Balance for your life … Creativity for your studio.
It’s the start of a new academic year in the studio and that means I’ve been working at building excitement for lessons that are starting just around the corner!
Whether your lessons have already begun or they are oh-so-close to starting, building excitement in those weeks up to AND after lessons have begun is crucial. Everyone is settling into a new routine and if something is exciting, it’s talked about. Which leads to more time spent on it!
Moving your studio online can be a wonderful opportunity for students to learn in new ways & stay connected with you even when you can not be in the same physical place. However, some students may need a little more than, “We are moving online! Here’s how!” Specifically helping special needs students adjust to online…
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…
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…
Teaching preschoolers brings it owns joys & challenges. The hugs are a-mazing! And, the smiles are the best kind of infectious. But, there are certain behaviours that can leave teachers wondering what happened at the end of lesson. And, perhaps needing a big nap. We have twin boys & oh how I remember how exhausting…
As we get close to the end of June, it’s natural to have some students leaving the studio. Sometimes, it’s due to a move away from the area. Other times, priorities or financial situations have changed & lessons are no longer an option. And, other times … well, perhaps we are breathing a sigh of relief after a tough year with a particular family. (Though hopefully this last one is a rare occurrence.)
How can we say goodbye in a manner that leaves everyone positive?
Sometimes families say goodbye. And, it isn’t necessarily because they don’t like your teaching. They just don’t know if or how their child is progressing because you aren’t sharing student success on a regular basis. So, they leave thinking that their child hasn’t learnt anything. But, WE know that isn’t true.
This was a week that reminded me how important is to work WITH parents, not against them. When things are just not going well with a student, one of the best things we can do is open up the lines of communication with a parent.
For this month’s resource review, I decided to focus on a resource for parents. It is important to keep in mind our piano parents as we make decisions for our studio. How can we support and educate them to make piano lessons a positive experience for the whole family?
Read more for my review of an unexpected gem.