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Acoustic differences between carpet and hard flooring
We are blessed to be replacing our very old carpet with hardwood flooring in the next week. I have an upright piano on wheels, and wondered if there are any sound/acoustic considerations to think about. We don’t plan to put a rug under it. What’s…
Collecting first month tuition at FIS
When you have a new student sign up at the FIS, do you collect the first month’s lesson fees right away, or let them pay you the first time they come? Pros and cons of different ways for this? I always ask at the FIS…
Which SHMs should students bring to lessons?
I am looking for ideas on how your students organize their printed SHMs and what you ask them to bring to the lesson. When I started teaching in SMD, I had each student bring in a binder with dividers to create sections for each level/program.…
Teacher lesson notes
I am a quite new teacher, with three students who have just finished Foundation 1 and a few others still working in F1. I’m trying to include Comp & Improv, Arrangements, and Accompaniment. How do I remember what to do in each lesson or class?…
Successful marketing ideas to build studio
I have a current goal of 30 students. Currently at 7, with number 8 planning to start when school begins. What do you do for marketing that works? I live in a medium size town in the southern United States. In almost any business, experts…
Hard copy materials vs digital
I’m interested in hearing how everyone is dealing with the digital materials in class. My hard copy books are falling apart, and I’m debating on going the pricey route of buying an iPad Pro for the piano or printing out all the materials. For those…
Students asking for water in class
I have quite a few students who come in (say 7-10 year olds) and after a minute or two say, “Mrs. B, may I have a glass of water?” Sometimes I’ll say, “Class is only a half hour long, I think you can wait that…
Prorating tuition for partial months
I’m a new teacher in the process of getting some groups started. I have two beginning in the middle of May, so I’ll be prorating their tuition due this month. The first group will have three lessons in May, as opposed to the four they…
Billing question
Does anyone else have any issues with parents asking to amend bills (after you’ve just spent hours doing them)? I have three parents who are leaving Perth mid-term – one has told me to amend the bill, the other has asked me to amend the…
Make-up lesson policy
Ideas for makeup policy? I’m considering doing a no makeup policy next fall but I see there being a lot of upset about that. I’m teaching an extra 3 to 4 hours a month just in makeups. I do one per quarter for illnesses or…