Simpedia

Kim B. Indiana

We have this same problem many times. We find that if we don’t start a group with 5 to 7 people at the beginning, it tends to dwindle away after a few months. But it is really hard to try to start a group where everyone can meet at the same time. Getting that good match is difficult. And getting that number of people seems to take a while!

One thing we have done is we offer the FIS at the time where we have an open lesson time. If families can come to an FIS at 5:30 on Thursdays, then they are very likely to be able to do a group lesson at 5:30 on Thursdays. That is my best answer to this question. I also try to stay in weekly contact with the family. Letting them know that we are going to have another FIS. Telling them how many more students have enrolled and letting them know “we just need 2 more students to get this group started!” I think keeping them in the loop helps a lot and keeps their enthusiasm.

And I market, market, market. I do this mostly by email. I also have a Kindermusik program and I make sure to include SM in my KM marketing e-newsletters. Many of those families have older children and we get lots of students that way.

Joan H., Canada

Greetings – perhaps you can ask yourself what you feel is your minimum number for a “group”? I feel a group can be as small as 2 – partly because I have a small living room which also functions as my piano studio – my largest group is 4 but most are 2 or 3 and I also have a few individual students – rather than lose those who are ready to start, I feel I have the time to start them as privates, and then sometimes 2 privates can merge together to form a group.

I seem to recall Mark Merritt, who is a goldmine of experience and information which he freely shares, has mentioned that he does not teach more than 3 in a group. Mark, if you are reading this, perhaps you could comment on your reasons. I have only been teaching for 20 months, but have grown from 8 to 34 students in that time, and I feel it is due in part, to the flexible approach I have taken to forming “groups”.

I should also mention that I only teach 2 days per week on Tuesday and Wednesday, and I don’t teach beyond 6:30 pm! So even with small groups of 2 or 3 and some private students, I have plenty of margin and “space” in my weeks because of limiting my availability to Tuesday and Wednesday. Hope it’s helpful!

Barbara M., New Jersey

I heard somewhere that success starting groups depends on your rate of inquiry. My rate of inquiry is about 5-6 students per year. When my rate of inquiry was 15-20 students a year, groups made sense. I do agree that groups are preferable in many ways. I have had private students come to a shared lesson for a makeup and see how fresh the dynamic is, and then want the shared lesson environment.

Laurie Richards, Nebraska

A few thoughts regarding groups:

• Retention is your most effective tool in groups. This seems obvious as a blanket statement. However you really have to be intentional about it as a goal for yourself, always considering how you can inspire your studio families to want to continue their musical journey long-term, even through the valleys. Of course, this is a process of discovery, trial and error. It will naturally evolve over time as you become more comfortable with the curriculum and the psychology of managing groups.

One thing I have done which I believe helps retention is require a 3-month minimum commitment up front. Some people won’t give the method enough of a chance to unfold because it is so different, and quit within the first few months. Once they get through the majority of Level 1, however, they have acquired a sense of how it works and have experienced success with it and are more likely to continue.

• The only way to start larger new groups is to generate a lot of inquiries, which means marketing/networking/advertising on an ongoing basis. There are a lot of discussions in Simpedia on this topic.

One tip, though – successful students are your best advertising. Offer an incentive to your studio families if they refer someone who enrolls. I used to offer a free month but changed a few years ago to handing the referring family a $50 bill during class. I make sure everyone sees and hears this transaction. It has immediate impact on the referring family, and is a visual incentive for the rest of the class. I think the presence of something concrete NOW ($50 bill) is a more effective tool than the absence of something LATER (no tuition next month).

• I know it’s a bit frustrating when you want groups now, but as you continue, you will gain more students from word-of-mouth advertising, and if you keep your name out there in some format or other, your business will gain recognition and familiarity. I have found this to be invaluable and have always invested at least a little time and money consistently in keeping my name out in the public.

Kym N., California

Kim, Joan, and Laurie,

Thanks for your words of wisdom. All my groups are 2 students so far except for one which has 4. In fact, I had to break down a couple of 3 student groups before because some students didn’t go along well in a group. I do require a mutual understanding of min. 3 months commitment with an incentive of a slightly reduced tuition for the first 3 months. Knowing the psychology of how to manage group is probably what I need to learn most. Keep on learning…Keep on learning…It’s challenging.

Some of the families attended the FIS decided not to go on even the child is interested because these parents want to drop off the kids only. I am learning to let these families go.

I watched the “Million Dollar Arm” premier last night. It’s such a great story and is beautifully filmed. This is a great story that illustrates exactly how the “3-legged stool” works.