About Business

Several people have mentioned the results of boldness lately, so I thought I’d share a story about what happened to Cindy Bettinger and myself, as we routinely advertise cooperatively. I recently had an incident with our local newspaper, and because of this, I decided to…

• Last updated 4 years ago
• advertising, advertising errors, advertising fees, distributing fliers, errors, flyers, marketing, mistakes in advertising, newspaper, newspaper ad, newspaper ads

In response to a recent post asking for suggestions on spreadsheets and studio organization, I mentioned a free database software app I have used the past few years called “Airtable.” Airtable is a cloud-based database creator with really exciting possibilities, and the FREE version is…

• Last updated 4 years ago
• Airtable, contact info, contact information, database, events, information processing, lesson plan, lesson planner, lesson planner ideas, lesson planning, lesson plans, lesson scheduling, managing your studio, online database, organization, organizing a notebook, organizing lesson plans, organizing teacher notes, piano event, piano events, planner notebook, planning, planning lessons, planning online, recital, recital program, recital programs, recitals, retention, running your studio, schedul, scheduling, scheduling lessons, scheduling lessons using calendars, spreadsheet, staying organized, student retention, studio management, technology in studio, tracking finances, using a schedule, writing your schedule

A parent just called to ask if she could bring her daughter’s friend to the lesson today. Partially because she is watching her, but the friend had been begging her own mother to go to piano with my student. I said it was fine. I’m…

• Last updated 4 years ago
• bring a friend to class, bringing to lessons, free lessons, friends, giving friends lessons, guest, improv at lessons, lesson fees, lesson prices, lesson rates, Neil Moore, participation in lessons, royalties, Royalties exceptions, royalty protocol, teaching friends, trial lesson, trial period, try it out, trying it out, trying lessons, visit, what to charge for lessons

Just in case anyone else has not heard about this alternative to Zoom, I’m posting it here. Mike Grande, owner of RockOutLoud music school in NY, who just happens to also be a master coder/programmer, has created what looks to be one of the first…

• Last updated 4 years ago
• audio, audio options, audio settings, Background Noise, benefits of group lessons, benefits of online lessons, comfort in teaching groups, distance lessons, Echo Cancellation, FaceTime, Google Hangouts, groups, keeping groups together, learning online, learning via webcam, managing groups, online, online groups, online learning, online lessons, Original Sound, Piano at Home, Rock Out Loud Live, screen share, screen sharing, share screen, Skype, teaching groups, teaching online, using a webcam to teach, value of groups, videoconference software, Zoom

I would love to start having face to face lessons when school starts, but I fear the liability is too great. This was confirmed to me by a businessman, stating to me if i open to teach I should have a release form signed by…

• Last updated 4 years ago
• bathroom, benefits of online lessons, cleaning keys, cleaning piano, coronavirus, COVD-19, distance lessons, distancing, epidemic, face-to-face lessons, FaceTime, flu, germs, Google Hangouts, hygiene, ill, illness, in-person lessons, learning online, learning via webcam, liability, lockdown, online, online learning, online lessons, online vs. face-to-face, online vs. face-to-face lessons, online vs. in-person, online vs. in-person lessons, pandemic, physical distancing, Piano at Home, quarantine, release form, sick, sick students, sickness, Skype, social distancing, teaching online, using a webcam to teach, vaccine, videoconference software, virus, waiver, wash hands, washing hands, washroom, Zoom

Just want to share some things I’ve learned the past few months that I hope may help you in your journey with growing your student base. I am a newer teacher and just started really pursuing the possibility of doing this full time. Here are…

• Last updated 4 years ago
• arts Facebook Groups, arts groups, arts Meetup Groups, arts studios, benefits of online lessons, charter school, charter schools, dance studios, distance lessons, facebook, facebook business page, Facebook Messenger, Facebook private page, family Facebook Groups, family groups, family Meetup Groups, free lessons, free workshop, google, Google business listing, Google Hangouts, Google listing, info session, Instagram, learning online, learning via webcam, marketing, marketing online, marketing to adults, marketing to homeschoolers, marketing to traditional teachers, Meetup.com, messages, Messenger, online, online learning, online lessons, senior centers, senior groups, seniors, Skype, social media, teaching online, text, texting, using a webcam to teach, videoconference software, Yelp, Zoom

Has anyone ever been through this…….. I don’t want to work weekends anymore. So I have to shift some students to midweek. I know I can make it work, but that means someone who already has a midweek spot, has to move to a later…

• Last updated 4 years ago
• going over scheduled lesson times, group lessons scheduling, lesson scheduling, rescheduling lessons, scheduling, scheduling conflict, scheduling families, scheduling groups, scheduling lessons, scheduling shared lessons, scheduling sibling lessons, teaching schedule, teaching week, using a schedule, weekend, weekend lessons, weekend teaching, weekends

Neil mentioned Mandy and Colin Cummins’ new app for teaching online. I just had a Demo Test with them and I cannot recommend this enough. It allows the teacher to see the student and your own face, while having a large keyboard view. It is…

• Last updated 4 years ago
• benefits of online lessons, cameras, distance lessons, FaceTime, Google Hangouts, learning online, learning via webcam, online, online learning, online lessons, Piano at Home, Skype, teaching online, technology, using a webcam to teach, videoconference software, web cams, webcam, webcasting studio setup, Zoom

I went to pay my royalties and I was charged in US dollars instead of my preferred currency. What can I do to fix this? When paying royalties, or purchasing any product from the store, you’ll always want to make sure you are paying in…

• Last updated 4 years ago
• fee, fees, payment methods, payments, purchasing SHMs, royalties, royalty protocol

Often when doing business training, the first thing we are asked to find out is ‘What is the Problem we are solving for your clients?’ This stumps me every time. Of course I know all the benefits. However, I was wondering if any of you…

• Last updated 4 years ago
• advertising, advertising ideas, building business, building your business, building your studio, business, connecting with students, creativity, developing creativity, enjoying the process, growing business, growing your studio, initial advertising, Laurie Richards, marketing, marketing to adults, marketing to homeschoolers, marketing to traditional teachers, messages, mistakes in advertising, promoting your studio, stress, studio, studio growth