Adding a Lab to Your Lessons #2-If Yes, Then What?
by Leila Viss
The fact that you are reading this second article in this series means that the idea of a lab plus a lesson has sparked your interest. Read Article #1 to understand why you should consider adding a lab to your lessons. The following will provide answers to the questions you may have regarding equipment, scheduling and resources for setting up a successful lab.
How do I SCHEDULE students with this new format?
Essentially, two students will be scheduled on the hour. Instead of one arriving at 3:30 and then another at 4:00pm, both students would arrive at 3:30 and leave at 4:30. Some of my high school students schedule a 45 min lesson (due to their level of repertoire) with a 15min lab time. I do not have as many of these students and they usually arrive early (2:30pm) before most K-8 students. After setting up the high school student with a lab assignment, I use those precious 15 minutes to check emails, get a snack (and go to the bathroom!) before the line-up of 30/30min students arrive at 3:30pm.
What TOOLS are essential to get started?
Most likely you will already own the basic equipment:
Read MoreAdding a Lab to Your Lessons #1 – Why?
This is the first in a series of articles written by Leila Viss that will focus on adding a new technological addition to your teaching studio. The series will attempt to answer questions of those who have never considered this format before. The articles will also include ideas for those who already successfully use technology to enhance daily teaching. Questions, comments and suggestions in the comments section are greatly appreciated!
“Why NOT Add a Lab to Your Lesson?”
Fact: Our studios are filled with Millennials–the generation known for their social networking, a cell phone nearby at all times, body piercing, tattoos, global awareness, fascination with video games and comfort with modern technology. (See the American Music Teacher Magazine’s Feb/Mar 2012 issue for an informative article by Courtney Crappell discussing these unique characteristics.)
Fact: Many schools have or will have iPads assigned to each student to use on a regular basis besides an ample supply of computers, online textbooks, etc.
Fact: Technology continues to drive the direction of our society and learning styles. It is here to stay, Why NOT embrace it in your daily teaching?
What IS a “Lab”?
When working towards my Masters Degree 20 years ago, I visited many successful piano studios of local teachers. The studio that intrigued me the most was
Read MoreMarketing Piano Lessons to Adult Students
I’ve asked Leila Viss to share some tips on marketing piano lessons to adult students. Leila teaches students ages 6-86 in an independent piano studio which features a tech-savvy lab. She seeks to create innovative teaching methods and successful practice strategies to encourage the average player of any age to stick to the bench for life. She holds a Masters Degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Denver and has presented at local, state and national conferences. She adjudicates at local, state, regional and national piano and composition competitions. She serves on the Keys to Imagination Advisory Board and holds a full-time church organist/pianist position. Leila has a blog on teaching and also writes for the Music Teachers’ Helper.
Marketing Piano Lessons to Adult Students
by Leila Viss
by Elyse Patten
Before you begin marketing to adults, make sure that you are cut out for teaching adults. Are you willing to DEAL with:
- less than regular attendance?
- irregular income but still extra income?
- extreme variance in abilities?
- loss of hearing, arthritis, poor eye sight?
- individual tastes that vary from classical, to big band, to rock?
- providing a listening ear? At times the bench may turn into a couch
- making new friends?
For more information about teaching specifically retired adults, see the previous article Understanding and Attracting Retired Adult Students. If you are are willing to deal with these things, then WHY should you add adult students?
Read MoreGreat Q & A for Business Issues on Facebook
The National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy hosted a wonderful Q & A with Kristin Yost and Kathleen Theisen on Facebook today. Kristin and Kathleen presented a number of fantastic sessions on the business of piano teaching at NCKP this last summer and this even was a follow up to those sessions. There were a number of great questions and of course some very good answers. Here are some of the questions:
How do I maintain the same ‘feel’ of ‘credibility’ as an independent teacher teaching in my home as opposed to a music school or store, etc…?
Is there a way to cut down time spent on bookkeeping?
How do you use Paypal to collect tuition?
How do you structure your lesson plans and annual group activities to appeal to diverse musical interests among pre-college students who are children?
Now that I’ve converted from ‘per lesson’ billing to a tuition-based system, how do I handle my own vacations and breaks?
If you missed the event, you’ll definitely get some great ideas by simply reading the Q & A here. Don’t forget to “like” NCKP as well as the ComposeCreate FB page!
Read MoreUnderstanding and Attracting Retired Adult Students
Question: I am trying to increase the number of daytime/adult students to expand my teaching hours and income. I live in an area with lots of children, but also a sizable retiree population. What do you think of offering discounts to entice those living on retirement income to fill those earlier time slots when the kids are in school?
Answered by Leila Viss (See more on Leila below)
Teaching adults is a wonderful and rewarding opportunity to increase your income. Most K-12 students need a before-or-after-school time, but adults can squeeze in between those book-end hours. However, resist the temptation of offering a discount for “retirees” (likely the adult population most interested in pursuing lessons) and instead, consider offering…
Read MoreIndex of Dollars & Sense Articles
The Dollars and Sense feature of ComposeCreate.com has been running for over a year now and I thought that spring break might be a nice time to give you an index of articles. This is also a great time to begin thinking about your business plans and policies for the 2012-2013 teaching year. I hope this index helps you find the articles that are of value to you as you plan. A list of Dollars and Sense Q&As will be coming on a future post.
Keeping Student Numbers Up in a Down Economy by Kristin Yost
Keeping Student Numbers Up – Student Surveys by Kristin Yost
Got (enough) Money? by Kristin Yost
Modern Piano Teacher as Entrepreneur by Kristin Yost
How to Get 12 Months of Revenue as an Entrepreneur by Kristin Yost
Creative Time Management for the Full-time IMT by Kristin Yost
As You Review Your Piano Policy by Wendy Stevens
Sanity Savers by Kristin Yost
How to Fit a National Music Conference into your Budget link to a great article
Got Money? It’s All about the Business Plan by Kristin Yost
Marketing Piano Lessons 101 by Wendy Stevens
Marketing Piano Lessons 102: Moving to a New Community by Wendy Stevens
Networking for Piano Teachers: Why Not Put Yourself Out There? by Stephen Hughes
Book: How I Made $100k My First Year As a Piano Teacher interview with author Kristin Yost
A Better Image Can Translate into Better Money by Kristin Yost
Say YES to 12 Months of Income as a Piano Teacher by Kristin Yost
5 Steps to a Successful Piano Teaching Business by Kristin Yost
Marketing to Homeschool Students by Wendy Stevens
To Give or Not To Give Makeup Lessons by Wendy Stevens
Owning Our Policies by Wendy Stevens
Thank you to all the contributors to Dollars and Sense, especially Kristin Yost. What an incredible wealth of information she has been willing to share with us in the last year. Thank you Kristin!
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