Simpedia

Mark M., New York

Last year, I let groups mutually choose a few days off that I would credit. Everyone in the group had to agree to it, so it would be a real day off for everyone including me. They appreciated this a lot, and it made for a good way to make the summer easier. This might not work for everyone in all circumstances, but for me with the small two-three-student groups I teach, it worked out well.

What didn’t work out so great last year was another couple of groups taking the whole summer off. Upon “re-entry,” I ended up losing one student, had another parent argue with me about late fees for September payment, and a few other hiccups. So I’ve decided that rather than simply allow unpaid leaves of absence, I’ll offer people the option of in effect taking an unpaid leave for the summer but only if they prepay through September by the end of June. This way, there’ll be no confusion about payment coming back, and also the commitment will already be there in people’s minds throughout the summer so that they’ll be more likely to keep up on their practice and have a good return to the routine of lessons.

No, I don’t relish the idea of reducing my income during the summer. But I also don’t think it’s effective to either ask people to pay for two-three months that they’re not going to take, or to have groups experience frequent absences where they have to catch each other up far more than what would usual during the year, and especially during a time of year when everyone’s routines go out the window anyway. After seeing difficulties for a few years in a row, I tried what I tried last year and it was an improvement, and at least it means some extra time off for me, too. So I’m expanding on it and optimistic that, on the whole, it will be the best way for me to handle the summer for my studio. I can also easily imagine that this wouldn’t be something that all teachers would choose.

Sheri R., California

I collect an extra month of tuition up front (that you can keep in a separate fund) so that if you don’t get the requested month’s notice you still have the tuition to cover that final month, whether they attend or not. This can help with your budgeting when students don’t honor your 30-day notice policy.

Shanta R., Minnesota

I know what you mean about summer attrition! Last year I offered a summer schedule – i.e. earlier lesson times. It was such a pain in the rear to reschedule everything in September. I decided not to do it this year. I only had one family whose summer schedule wasn’t compatible with their shared lesson, and so we’re doing a separate lesson for that family (three students) and bringing them back to their regular class in August. This summer (knock on wood) I have only lost one student to “taking the summer off”, and I’m hopeful that she will rejoin a different class in the fall.

I also make a point to talk about how times of transition (such as school ending and weather being gorgeous) can disrupt practice routines and strain your long-term relationship (LTR) with piano. I watch my whole studio go through varying degrees of “valley” at this time of year, but if you talk about it fewer will quit.

Also, I provide performance opportunities.
– We just had a formal recital in May
– I have an informal piano party in mid-late June where we get together at my house and play piano and have chocolate fondue. Performances energize students. There is nothing like a goal to get you through a valley!

I think in general, I am more laid back in the summer too – if one or more families in a lesson are on vacation, I’ll suggest gently to the rest of the class that we have a playlist day or work on non-foundation projects for a week. I’ve had occasions where only one student was planning to come and I’ve called and told them they could take the day off if they wanted to -frequently they do, and don’t complain at all! The motto is always “it takes as long as it takes”, but in the summer time it tends to take longer.

Carrie L., Michigan

We have had a breakdown in the summer months with students quitting or taking the whole summer off. While we are looking for new ideas, this is what has worked so far and we plan on 1/2 of the ‘regular’ students in July/August. We do tend to get A LOT of new enrollments in the summer and push what we call ‘summer camps’ in four week sessions. Summer has always been a time of lots of new enrollments trying it out for a few weeks.

We have students pay for the entire month of June and have our Spring recital on June 10th so that students have incentive to continue through June. Then we are closed for one-two weeks in July and teach the rest of the summer. This year we will have groups according to level and students can sign up for four, six, or eight weeks in July/August. If they take in the summer they can keep their time slot in the fall, if they do not continue they can reserve their time slot in the fall by paying in advance in June.

Robin Keehn, Washington

I wanted to share what has worked at our studio. My first two years I took too much time off and I lost a fair number of students. Now, we manage things like this: First, we have classes from the beginning of September through the last week of June. That leaves only July and August to worry about. We meet every third week over the summer, giving students three lessons. We try to keep students in their regular groups but that doesn’t always work with vacations and such, but we do our best. We make a point of not moving students ahead in the curriculum, rather we work on playlist, learn an arrangement, try some new accompaniment pieces, and do some improvising in class. This has worked well.

The other really effective thing that I do is to have a “summer set-up conversation” with my students. At the beginning of June, I tell them to take their calendar and sit down with their coach and look at July and August. They need to put the days that they CAN practice on the calendar. I do hold them accountable and ask about this weekly until everyone tells me that they have done it. This, more than anything, seems to really help. Rather than require them to practice five days a week, I am asking them to commit to certain days where they really will get to the piano. It takes the pressure off and makes it much more achievable. Once they’ve played those days, they can mark it on the playlist and make a big check mark on their calendar. There is a sense of accomplishment rather than a sense of defeat.

Over the past several summers I have not lost students. They all come back, ready to pick up again where we left off but having felt like they did get some type of break.

I hope that helps! Feel free to ask me any other questions about this.

Rochelle G., California

I’m doing something similar in my studio. I teach all year, with my studio closed in July, (and half of Dec/Jan.) My students pay me a flat rate tuition each month. Even for July. This is how I work it. For instance, from March to August they get 24 lessons. I keep a running tally of how many lessons each class has, and then in June I hold summer camps (which is two lessons a week or double time lessons). So they pay me for June at the end of May, and they pay me for July at the end of June (and they’ve already had those lessons). I’m letting them pay me the first of August for August. I have solid families that I don’t believe will flake. If they do, then next year they will have to pay for August in advance. The last session of “summer camp” will include a piano play party with refreshments. (Incidentally, it looks like summer camp coincides with finishing a level, which is bonus the fun!) Then we come back in August and finish out our 24 lessons for this portion of the year. If something weird happens in June with the schedule we still have August to make adjustments.

I’ve been talking this up, and planning it since the beginning, so my families are with me. The hardest part is scheduling in June. But I feel like the scheduling and the massive work I’m doing in June will be worth it in July! I’m already committing my groups for their time slot in Sept…which will be the same as August…and almost the same as our current schedule….so as I talk I just assume everyone is taking lessons with me forever.

In June during our “piano camps” we will focus a bit more on Comp and Improv, variations and arrangements, and for those about to complete a foundation level, making sure that playlist is alive, and singing a lot! I’m planning June to be such a fun time that we won’t realize how much work we’re doing! I’m expecting more bonding happening with my students and their families.

Stan M., Ohio

Pre-note: “fee increases” mentioned below can mean increase to fees or addition of studio vacation time.

I typically use my summer to change my fee schedule for new students. When existing students want the summer off, I remind them that I have a registration fee and they would be coming back to the higher fees plus that re-registration fee. This is a reminder as I cover this when they start. Therefore when I need to raise fees on existing students I do that at the first of the year.

When students leave at anytime it is sad for me since I feel I’m investing in then and pouring into them. However, I also see it as the opening of time for higher paying students.

As a side note, I have a waiting list that makes all this possible. I didn’t do this at first.

Amy L., Kansas

It’s part of my policy that if students take a leave of absence (defined as one or more months) and intend on coming back, they must pay 50% of tuition for the time they’re gone. It must be paid in advance and is non-refundable in the event they decide not to return.