Halloween Week Lesson Plan

October is one of our fun months in the studio where the room decor changes/add in Halloween decorations and the magical candy bowl appears, (you can read about that here). The beginning of the month each student starts to learn a Halloween specific song that we work through over the 4 weeks, I have a collection of Halloween books and various levels of sheet music that I call “community music” where the student will borrow it and bring it back at the end of the month. I use the Inventory Acquisition, sales and loan log to keep track of who has what music.

Each year in my studio, we have what we call HALLOWEEN WEEK! Halloween week is a special week where the students are encouraged to dress up in their Halloween Costume, I wear mine as well, but we focus the lesson completely what truly makes Halloween, Halloween…THE MUSIC!

I consider it a throw away lesson where we don’t go over anything new in their lesson books but focus solely on musical examples, playing different songs either over Youtube (youtube kids has great little kid appropriate songs that are fun to listen to that aren’t scary) , the origin of Halloween music, sounds, chords, and so forth. This works great and fills in easily for my 30 minute lessons.

Students that have longer lessons we also sightread and start working through 1-2 Intermediate Halloween pieces.

For my advance 60-90 minute lessons students read through Saint-Saëns - Danse Macabre or Macdowell Witches Dance.

Each student also gets a treat to take home. This year, I’m making these Monster Rice Crispy Treats.

SECRET: Discuss with each parent ahead of October to see if they are okay with their child learning Halloween songs. Have a book with Thanksgiving themed songs just in case.

Use this template to make a flyer / poster to hand out or send your student family to remind them about Halloween Week!

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!

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!

Revamp Your Business Model: Unleashing The Power Of Innovation

Your business, your way! Teaching private music lessons is already an atypical job, but you can take it further and truly mold your business to fit your life best. If you haven’t already, check out this post about 7 Strategies for Building a Music Studio Business Model that sets you apart from the Competition to get started on developing your business model. But lets talk about how you can be more innovated!

1) Offer online private lessons. Online lessons are more common now, because of the recent events that have taken place in our wold. But many teachers have opted to only teach online because it worked for them. Check out the 5 tips I share here on How To Transition To Online Teaching to get you started.

2) Offer group lessons. This is perfect for guitar, piano and violin, but really there is no limit on which instrument you can do this with. Just to give an idea of how it would work, group lesson held weekly for a class of 5 at $100/month per student, is $500 for just one 30-60 minute lesson a week. If you can teach 3 days a week for a total of 6 hours a week (6 - 1 hour lessons), I’ll let you do the math. The goal would be to find enough students to fill each class slot. (🎶 homeschoolers)

3) Offer online studies. This is kind of taking group lessons online, but really, you record a lesson a week and create a website for people interested to subscribe to weekly lessons or tutorials. (🎶 like Patreon) Classes would be like: how to read treble clef, and another for how to read bass clef. Basic lessons but provided weekly to wide range of people.

4) Workshop/Masterclass Clinician/Group teacher. Reach out to the local schools and let the music teacher know that you are available to host a masterclass for your specific instrument to help their students. Or host a workshop at a senior center to help them learn a new instrument. You’ll have to work out details or your hourly rate with whomever you work with but this is a different approach.

Happy Teaching!

xo, Becky

7 Strategies for Building a Music Studio Business Model That Crushes the Competition

Do you dream of owning a successful music studio business that stands out from the competition? The music industry can be tough to navigate, but with the right strategies, you can create a business model that crushes your competitors and attracts loyal clients. In this article, we've gathered seven proven strategies for building a music studio business model that is both profitable and sustainable. From effective marketing techniques to innovative strategies, we'll show you how to differentiate your business from the rest and create a brand that resonates with your target audience. So, whether you're just starting out or looking to take your existing music studio to the next level, read on to discover how to build a business model that sets you apart from the crowd.

1. Start with what instruments you can teach. I’m a horn player but also accomplished at piano. So I offer lessons for both piano and horn. And since horn is more of a speciality instrument, my studio is filled with mostly piano, although it is starting to become more even. Let’s say you play violin, you could potentially also teach viola, cello or bass, and possibly guitar. Vocalists, just because you are a tenor doesn’t mean you can’t teach other ranges. Think of this as a way to open up how many more students you can teach, meaning you are that much closer to having a full studio.

2. Determine the teaching level you are comfortable with. You don’t have to be an advanced player at any instrument to teach beginning level lessons. My beginning teacher only taught through intermediate lessons. I switched teachers when I became too advanced. You do have to have specific skill sets, like being able to read the notes, rhythm, counting and such, you can read more here how teaching helps to increase your own musicianship, and as long as you are proficient at the basics you can teach beginning levels.

3. Decide what age groups you intend to teach. You don’t have to teach just young kids, you can teach any age you want from the youngest to the oldest. I personally don’t start students younger than 6, and generally I suggest boy around 7 but it’s based on the maturity level of the child. A good rule of thumb I like to use too, is if the child can read and write their ABC’s.

4. Decide how you are going to market yourself. Are you an after school only teacher or can you teach during the day. This will determine where you will post openings in your studio. If you are able to teach during the day, homeschool students are going to be where you want to focus your attention. They often do their activities during their school day. Or do you only want to teach in the afternoons, maybe because you have another job during the day?

5. What is your goal for each of your students to obtain? Are you wanting to teach future solo performers, church piano players, introduction to music/beginning skill sets to set them up for another instrument later on, hobby player? Have a firm idea on the type of students you want to attract.

6. Determine if you are going to teach in one place (renting a space, in your home) or if you are going to be traveling to the students. This will determine the geographical area in which you will teach. Good rule of thumb, keep it within a specific radius of your house so you aren’t spending all your time driving here and there.

7. What do you intend to get out of teaching private music lessons? And this is important because like any job there are going to be days you don’t really want to teach (yes it happens) and you will have to remind yourself why you are doing this. “ I get to teach today because ___________ (fill in the answer). When you turn the attention into, “I get to work with” instead of “I have to teach” and turn it into a service act makes all the difference on those days where you might be struggling trying to balance teaching with everything else you have going on in your life!

Need more help in getting started with your music studio? Our 12 week Successful Music Studio Strategies online course is here to make every step easy and give you the tools for success. Click here to learn more!

Happy Teaching!