Studio Management
“How to practice” guidelines for students
Does anybody provide students with a “how to practice” guideline, especially when they get to higher levels? I just put together a draft for some students beginning Foundation 4 and Reading Rhythm. I welcome your ideas/comments! This is 40 minutes – what do you expect…
Public events at care centers
I’d like to hear from people who have students play at a nursing home, senior center, or other care center. What types of places work best? Does your whole studio participate? How long is the program? Do you focus on accompaniment and invite the audience…
Pairing students when one has prior experience
I am about to do a FIS for a family os two children (5 and 6.5 years) and am wondering how well it could go to teach the two as a small group rather than private lessons back to back). The 6.5-year-old already had half…
Transitioning traditional students to SM
Brand new SM teacher here. I just completed my ITTM and I’m starting to work on strategy for implementing SM with my current roster of students. I have a lot of questions concerning this process (for teachers that come from traditional) so I wondered first…
Holding students accountable in a requirement-based studio
Having a requirement-based studio has been on my mind lately, because I know there’s room for improvement, but I’m not sure how. On some issues I’m still not sure what “requirement-based” looks like. I think I’m still too understanding about some things. To me, it…
Handling spring break absences
Spring Break question: almost all school districts in my area have spring break on the same days every year, and at least half of my students are gone the entire week. In the past, I have just used this as one of my vacation weeks,…
Mismatched students in group
I have two girls who have been with me for a little more than 3 years. They are finishing up level 6. One of the girls is doing relatively well, but the second one is not. She is not keeping up with the assignments, doesn’t…
Parent correcting child in lessons
I have a student who is coming to a shared lesson with two parent coaches (mom and step-dad). With three students and four parents, my space is quite crowded. How would you suggest I respond? Ask just one to attend, ask one to sit farther…
Setting rules in shared lessons
I wonder if any of you have a set of shared lessons classroom “rules” (let’s say 3 to 5) for learning behavior management. Like you make these rules visible, or you have students recite them at the beginning of the lesson initially until they know…
Progress in shared vs private lessons
Someone asked me recently if the progress in group lessons is the same as in private lessons. As I am still a relatively new teacher, I welcome comments from the rest of you on this. I think the progress could be the same; and also…