Transitioning a Traditional Studio
Found in: Free Introductory Session, Marketing & Advertising, Playing-Based Methodology, Students, Students with Prior Experience
Cheri S., Utah
A local traditional teacher is thinking of transitioning her current students to Simply Music. I found one (very helpful) entry in the FAQs library and would like to get some more info from all of you.
What tips do you have for her? What can she expect the process to be like? How can she make it the most successful? How did you respond to objections (if there were any)?
How did you present the method change?
Did you raise your rates?
What challenges did you face after the initial switch? What went really well?
Would you recommend transitioning every student? What about those who are quite advanced? Does anyone run a mixed studio, with some traditional students and some SM? Is that allowed?
Rochelle G., California
I think a mixed studio is allowed if the non-SM students were previously yours. Any new students would need to be SM. I think that’s how it goes.
I transitioned all of my traditional students to SM. I gave them no choice, but I didn’t have any advanced students. A few who were approaching intermediate in the next year (or two!)
The timing for me worked well: I told them that after Christmas break I was changing piano methods to a wonderful thing called Simply Music! I encouraged them to look it up on the website. I used the holiday break to do my teacher training. By the time it was all said and done I wasn’t ready to do my FIS until mid-February, but the extra time was necessary for me, and in the end it didn’t matter. All of my “old” students were told when the FIS was, the idea was that they would find out about the new method and we would move forward. My attitude was positive and passionate!
I did increase my rates, but gave my transitioning students a discounted rate until the end of August. They really appreciated that, because my previous rate had been ridiculously low, and the discounted rate was still $20 per month higher than what they were used to paying.
Regarding your question about any objections: I did the FIS the same as I do now, and answered those questions as per our teacher training. I let them know that I felt this change was in the absolute best interest of my students, or I wouldn’t be doing it. Basically, it was a requirement to stay in my studio! They all stayed with me, a 100% success rate: I had 8 students at that time. By the end of February I had 24 students. (Previous word of mouth and a few old students came back to try the new method.)
My transition went extremely well! I remained confident of the method (even if I was new and didn’t know everything). I think my trust in the method transferred to my students. The fun we had making music together in our new group settings was absolutely not to be denied!
One of my pre-intermediate students went from only practicing once a week at her lesson, to playing every day! Her dad mentioned she even played her old recital pieces better! “It works,” he said.
Hopefully this helps, sorry I can’t share about advanced students.
