Simpedia

Victoria S. California

Right now I’m just using the Teacher List Overview to keep track of what they have done and what they are working on and yet to cover. At the bottom I list (in tiny print) anything not specific in the material, like a composition all on black keys or changing the Right Hand (RH) to Left Hand (LH) song. I list a date started and finished so I know they have done something. I suppose I will need another form, but I think something like a generic Teacher List Overview will work just fine. I’m hoping to have my husband show me how to make one on the computer. He works with that software program more than I do. I would just attach it to the Teacher List Overview they started with and keep going.

Hope this helps. I really need to keep paperwork simple. I also have asked students to show me their notes book and look at what they wrote from the previous week if I get confused.

Laurie Richards, Nebraska

I developed my own Shared Lesson Record, which is like Neil’s only I added columns for Acc., C&I, Arr., and Reading. I keep track (using LOTS of abbreviations) of everything we covered in each lesson in these columns. On the back side I print a list of all the Arrangements and check off the ones taught in that particular group, and I also have a space to keep track of what keys they have transposed to in Acc. I know every week exactly what was covered the prior week.

Victoria S., California

Wow! My brain is not trained to think in ‘accounting and accounting forms’. So, all I do right now is place a tiny post-it on my Attendance Record Form to remind them tuition is due. I always remind them that if they forget to bring their tuition on the last lesson of the month they can still bring it on the first lesson of the new month, but if they forget that day, I will have to charge the ‘dreaded late fee’ (I do this jovially) since I have already reminded them once.

Then, after the lesson is over, I replace the tuition reminder post-it with a ‘collect tuition’ post-it so I don’t forget at the beginning of the next lesson. I like having them bring the tuition to me and put it in my hand in front of the rest of the group. That way the others get responsible because they don’t want to look like laggards. Some of them can only pay at the first lesson of the month because of budgeting, and they feel grateful I allow this without hassle.

I immediately record their payment after the lesson or at the end of the day and only then do I place the check to be deposited. Then I don’t forget I got paid, I have a record of it, and I also get the photo of the check deposit at the ATM. Again, I like things simple. Maybe when my studio is larger, I’ll have to do something differently, but so far, so good.