Balance for your life … Creativity for your studio.
One of the hardest parts of being an independent instrument teacher is creating a curriculum plan. When you know what to teach, it is so easier to guide students throughout the year so they make consistent progress. Unlike teaching in a school system, there is no governing board that determines what you will teach each…
Does the idea of giving up control in your studio make you nervous? Giving students choice, with boundaries, doesn’t have to be hard. It means they play the music they love while you teach what needs to be taught. While it may seem like an all or nothing situation, giving students choice in your studio…
We have all heard the argument for more practice during the week. But, how much of the lack of practice is related to a lack of engagement with the music? What happens when you give students choice in repertoire … all the time? One year, I decided to test this out in my studio. What…
One of the most effective ways to get (& keep) your clients on your side is to keep them informed. Especially for families that are already juggling multiple after-school activities for each child. The easiest way to accomplish this is through a studio newsletter. And while you may have visions of clients deleting yet another…
Planning group lessons is a wonderful way to increase social engagement in your studio. Holding a multi-level group lesson may seem like a nightmare in the making. But, it doesn’t have to be. With a little planning, multi-level group lessons throughout the year could be just the thing your students rave about.
It isn’t enough to rely on word of mouth for our studios anymore. But, you also shouldn’t spend hours on social media for your studio each week. Don’t get me wrong. I still strongly believe that one of the most powerful things you can do for your studio is develop great relationships with your clients. …
As I was looking at my (long) list of goals for 2017, I realized that if I actually want to reach these goals some changes to my schedule needed to happen. How could I make the most of each moment I had available without feeling like I had become a robot?
Many times when we talk about setting up a schedule, we think about our teaching time. Or, if you are a travel teacher, teaching & travel time. But, do you also schedule administrative tasks that go into running a successful studio? Or, is it a bit of a wing-it type of situation? Chances are if…
Do you ever get the sense that your studio may be running you? Instead of the other way around? It is possible to have balance while running a creative studio. It just takes a little time. When I first started my studio, it was hard. I felt like there was no balance between my personal &…
We know that when students are given choice in what they learn, they are more likely to take ownership of their learning. And, wouldn’t it be great to have students that are excited to be in your studio because they LOVE lessons? So, how do we give students choice in music lab … without planning…