Simpedia

Mark M. New York

I also teach in my living room, no waiting room. Back to back lessons to me means lessons with a few minutes cushion in between — for departure and arrival as well as for me to reorient myself and prepare for the content the next lesson needs. I leave at least 10 minutes between an official end time and the next start time, and I have a policy that says that people should arrive no earlier than five minutes before their scheduled start time.

Sheri R. California

I don’t leave any time in between lessons as I found myself just not stopping on time and taking that break so it made my day longer without the benefit to anyone. Instead, I ask people to come in just one minute before their lesson and to be very quiet until it is their turn. By then previous students are writing notes and getting ready to leave. If it is cold or raining out (rare!) then they wait in their car and time their entry accordingly. If they forget, depending on the situation, I either tell them to wait a few more minutes before coming in or just try to help the student to learn how to focus in spite of distractions, which is a good lesson in itself.

Andrea F. Wisconsin

My home is the same set up as yours. I put a 10-minute block between classes to allow the first class to get out and the second class to get in. I usually even end up with an extra minute or two to get ready for the second group.

My second group also knows there’s a class before them and not to come more than 10-minutes early.

Karina S. California

Welcome to the world of studio management! I can just see all of us out there in SM land nodding our heads up and down – right? Well, I learned from one of the best, Bernie A. on how to handle this. You just have to be crystal clear in your communication: studio policies, in class and with non-verbal body language. Just like the foundation and relationship conversation, this has to be consistent – after all this is a huge part of the relationship!

I first started in my living room and then quickly tired of the added stress of a clean and neat house. I am fortunate that I was able to convert my garage into my studio and it’s REALLY cool – feels like a barn! But the entrance is VERY tight with a side door and a small outside wait area with a little bench. I do have a little couch in my studio (something I copied from Jy’s studio) The advantage here is that I also have a really cool three person wood swing in my front yard. I realize for many in the cold winter months waiting outside is not an option. Still, think if there is a local coffee shop maybe that they can hang in until it is truly their time for their session. And if you do “send” some people their way – see about having them promote your studio in return! I have a Starbucks at the bottom on the hill I live on! I get many free coffee treats 🙂

You just have to reclaim YOUR territory (easier said than done at times I know). I have a policy that the next group is allowed to enter the studio at their scheduled time (notice I say allow) and IF I am right in the middle of a breakthrough with the earlier class I allow it to happen. Of course this means that I’m cutting into the next session – but – they know that if and when it’s their turn to hang in there for a few more minutes, I will do the same. You just have to be firm and believe me, people respect this. Also, since my studio is now separate from my home I no longer have to be concerned with anyone entering or lingering in areas where they should not be. So I have an advantage in this sense. I don’t offer bathroom privies either and each and every person that enters the studio must sanitize their hand with the sanitizer I provide. Aren’t I a stinker?? I also tell each prospect I have a wait list. Human nature naturally makes us want something that seems out of reach. I also bring new students in now first through the workshops (that’s another conversation). But even when I didn’t have a wait list, I still said I did because well, in my mind I did LOL! (Teaching from the Future.) And if YOU think it, your actions follow!

I know all of us have stories for days – whether or not we always get it posted on the forum. You may want to preface the conversation like “Hey guys, in order for me to be the BEST coach I can be there are certain requirements that need to happen…” something like that. Would you deny the importance of this if Neil were speaking to you like this – which he does as we all know. Or, think of how a business operates like a bank. Do THEY allow fees to be waived when you don’t follow the rules? Nope! When YOU TURN the table onto them for them to see and experience the VALUE of a well managed studio, everyone wins in the long run…just like a winning team and this is what this is – teamwork!

I don’t have all the answers, believe me and honestly sometimes hesitate to post because I still have SO much to learn. But I now teach only 2.5 days a week and I run my classes back to back. I realize that this is not for everyone but as a single parent of a home school teenager and I am now launching a couple of other businesses plus the “Coming Home” project for returning vets from Iraq and Afghanistan with PTSD, I just had to take control of my schedule. Still is a work in progress btw!

Again, I learned from visiting other studios and this took time. Visit other studios if and when you can. I always, always learn something from other teachers! And when YOU stay calm and relaxed, your students will follow. Even if inside you’re going crazy…heads nodding again, anyone?? ha ha ha Oh – when they enter before their time you need to be firm, direct but polite and simply say it’s not yet time for you. Kindly wait outside or in their car…don’t ask, just tell them. In other words don’t say, “Please wait a bit longer…OK?” Like I said – I learned from the best out there…Bernie, Jy and others.

Oh – lastly, you mentioned that there are no dividers…get a couple of stand along screens (check Craigslist for bargains) so that your studio is separated so to speak. And, after you “close” for the day, you simply fold the screens and put them away 🙂

Joy V. Texas

One thing that I do is schedule classes on the 15s — 4:15, 5:15, 6:15, 7:15. The class starts at 4:15 and goes for 45 minutes. That means I’m wrapping up at 5:00. Early arrivals may be coming in, but I’m basically finished.

Carol B. Kansas

I had this problem and I found an inexpensive room divider made of cardboard that were nice colors and put them up during lessons and then folded them up and put them away.

Missy M. Nebraska

When we have back to back lessons like this we simply need to schedule 5+ minutes between and be clear that students are to wait until they see the class before them leave OR come in when it is their time. Sometimes it can be awkward figuring things like this out, but it only takes one announcement to say “hey, I see this isn’t working and I am sorry but . .. ” I don’t like that kind of interruption either. Sometimes it works well sometimes it doesn’t.

Just explain how things should work. I like having groups back to back because it keeps things moving as people know they have to get there on time, and be done on time for the next class waiting.

Sheri R. California

One more thing Jane that I regularly do: if students are still writing notes into the next lesson time, new students know to come to piano while previous students are finishing up writing notes and start Playlist review on the keypad (piano closed). They take turns and those not playing are watching and guessing (in whispers) which piece is being played. This is done quietly until previous class has finished–sometimes an overlap of a minute or so–no one has ever had a problem with this situation as the new students start on time and the others aren’t feeling rushed if I didn’t quite time the lesson to the second, which seems to be the norm.

(By the way I do keypad review regularly with classes even when there is not an overlap–it gets addressed when students have problems, when they say, “oh, but I can play it on the piano just fine.”)

Ruth M. Washington

My foyer is also open to my studio area. I tell families they may arrive five minutes before lessons and that any earlier will disturb the previous class. They will wait in their cars if necessary. ( yes, its cold here) I always allow a 10 minute buffer between classes. There so often is something that comes up and I find I need that buffer because of the style of teacher and person that I am. If kids try to push the buffer, I say, “not know, my next class is coming in” and the parent hustles them out. I have to have five minutes for the transition. Just insist upon it. Without at least five minutes I do not know how you do it. I guess writing notes could be done as people come in but I would not want to.