Do you have written in your policies, fees that are late incur extra charges? If so, how much extra do you charge? $20 late fee, no exceptions. My invoice says no places held without payment. I charge $25 if an invoice is more than 5 days overdue. Invoices come out a few days before the end of the month and payment…
I'd love to get feedback on how you handle absences from students who are ill. I offer make-up lessons or even extended lessons to "make up" the time. Also, what about adults or youth who are so involved in other activities that they aren't always able to commit to a lesson/week? Does anyone have a minimum monthly requirement? Just wondered... If students are ill they miss that week, I don't do…
I find myself personally going through "sticker shock" with the cost of Student Home Materials and it's making me feel scared to tell families what they are required to purchase without apologizing for the cost. It's also making me hesitant to include any of the supplemental programs which I purchased myself and want to include, but feel hesitant to ask families to purchase. I'm wondering if any other teachers experienced this and how they overcame it?…
I am just going to start to get the word out about teaching Simply Music, and then I will have an introductory session. My question is, what if people call and want to know how much it costs? Do you tell them the cost, or tell them to come to the first session and find out more about the program? Different SM teachers have different takes on this question. I do…
I started to work with a student who has cerebral palsy. Tova is an amazing person and student but does have a lot of challenges, as well as in the class. Because of her many issues, the 30-minute lesson can easily extend longer than that but we are learning to finish in the half hour. When the family first started, I offered them a discount for one term, as for me music is important and I…
When we pay our Royalties, what is the purpose of the question "Were there exceptions?". I think I always say yes, because at the very least there's a holiday or vacation each month. Is this what's intended? The Royalties model we use is based on the assumption that teachers typically deliver 4 lessons per month on average. Checking 'yes' to exceptions lets the office know that you are reporting correctly, but…
I charge by term and the ongoing students pay on the last day of the term for the following term. However, I don't usually charge at the end of the year. I wait until the beginning of the new school year in late January. I am thinking of charging a non-refundable deposit of $50 by the last day of this year's term. If they do come back, that $50 goes towards their first term fees. If…
I've been thinking of implementing longer lessons for my more advanced private students who I think need the time in the upper levels, in particular with all the reading we do. Maybe 45 minutes or hour lessons? One student is requesting an hour lesson and is willing to pay more. Do other teachers do this, and I'm wondering what the rate adjustment would be for both times? I have been teaching…
Hello everyone, I am curious to hear how various teachers decide on when and how much to increase their fees. I seem to remember Robin Keehn mentioning a particular percentage she uses when raising her rates. In the U.S. the rate of inflation is currently between 2 and 3%. So I’m guessing that’s a good place to start. Also if anyone has found an eloquent way to communicate your fee increase to parents, I would love…
I received a phone call from a mom whose daughter had her first lesson with me last week. She clearly wants to "try out" piano lessons for her daughter and she is not committed to continuing if it becomes a huge struggle to get her daughter to practice. At the moment her daughter loved her one lesson and is excited about playing piano. I have just moved to a tuition schedule of flat monthly payments. The…
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