Developing Studio Policies
Please read chapter 3, "Developing Studio Policies" in Making Money Teaching Music. As
you read, please reflect on how we might improve our studio policies at
the MSPS? How might this be be different in your future private studio?
Please compose a single post with your thoughts on our Blogger site by
class time on Tuesday.
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Having studio policies for both group and private studios is vital to the success of a studio. One thing that will drastically help the success and efficiency of the studio is a master calendar of events. This calendar should be posted on a bulletin board in the studio space, on an online studio website, and also printed out for the students to take home. This will help the students know what is going on as well as parents to take the needed responsibility they have. Another thing is that the policies, in addition to the master calendar, should clearly be printed out and given to the students and parents after the first lesson. If the students or parents are violating one of these policies in any way, it gives the teacher something to refer to without expecting the students or parents to remember. It is also very important that the studio be set up logistically and comfortably - the studio should be a good learning space and environment for the students to learn and the teachers to teach.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that I learned, is scheduling lessons. Scheduling lessons is important for a smooth running studio. Students come in monthly, weekly, biweekly and even irregularly. The best time for a student to come in, would be weekly. It keeps the child accountable. It also keeps them from making a really bad habit in some area of practice. It is also important to keep a firm hand on funds coming in, whether the student is coming in or not. This will encourage them to make a make - up lesson. If this happens,leave at least an hour of wiggle room in your schedule every week. Also, leave room in your schedule for future scheduled appointments such as doctor, get together ex..
ReplyDeleteI have really appreciated this book and its practicality. I believe that MSPS does a great job at a lot of the things the author discusses. I think perhaps in the past we have been a bit weak on the promotion side of things but this semester's class is changing that I believe via our Marketing Projects. I believe in my future studio I will struggle most with abiding firmly by my policies. I would give lessons for free if possible because I jus want students to learn music so much. I need to be proactive about cultivating the business/policy side of my studio if I want both myself and my students to be successful.
ReplyDeleteI thought that this chapter was very informational and helpful. One of the things that I thought was very important and that might be helpful in the prep school is writing out your teaching schedule. I think that it's so helpful for not only yourself as a teacher, but also for the famillies in your studio. It is very helpful for other parents to see when each other are scheduled for lessons especially if something comes up in their schedule and they need to reschedule. My teacher I had growing up did this. She gave us the schedule of her students/families and their phone numbers. It was very helpful for us to know who we could switch lesson times with and how to get a hold of them.
ReplyDeleteI also think as a teacher that it's important to provide your students with motivation! I think one of the most effective ways to motivate a student is through music they can listen to or YouTube clips! My teacher I had growing up gave all of us CDs for Christmas every year!! It was one of my favorite Christmas presents!! Plus since it was at least 4 of us taking lessons, we got a ton of music!! And all of them were different!!! I also think that watching YouTube clips are also motivational!!! This addresses the visual aspect of motivation!!
Several things stood out to me from this chapter. First, I like Newsam’s suggestion that you build your schedule with some flexibility. Failing to plan for something to go wrong will probably cause a headache eventually.
ReplyDeleteSecond, I think having a clear payment/makeup lesson policy is smart. MSPS has this, and it is something that could definitely reduce frustration.
Third, I thought he gave some very helpful suggestions for creating a physical studio space. There were a lot of things that I never thought of before, but when I think about the different studios I’ve seen, I can see that there is a lot of work that goes into making one.