. Teaching can take a lot out of you, especially if you are teaching in small pockets during the week or weekend after working another job during the day.

8. Build a waitlist. While it’s hard to say, “I have no room right now” when you "might “ be able to add an extra lesson day in to accommodate every student that comes calling, you will be making sacrifices somewhere else. For me, I teach 3 days a week almost right as soon as school gets out and often finish teaching when it’s my kid’s bedtime. I dedicate 2 days that I don’t teach so I can help my own kids with after-school studies and have time with them. If I gave that time up for more lessons, I miss more time with my kids.

9. Value your time. Don’t be the teacher that always goes over lessons and makes another student wait. Just like going to a doctor’s office, no one likes having to wait beyond their specified time. If a student is late, there is no make-up time at the end of lessons. When you respect your time, the families will too. And things happen, but when it becomes a constant problem, address it with the parent as “Is there another time in the week that works better for your family.”

10. Incentives work wonders for kids and families. When you have a challenge for your kids to work towards with BIG REWARDS. Believe it or not, candy does the trick, especially when they get to pick what candy they are getting. Be very clear about how the student earns the reward. I usually send an email out to families with the challenge rules. And check in weekly with either a practice chart/sticker chart or have some way to track progress over time so they can see their progress.

When you use these proven strategies, your studio will not only be in demand but will prosper the test of time with loyal families that come back year after year and you will be able to continue to grow your business on your terms and make it a fun place for your students!

Happy Teaching!

The Ultimate Guide to Overcoming Challenges in Your Music Teaching Business

As a music teacher, running a successful business can be challenging. From attracting new students to managing finances, there are many obstacles that can make it difficult to thrive in this industry. However, with the right strategies and mindset, it is possible to overcome these challenges and build a thriving music teaching business. In this ultimate guide, we will explore some of the most common obstacles faced by music teachers and provide practical tips and advice for overcoming them. Whether you're just starting out or looking to take your business to the next level, this guide will provide valuable insights and actionable steps that you can take to achieve success in your music teaching business. So, let's dive in and discover how you can overcome the challenges and build a successful and fulfilling career in music teaching.

1) Lack of practicing by the students. This is number one and can be frustrating for not only you, whose goal is to keep the learning happening week by week but also the parents at home. If they have to keep reminding their child to practice or nag them to get it done, it isn’t fun for anyone.

• Tip 1: LET THEM PICK A SONG TO LEARN at their level. Use a Popular music book that has some of your favorite current songs in it. When a student enjoys what they are doing, they will practice.

• Tip 2: Incentivize your student to practice. Through a challenge or even just having a simple candy bowl for them to pick a candy at the end of the lesson.

2) Late tuition payments. Because this is a business you are reliant on receiving payment. For me and my family, this is what helps pay the bills. So for us, receiving timely tuition payments is a must.

• Tip 1: In your studio policy clearly state when the due date is for payments and if payments aren’t received within a week of the due date, a late fee will be added. This is a business. A service-related business and most services expect payment.

• Tip 2: one thing that has truly helped my business is to transition on receive online payments. You can set up a “due date” and a reminder is sent out if they haven’t paid by the due date.

3) Incompatible personalities. Whether it’s with the student or the family. It happens. Even when I was taking lessons, I didn’t mesh well with one of my teachers and it was horrible.

• Tip 1: Address it. Talk to the family, and be open. Don’t just try to “get through it” If you’re feeling the strain from it, they are too, which will impact the lack of practice and a willingness to participate fully.

4) Tardiness. Being late to lessons happens, occasionally but if a student is habitually late or misses lessons that is a cause for a discussion with the parents and even to the point of removal from the studio. Remind them that you don’t want to waste their time or money and your time as well. You are here to help them, but can only do so if the student is there to receive the help.

• Tip 1: Clearly state in the studio policy that lessons will not be extended if a student is late. Their lesson time is the lesson time and If there is excessive tardiness or missed lessons, may cause removal from the studio. If a new lesson time is required, please notify me as soon as possible to help remedy the situation.

5) Filling your music studio. If you struggle with filling your studio, this can be from a number of factors from, specialized instrument —not enough people playing to fill a studio, location, tuition dues too high or even just more advertising.

• Tip 1: If you teach a specialized instrument, can you teach a secondary instrument? I play french horn, and there aren’t a lot of students in the area that play horn, or don’t already have another horn teacher. But I also play piano. So most of my student is actually filled with piano students and 1/3 is horn. I’m personally so close to closing the gap but, piano is technically my fall back, studio filler.

• Tip 2: Are you away from the city center, or out in a more rural area? A solution could be to open a studio closer to town. While it won’t be run in your home you might have to rent a space to teach lessons. Places to look into renting: churches, music stores, ask the schools if you can use a practice room for after school lessons, or even open up your own storefront.

• Tip 3: If you are getting a lot of interest in lessons but not converting to students in your studio, reevaluate your tuition. Maybe you’re priced a little high in your area. You can always start tuition lower, and over time increase it. But don’t undersell yourself either just to get students in the door. Be reasonable. Check pricing of local teachers in the area and be in the median point of that.

• Tip 4: Advertise anywhere and everywhere you can. Call subdivisions and ask if they have a monthly newsletter or Facebook group you can advertise on. Make an ad in there. Leave your card or flyer on community boards at the gym, coffee shops, or other local eateries that often have a advertisement / posting board up. Create an incentive in your studio for referrals. Contact churches and see if they can pass the word on. Post on Instagram or Facebook that you are have opening in your music studio. Talk about it often, with anyone and everyone.

At one point or another you will have at least 1 of these challenges in your studio. And It’s never fun to have a difficult conversation with any parent regarding their child, but it must be done if you are going to overcome any of these challenges. Just remember, this is your business. You are here to serve but, there hast to be a willingness on both sides for you to effectively do so.

Happy Teaching!

How To Easily Transition To Teaching Online Music Lessons | TOP 5 TIPS

Non-essential business have been shut down in our state for at least a month at this point and I had to make the quick decision on transitioning to online lessons. It’s actually an easy transition, technology wise! Follow these steps to continue your teaching online during this time, or open up your teaching to online lessons to be able to teach more students in general!

ZOOM is an amazing teaching site that allows you to have multiple people and devices at once and it’s FREE! Set up an account and select MEETINGS —> Schedule Meeting. Assign each student a RECURRING meeting time so that it uses a custom code for every student. Be sure to scroll down to ADVANCED, and select waiting room, so that they have a place to wait while you end one student and then start theirs. Password is optional. Then just Send them their customized link. Each week you sign into your zoom and open the meetings as they happen.

Be sure to send out a notice to all parents about what you expect during this time from being in the waiting room for lessons 5 minutes early and even advise them on no shows/late and that lessons will only be for the time allotted. If the student is late, you will not be making up the time at the end or at a later date. You, as the teacher, should not be expected to send out a text message to the parents each time they don’t show up for lessons. It’s the parent’s responsibility to remember to have their child in lesson on time.

SAMPLE LETTER:

For you as the teacher, know that teaching online is a much SLOWER process. You can not go at the speed you did when teaching face to face. It takes more listening than talking at times too.

1) You must have a copy of every book the students are using. Forego doing theory if you have to, but you will need a copy of their books plus a notebook and keep record of what you assigned them.

2) Allow the student to complete their playing then give them notes on what and where to correct then go back over. Often there is a lag and if you correct while they are playing by the time they hear your comment they could already be half a measure ahead and get confused. So listen then correct.

3) Be clear with where you are talking about, measure numbers. Older kids need to write in every measure number to make it easier. For younger students go back over how to count their measures. Be prepared to hold your music up and show them exactly.

4) If you tell them to mark something in their music, mark yours too so you know exactly what you are telling them to help them next time.

5) if you are feeling frustrated or the student is feeling frustrated, move on to the next thing, and let them know we’ll work on it again next week. This is new for you and them, and it’s a big change. Don’t let your frustration show. Often they just need a break, or will be able to pick up the concept during their practicing that week after they sit down with it.

In the end, lessons online are completely doable. Be open and honest with the parents. Check in with them each month to see how it’s working for them. Honestly having our 75 Days of practicing challenge already going has helped us stay committed to practicing during this time because they know that they will still get their prizes even with being quarantined!

Happy teaching!

Making The Jump To Accepting Online Tuition Payments | Setting up your Business Invoices on PayPal

Have you been thinking about moving moving to more online practices? From sending out Welcome Packet emails instead of through snail mail, or monthly tuition emails, or even start accepting online payments for tuition online.

I recently l made the switch to accept payments via PayPal and let me tell you, IT HAS BEEN AMAZING! No more awkward face to face “I haven’t received tuition for the month” conversations because you can just send a “REMINDER” through PayPal. Plus you can create a template for invoices and all you do is plug in the address of who it’s to, amount, and I include a copy of the lesson summary I make as well, set a due by date and off it goes! And I’m getting all my student’s tuitions paid on time, easily!

Plus with the REPORTS it made our taxes so easy because it separated out income, outcome and even our fees, yes fees, a portion of your income will be used to pay PayPal, but you can take that information to your tax expert to have them enter it into your taxes and deductions.

Let me walk you through.

First you must set it up as a business account, because you are running a business.

Once it’s set up as a business you can set up your invoices. Click CREATE INVOICE in the left sidebar or under the drop down list of TOOLS—> Invoices—>Create Invoice.

Add your logo and business information. And save as template. I personally use the Amount only template.

Add reference information (i.e. May Tuition)

Add due date

TYPE: Services

BILL TO: Add your students information, and once you enter it once you just have to pull their info from the address book and you are good to go!

For the description portion I only use Description and Amount. That’s it look at my example below:

Then ATTACH FILE: This is where I attach my official lesson summary PDF for the individual student.

Preview, and if everything looks okay, SEND!

Also with the new Paypal.me option for those parents that still prefer to pay by check and I’m sending their monthly lesson summary via email, I have been including a link option to my paypal.me page as an option for them to just click the link and pay or still pay by check. But they have an easy option to pay online without having an invoice pre made for them.

I’ve been loving the simplicity of receiving the tuition online, and the whole process is documented easily and done!

Happy Teaching!

xo, Becky