Balance for your life … Creativity for your studio.
There are so many great parts of running a business. The freedom. The clients. The students. But, there are times when those same things can seem overwhelming. Especially when you need to say “no” to clients. I understand that it can be frustrating when a client asks for more than you can give. I’ve been…
Feeling underappreciated by clients happens to the best of us. But, there are ways to turn this around. Recently, I was at a birthday party & someone I hadn’t seen in a long time asked what I’d been up to. I briefly shared about a new project in my studio & that I was presenting…
It can sometimes feel as if your studio is taking over every aspect of your life, right? Especially in the early days or when you are expanding your studio quickly. But, this is not what you signed up for. Back when I taught in the school system, I would routinely work 60 hours a week. …
Professional development is so important, as teachers & studio owners, to continue growing. And attending conferences whether online or in person can be invaluable, but also provide important professional development milestones. MusicEdConnect, an online conference, is one such annual experience for me. If you missed part one of this series, click here. Because honestly, the…
This year was a bit of a milestone in my professional development. It marks the fifth year that I’ve attended MusicEdConnect! Not only do I love geeking out with other teachers at this online conference, but breadth of topics covered each year keeps me inspired for months afterwards. So, what was this year like? Well,…
Look at your repertoire bookcases. How did you choose the books that were placed there? Hopefully, your shelves are filled with great teaching repertoire that your students love. I’ve been sucked in by marketing (hello, “Peanuts Activity Book”) or purchasing a book because “my student already has this so I should buy it”. And, I…
How do you know your student is ready for harder repertoire? When you teach exclusively from one method book, the answer is easy. They completed the book. When you pull options from many books (including ones that do not belong to a method book series) this line becomes a little more grey. This was one…
As much as we love the work we do, it’s important to take a break. May your home be filled with music, laughter and love this holiday season. From The Unfinished Lesson, wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas!
If you are looking for a last minute idea for group or private lessons, making a Christmas ornament might be a great option for your studio!
Do you ever get the sense that your studio repertoire is taking over the bookshelves? You know the song you’re looking for is there. But, is it on this shelf? Or, perhaps in this area? Knowing how to organize your studio repertoire is crucial in managing time in lessons & minimizing prep time. When I…