Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Teachers Forum How long did it take you to build up a healthy full studio?

Many potential turn-offs:

The one time $15 registration
fee. In a tight economy people just
don't like to see things like this;
sounds like you're just trying to
shake them down for extra money.

All that stuff in the three paragraphs
above: "...Tuition due first lesson
of each month...don't have a separate
area for parents to sit and wait."
Some of it sounds outright hostile
to potential customers, in particular,
the phrases: "Tuition due" (that's
a terrible word, "due"), "I take cash
only" (you don't trust them to
pay with a check?), "provide receipts
upon request" (otherwise you
don't think they are even worth
writing a receipt for?), "makeup
policy pretty strict" (more terrible
words, "makeup," "strict"), "at my
discretion" (an offensive
phrase), "unless I'm the one that
cancelled" (you're going to cancel
out on them frequently?), "books and
materials are at students' cost" (this
might be par for the course, but do you have
drum this one more unpleasant fact
into them at this point?),
parents can't sit in (this is something
that can be discussed later), etc. These
might be pretty standard items, but
these are things that should be discussed
as a matter of course after you get them
in the door. You want them in the door,
not to run them off before they're
even inside.

Welcome to the forum, sparkler! I'm not a teacher, but I can answer from the perspective of a parent or prospective student. Your rates seem very very reasonable to me, if anything on the low side. So I wouldn't recommend lowering them any.

The only thing that came across the least bit off-putting to me was your statement that you accept only cash. I don't know if it would be a deal-breaker for me, and I pay cash for most transactions anyway. But if a prospective teacher or repairman or whoever came to me and said "I only take cash," I would have one of a couple reactions: (a) the person is trying to avoid paying taxes, and do I really want to do business with a tax evader? or (b) the person doesn't trust that my check/word is good, and do I really want to do business with somebody who thinks I'm a deadbeat?

Like I said, it wouldn't be a deal-breaker for me, and I can understand why somebody would want to avoid problems involved with credit card payments or bounced check fees etc... but those thoughts would flit through my mind, and it could be one reason people aren't following up with you.

Hi Sparkler and welcome on board.

To me, your rates do seem low, especially if you're in a larger metro area.

Everything else sounds entirely reasonable.

You'll never be able to convince parents that cheaper teachers deliver cheaper results, so you're just going to have to grind it out.

If you do not have at least a MTNA Certification, you might want to invest in that. It's always good for parents to hear, "I'm one of ten certified piano teachers in our community. It's your guarantee that I know what I'm doing and can offer your more for your money." Or words to that effect.

Luck will have some bearing on your growth rate. Keep doing what you're doing and your studio will grow.

I agree about the "only accept cash" part of the policy. I recently opened up a Paypal account (which is free) and I can accept payments through that. They can pay it form a credit or debit card, or if they have or open a free Paypal account, they can pay directly from a bank account using that. It's pretty nifty. Also, in the years I've been teaching, I think I've maybe had two checks return insufficient funds. In all cases the parents compensated me for the bank charges in addition to covering the original check amount.

Also, do you do any in-person interviews before signing students up? I really like to do this because you really get a feel for the student and parents. You also get to show off "you wares" if you will, and they can see how good you are with their child. I usually don't send out my policy, but I do tell them my rates over the phone and let them know my policy is available on my website, which they are free to check out. Sometimes seeing all the "rules" upfront can be a bit off-putting. I usually hand them the policy at the free interview and ask them to look it over and call with any questions. I also say as I give it to them that this is a business and often I have to have so many rules because of the few who take advantage. This little disclaimer lets them know that I'm not outright assuming they will be slow paying or anything, but it does put it in perspective for them. With the interview, the focus is more on the child and answering the parent's questions in person.

I also like to have an 8-lesson trial period. That gives us both a chance to get to know one another, and then decide if piano study is working out. This is great for the first-time student whose parents aren't sure he'll stick with it. If we are both in agreement after the 8 lessons, then we can decide to enroll them as a regular student. They pay for the 8 lessons upfront, and if they cancel, then they do not get a refund, of course. I would say 99% of students sign up for regular lessons after the trial period. It's more for their reassurance that there's an "out" if they need it.

Lastly, if you wish to build faster, tell your current students and their parents you'll give them a free lesson if they refer a new student to you (if they actually sign up for lessons). You make up for the lost income with the first lesson of the new student, so it's well worth it! And you get your students and parents in the habit of talking about you to friends, which helps build your reputation. Word of mouth is so valuable!

You'll never be able to convince parents that cheaper teachers deliver cheaper results, so you're just going to have to grind it out.

Sparkler,

I receive many inquiries from music directory services where my profile is listed. I have found that of the inquiries made the majority are hesitant and tentative in taking action toward actually making an appointment for a no-obligation get acquainted interview.

I think they just want to check: Location? Price? Is there an opening? They are shopping for these things and other than what they might have read in my profile they really know nothing about me, my teaching, or my studio.

I usually have handed all the paperwork out at the interview and asked them to read it and communicate with me about any questions, concerns or problems before enrolling. For the readers and signers of the contract, we are off to a good start! To those finding an obstacle, if they tell me about it, we can negotiated or discuss. To the ones who never quite got around to reading it they are showing me something important – their lack getting involved is not a good sign for them, for their child, or for me.

I am considering listing my welcoming letter, studio policy in it’s entirety with the tuition fees, special interest programs, registration form, the contract agreement, and the 30 day termination notice. I am also considering informational content about things parents have questions about.

This new website step would be because it’s very time consuming, and disappointing, as you said, to be “dropped” from the inquiry in it’s initial stages without knowing why.

The biggest problem seems to be that I want them to be somewhat knowledgeable before beginning about the roles of the parent, teacher and student as it is the beginning of commitment to our success as a supportive team to the student. I want them to agree to my policy because it works extremely well as a business tool and it’s democratic for all. It saves me hours of “repair work” when there are “misunderstandings” or “exceptions” or “disregard” to the “rules”. The policy says!

Sparky, your charges need to be higher. If you think of it as tuition for all services you provide and not just the lesson time on the bench, you will realize that you are deserving of higher income. Do the factoring of how many lessons you will give per year. How much does each student in a small beginning studio need to pay you per year to make it work at this point? When you have double your enrollment (10) what needs to happen? When you double it again (20)? I would recommend $1000 minimum per year per half hour student. This means 50 lessons per student per year to reach $1000. At $25 per half hour, 40 lessons equals the same.


Registration Fees cover things like piano tuning, business expenses, computer programs purchased for office or teaching uses, books for you, magazines, seminars, workshops, conventions you attend, membership in professional organizations, office expenses, advertising.
Etc. $15 does not cut it. I charge $35. I think John charges $75. I’m sure his studio operation requires it. I feel I’m a little low now, but the economy means I won’t increase it now, but later.

I think you need to reexamine your Make Up, Rescheduling, and Refund policies. There are other options of how to handle these things without you forfeiting your income. You must protect yourself against that.

If you would like to see my studio policy and enrollment documents, email me and I'll attach them for you.
bpps98374@comcast.net

As for when people decline your services for others that are cheaper, you need to know how to state the benefits of piano study with you – what do you deliver that others don’t? You need to learn how to overcome their objections. For instance, across town means they are spending time driving and gas money when you might be very convenient to them. Teach them to see the value of your services. This will be easier when you have a scrapbook of activities to show them, photos, recital programs, musical events you participate in with other teachers. You can build yourself a studio resume that is attractive to the consumer

When they ask simple inquiry questions, show great interest in their child – ask questions - quote known benefits to music lessons. This is one way to show that you give of yourself and invest in their child.

When you get the short shift from inquiries, I think it is often because they might not have a piano at home, the parent might not enjoy the weekly-ness of it, or be concerned about how the child will respond once in lessons. There may be a million other reasons why they didn’t get back to you – and you, like me, and many other teachers – find fault with something you did or didn’t do that caused them to drop you without knowing you. This is how the world turns in the piano teaching industry. If parents are looking for casual circumstances in piano lesson – easy in and easy out – and cheap – and easy to do, no rules – you can be grateful that others will take them on under those circumstances.

Personally, I’d rather wait for the student that will turn out to be a long term student and who at all times will be respectful of the policies of this studio.

Wait until you get the inquiry you can gravitate toward!

Betty Patnude

But to whom is this addressed? Several have mentioned that Sparkler's rates are somewhat on the low end, does that mean that I can expect commiserate results? If a teacher is already charging below market, how is a customer supposed to know where that magic cutoff is between "getting what you pay for" and "getting a good deal"? Is a $20/lesson teacher much better than an $18/lesson teacher, much worse than a $22/lesson teacher? All things that are hard to judge to a parent who knows nothing about pianos and piano teachers. Not being judgmental on JvdB's comment, just addressing from a potential customers perspective, just how hard it can be to know how low is too low. And to acknowledge how difficult it can be as a teacher to determine "optimal" pricing.

To Sparkler, coming from a parent of students, ditto on ditching cash only, sends the wrong message. Also, related to the pricing issue above, perhaps one thing you can do is to throw up a website where you can specifically identify the value-added that you bring to the table, that a lower cost alternative might not. Many will not be swayed because they are purely driven by cost, but you may be able to sway a few. It will also give you a consistent story to tell even to those you talk to on the phone.

Don't forget the power of networking. Make yourself known to the local music/piano shops. But in general I think that JvdB is right, just keep producing happy customers and good piano players and soon enough word of mouth should get things rolling.

I wouldn't expect someone just starting out with little to no experience to charge the same rate as someone with more experience. As you gain experience, you can gradually increase your rate. And being at the low end of the current teaching population will help build your studio faster, as long as it's not too far below the going rate.

And then there are those who have no degree, no certification, and appear on the outside to be hobbyists, and they under charge everyone, $10 a lesson, $12 a lesson etc. I can't judge their teaching or playing abilities, but I know that I have 3 students who came from those kinds of teachers (their parents thought they were getting such a good deal!) and when those students came to me I had a host of bad playing habits to deal with. On the upside, it was very gratifying to see lightbulbs go off in their heads every week as I tried to actually challenge them and open doors for them, musically speaking.

I feel very stuck in the middle. I believe I teach well and I am an experienced pianist with a degree, but have not gotten very involved with the music community at large.

Because of you all I am definitely changing my cash policy. I am a little hesitant to change my policy after the year has already started... however I suppose with such a small studio to begin with it shouldn't be that big of a deal...?