Tuition credits question
Found in: Studio Policies
Francine V., Australia
I have always charged students per school term, regardless of when they are away on holidays. If they are away, they still get charged. But I have LOTS of students who go away! I seem to have the conversation with them frequently. I have 5 away next week for their first lesson of term 4 because they are still overseas. They all know the rule, but I still get adults asking to have that week free.
Are we being mean to still charge? My sons’ basketball still charges even when he’s not there, but I’m starting to feel mean. Especially when one adult student paid for a whole term and couldn’t come to any lessons, but I’ve told her she can come next term instead without paying again.
Leeanne I., Australia
As long as your payment terms are in your studio policies and your students have agreed to them, stick to your guns! I teach all year around, not by the school term. I have two weeks off mid-year and two weeks off over Christmas – which are in my studio policies that are signed before students start. My students pay by the month and if they choose to have holidays that don’t coincide with my breaks, that is their loss.l I explain that I do this so I can operate my business full time and have a regular income. Occasionally, if students are going away for extended breaks, I will agree to them not having to pay. This is not in my studio policies and totally at my discretion.
Becc S., Australia
I understand that we compare our lessons to other extracurricular activities, but private music lessons are expensive, so I always offer reschedules in the term holidays which most people take advantage of. My kids’ private music teachers have never charged me for lessons we’ve missed, but we’ve always done reschedules in the holidays. It’s up to you. I have one family with three kids – I teach only private – and they miss 1-2 lessons per term and they never do a reschedule or ask for a discount. I have others who only have one child and always do the reschedule. The one who misses always apologizes and always tells me how fantastic I am and how much the value me. I just find the language interesting.
Robin T., China
Stick to it. It is critical for your sense of self-worth and well-being as a teacher that you can depend on a stable income.
Kerry V., Australia
Ask them if they have contacted the vehicle department for car registration to be refunded or credited for those weeks the car is not in use. Ask if they have contacted their utility companies to say they will not be home for a few weeks so want a refund. Have they checked with car insurance? Also, are they away from private school and don’t want to pay for the fees for that week? Have they also contacted the bank for mortgage payments or rental reduction that they won’t be in the home for those weeks?
Remember, too, they are not paying for that half hour with you per week. They are paying for all your training, your practice, your growth, your preparation time, etc. A music teacher does not (hopefully) just appear for that half hour, having everything at the ready, without having spent millions of hours in one way or other to teach the student.