Make Holidays Count In Your Studio!

Never underestimate the power of incentivizing! Mid September I had one student asking when I will start putting the Halloween candy bowl out? It’s funny, because kids remember the smallest details. And while it’s just something super small and just for a month (also December with various candy cane flavors) the students ALL LOOK FORWARD to earning that piece of candy after their lesson.

So, use the holidays to help drive incentives when you can. Make is special for the kids and they will come back each and every week excited, or have something to look forward to each and every holiday.

Don’t break the bank, just keep it super simple, but PLAN AHEAD. (It’s near October and I’m already thinking about a little something for the students for Christmas.)

Holiday treat ideas that we have in my studio:

Halloween: Candy basket, let them pick it out BEFORE lesson so that a) they don’t forget to grab it before they leave b) they have that candy staring them in the face and it helps them stay focused more during lessons.

Thanksgiving: Turkey gift, you can make little homemade treats, I make these turkey cookies. Don’t feel like you have to make a whole plate for the whole family. It can be just a single treat just for your student.

Christmas: Candy Cane plate. I also plan a Christmas gift for each student. In our house I have hidden horns and pianos on my tree and add to it year after year. I’ve started this for my students. They each get an ornament for their tree (year after year students can start collecting an assortment of ornaments for their own music themed tree) Or any gift, big or small. Remember to track all purchases for your expense report in your Bookkeeping

Valentines: Heart Cookies. I like to make a big batch of sugar cookies. And because they are easier to make as a batch, each family will get a plate of cookies.

Easter: Little mini Easter baskets, and fill with candy. Super simple and low cost.

Happy Teaching!

Elevate Your Music Recital with These Free Spring Recital Templates

Need help with a quick and easy spring recital program? I made 4 different FORMAL-themed Music Recital Program Templates you can use using Canva.com

You must create an account to access it, and be sure to save the templates to your account before you make changes so everyone can access them as they are now.

Happy Teaching!

Strike the Chords of Your Success: A Comprehensive Guide to Hosting a Flawless Online Music Studio Recital

The world is in a different place right now, but the show must still go on. Whether you had to move your private music lesson business online or you’ve decided to stay or choose to teach online, we still want to showcase our students the best way possible and that happens with a RECITAL!

1) Use the same platform you teach lessons on for your recital. I personally use Zoom. It’s easy to use and currently, there is no max time limit on how long you can host a group event. (I suspect things will change in the future) But be mindful of the max time limit for online group events.

2) Send out specific and detailed instructions to the families 2 weeks prior to the recital about how and where to set up the camera — for my piano students, I request a profile view so we can see the student’s hands and some of their faces. —so that the student can be seen and heard. Also, advise them about extra lighting. Set up a lamp next to them (in front of them) or a ring light so that their child is well-lit and everyone can see them easily.

3) Send an email to all families with the link and a special password to access the online event 2 weeks before the recital so they can send it to their family members who want to attend.

4) Set up the link that people can’t just automatically enter, that they will be entered when the host allows, so you can get the exact time you need for the recital. Also, so they are automatically muted when they enter so you don’t have to go through and mute everyone or when new people join halfway through the recital because they missed the initial time, they will be automatically muted.

5) The morning of the recital email the recital program to all the families and ask them to email it to those that are joining in so that they have a program to follow. This works as a great reminder the day of the recital to ensure everyone remembers!

6) Be short and quick. Most people are taking time out of their day to attend to listen to the performances but keep your remarks and intros for the students short. You don’t have to give details about every student before they perform or at the end of the performance. The families are there to listen to the student perform. Plus if there is a time limit you want to make sure everyone has access to listen to all the performances.

Happy Teaching!

Simplify Your Business: How to Maximize Your Teaching and Business Schedule

Running a private music studio and teaching lessons can be a fulfilling and rewarding experience, but it can also be overwhelming. Between managing your schedule and keeping track of your students' progress, it can feel like there's never enough time in the day. However, simplifying your business and maximizing your schedule with just a few days a week can help you achieve a better work-life balance while still providing quality education to your students.

One way to simplify your business is to streamline your scheduling process. Rather than offering lessons every day of the week, consider limiting your availability to just a few days and always back to back. This not only makes it easier for you to manage your time, it gives you a block of working hours that are easy to tell prospective parents about and you always know what slot is open. Plus, your students come to expect that their lesson day remains the same. Giving the students a sense of structure and consistency. You can offer multiple lesson times on those designated days to accommodate different schedules.

Another way to maximize your schedule is to prioritize your teaching methods and focus on what works best for you and your students. Instead of trying to teach every genre or style, hone in on your areas of expertise and offer those lessons exclusively. Or create a lesson plan for specific grades associated with a level. My advanced students all follow the same path. Freshmans, is fugue year. Sophomores, is mini Sonatina year. Junior is accompanist year (they will actually learn to accompany me while I play a horn solo) and Senior year, is Senior recital year ranging from a Mozart concerto to a big Solo piece. This not only makes it easier for you to prepare for each lesson, but provides a structure to your teaching.

In addition, for the back end of the teaching. You can simplify your bookkeeping and send emails only one day a month. For me, every 23rd of the month is the day I have scheduled on my calendar to send out lesson summaries, (tuition dues) And I wait until the 1st to do my banking from depositing checks or transferring the income received in my Paypal to my bank.

Ultimately, simplifying your business and maximizing your schedule with just a few days a week can help you achieve a healthier work-life balance while still providing quality education to your students. By streamlining your scheduling process, prioritizing your teaching methods, and incorporating technology, you can become more efficient and effective in your role as a private music instructor.

Happy Teaching!

Holiday Recitals And How To Squeeze Them In During The Busiest Time of The Year

The holidays are quickly approaching, and you want to showcase your student’s hard work! GREAT! But, how do you make time in your and all your student’s families for a recital?

1. GET A LOCATION NOW! Start calling around at churches , or facilities asking what is available before you set a date. Or if you already know a date ask specifically for that date.

2. Be flexible on TIME OF DAY. Sometimes most families have an easier time with midday recitals when they have other activities during the evening.

3. Use the opportunity to do community service. With Covid, this might not be possible, but for the future, other locations that you can perform are: Retirement or Senior Centers, Malls, Even at the Hospital. You have to get prior permission and there might be other rules attached, but I consider this a Community Service project as a way to give back to the community.

4. Pick an odd day. Wednesdays and Thursdays seem to be an odd day for many activities and often don’t have a conflict. So try these days instead of a typical Friday or Saturday.

5. Try to notify your parents AS SOON AS YOU HAVE YOUR RECITAL DATE. And know, that someone might not be able to participate, and that’s okay, it happens. Life is busy at the holidays. goal is to be as early as possible with notifying so they have enough time to put you on their calendar before it fills up over the next month.

6. Last tip: AIM TO KEEP YOUR RECITAL SHORT! 1-2 songs most, and let the parent’s know you would like to keep it short. Don’t go overboard with the recital. Just some holiday favorites, to show off the progress of your students.

Happy Teaching!

Becky