Summer Teaching in Students’ Home
Found in: Attendance, Homeschooling, Scheduling
Carrie L., Michigan
I was approached by a parent of 2 students that would like me to consider teaching at her home in the summer. She said that her sub has many children that may have interest in piano lessons and she’d round them up for a FIS and then help me start them in large shared lessons.
What are your thoughts as teachers? Is this giving up territory by not teaching in my home? Would this be a good potential marketing ploy as they would be told that I would only teach them at my home come Sept?
She lives about 20 minutes north of me and seems to think it’s quite far when really 20 minutes in suburbia Michigan could be from one part of my city to the other and probably half of my studio lives 15 minutes from me.
Cindy B., Illinois
I teach in the home of one family because they are homeschooled and I can schedule them at a time when my schedule isn’t usually full. I wouldn’t consider it if the time they are available is going to infringe on the after school schedule in my studio. I’ve taught in other people’s home before and it can really bite into teaching time once you take the travel time into consideration. Another thing I do when traveling to a lesson is charge more to cover the expense.
Hilary C., Western Australia
I too have gone to people’s homes to teach and charged more for the lessons, not taught groups, but would still charge more for tuition to cover transport costs.
I can understand the parent wanting a break from the relentlessness of ferrying offspring around. Personally I like the summer break to recharge but if you set out your guidelines as you mentioned – only in the summer – and the expectation that your policy demands are kept as in your studio – if you want to do it go for it. It could well be a way of getting more students to your studio. You might find that you could keep going longterm if the times and days suit you – if the children are homeschooled for instance.