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... bringing the joy of music to students and their teachers
In This Issue
How To Have A Reliable Income
Tough Make-up Policies
What Should You Charge?
Get Paid More During the Summer
Professionals Unite!
Flute Flash
Upcoming Events
Learn More Online
 
 
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Music For Life Books

For lots more ideas on becoming a successful entrepreneur with a reliable income check out 

Chapter 27 Establish Your Private Studio and Develop a Business Plan

and Chapter 28

Get Paid What You're Worth

Making Music and Enriching Lives:

A Guide For All 

Music Teachers 

 

 

Order now  

for concrete solutions to your everyday problems and ideas to get more satisfaction from the
best job in the world!

 

The Funnies
Smiley Face

"Wagner's music is better than it sounds."   Mark Twain 

 

"Mr. Wagner has beautiful moments but bad quarters of an hour." 

 Gioacchino Rossini 
July 2012

Greetings!
 
Last fall I instituted a new tuition payment system, and I'd like to report on its success. 

There are basically three ways for students to pay:
  1. Bring a check to each lesson and only pay for the lessons taken.
  2. Pay by the month for the number of "Tuesdays" in the month.
  3. Pay a flat tuition rate per month no matter how many lessons are taken. 

Method 1 allows you a more flexible schedule but also more student cancellations and diminished income.

For years, I used method 2. It worked fairly well, though if students needed to cancel or reschedule they expected me to work around their schedule. If I couldn't give make-up lessons on Sunday at 8am or Friday at 7pm or if they were just too busy to come, they wanted to subtract the lesson fee. This led to quite a few uncomfortable discussions.  

Now I use method 3. 

What's So Great About Charging Tuition?

 

It took a bit of educating to teach my families that they are not just paying for their weekly lesson but ALL THE MANY HOURS outside of the lesson I work for them. One family quit, but the others understood.  

 

Tuition Policy Parent Letter 

 

What's better now? Except for the fact that I feel I need to be very regular in my schedule (though I can give refunds), EVERYTHING is better.

 

There is no guessing or discussion about the monthly fee. They know what to pay and I know what I will earn. If there are any questions, I refer them to my studio policy (something you all need!).

  

Understanding tuition gives them more of a realization of all I do. AND I gave myself a week's paid vacation the last week of December and the last week of June.

 

 

 

Cancellation Policy

If you try to accommodate every student schedule conflict, you will have NO LIFE. I offer make-up lessons during my regularly scheduled hours. Students understand that a make-up lesson is a gift from me and are grateful, not demanding.  If there is no convenient time, they receive no make-up lesson and I still get paid.

An added bonus is that because of this strict make-up lesson policy, I have many fewer cancellations and thus my students are learning more than ever.

 Decide the Monthly Tuition Fee

I counted up the number of weeks I teach between September and June and multiplied that times the lesson fee and divided by 10. Though I factored in only a small increase, my total income has jumped dramatically. 

 

 

 
How To Charge For Summer Lessons

During the summer, my students and I both want more flexibility so I charge per lesson taken. If the student needs to cancel on short notice, we try to reschedule but there are no consequences so we can all enjoy the summer. Some students take two lessons per week in the summer so that helps my income.   

On the other hand, summer can be a tough time to earn a living. Check out the idea of one of colleagues, Elizabeth Samse:

Keep Students Coming This Summer

 
You Are Worth It!

 

The service you offer is as valuable as the dance lessons tuition and private school tuition that parents are used to paying. When you run your studio like any other professional service, you will earn the the same respect and income. 

 

Tired of the Pachelbel Canon?

 

Check out these cellos who decided to take matters into their own hands. 

 
The "NEW" Pachelbel Canon 
                               
Flute Flash

FluteTry this to teach students to play with good tone and energy on tongued notes:

Play a scale and make every note loud and separate, but here's the trick: don't tongue -- just use breath kicks (like saying "ha! Ha!"). Now use the same support and energy when tonguing. Try it -- it works! 

 
                  
Bonnie's calendar -- Stop by and say hello
 

2012 Speech Calendar

 

 

 


Attention all flutists:
Are you going to the National Flute Association Convention this year? Want a waiting list of students eager to pay top dollar to be in your studio?

 

Learn common mistakes and proven strategies to become a respected, well-paid professional with a fulfilling career at my presentation (and be sure to clap and laugh loudly!)

 

   

August 9, 5:00 p.m. 

Speech: "Attract dream students, have fun in your studio, and start getting paid what you deserve -- today!"

LOCATION: Octavius 15-18

Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas!

 

 

August 9-12

Book signing

NFA exhibit hall Caesar's Palace

Carolyn Nussbaum booth

 

 

October 9, 11:00 a.m. 

Olympia Music Teachers Association 

 

October 20th, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

All-Day Workshop

Wenatchee Music Teachers Association 

 

March 2013
MTNA national convention
Get Paid What You're Worth 

April 2013
Gig Harbor Music Teachers
Topic TBA

 

If you've found this newsletter fun and helpful, please forward it to your friends, teachers and colleagues. I'd love to hear your comments and any ideas or suggestions you might have about content; we can always learn from each other.

Look for more tips, tricks and stories in the coming months.

And don't forget to check out my website.

Sincerely,
Bonnie Blanchard
bonnieblanchard.com