Stressfree Business Practices for your Studio Day 1€¦ · Stressfree Business Practices for your Studio Day 1 Presented by Wendy Stevens Correct False Narratives False Narrative

Stressfree Business Practices for your Studio Day 1

Presented by Wendy Stevens

Correct False Narratives False Narrative Incorrect things that we tell ourselves or allow ourselves to think (either consciously or subconsciously) that keep us from making good business decisions or implementing these decisions. False Narrative #1 I’m just _______________________________________. True Narrative: I may be having fun teaching, but ______________________________. False Narrative #2 “I can run my business with _________________ in the driver’s seat.” I must keep _______________ ______________ _____________ in the driver’s seat. False Narrative #3 I’m just a _____________ _______________. We undervalue our _______ & ________. True Narrative: False Narrative #4 I don’t need to make as much money__________________________. True Narrative: False Narrative #5 I am afraid of how my families will respond. [ _______ motivates us.] True Narrative: Adopt this “True Narrative:” “I am an experienced, educated, and highly trained piano teacher who is the CEO of my company. I alone have control over my schedule and my salary. I must seek to make wise business decisions so that I can minimize my stress and give more energy to helping my students be successful.”

Set Reasonable Rates 1. Find and look at your competitors. Who are they? 2. Ask specific questions. ● Considering my research, what would be fair to charge for

________________________________________________________? Do not ask: ______________________________________________

● Pick a price, then continue onto the next step.

3. Consider all the facts. Your “perhour rate” is not comparable to other employees. As a selfemployed individual, you have additional expenses that an hourly employee does not have.

© 2011 by Wendy Stevens. All Rights Reserved. Emailing or distributing these notes is prohibited. 1

Make your list of expenses first:

Then note what you are really making per hour:

*Remember that only you should be thinking about a “per lesson” price as you will be using this in the next step. When you communicate price to parents, always remember to frame it as the “yearly package” or refer to it as “tuition” divided evenly across the year.

Establish a Tuition Schedule You can make the same amount of money every month no matter how many lessons you teach during that month! Three rules: 1. Never charge _____________________________. 2. Always charge ____________________________. 3. Offer a ______________ ________________, not a weekly appointment.

“Where Does My Tuition Go?” free brochure can be printed here: www.composecreate.com/wheredoesmytuitiongobrochure/ Steps to make this work: 1. Divide your year. Some choices include:

a. The entire school year + summer b. Two separate semesters + summer c. The full year

2. Calculate how many weeks you want to teach in each.


3. Multiply this number of weeks by your “per lesson” price. 4. Decide how often you want to be paid (divide previous number by this) and collect

equal amounts of tuition each month or semester! Sample plans are found here: www.ComposeCreate.com/nomorecharginglessonsbytheweek How to deal with a student starting midyear: www.composecreate.com/proratingforstudentsstartingmidyear/

Make Yearly Price Increases When we don’t increase our price yearly, we are really giving ourselves a _________ _________ because we are asking ourselves to live on the same income when things cost us more! Consider the increased cost of your yearly expenses as well as this inflation calculator to help you know how much to increase yearly. U.S. CPI: www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm Australia CPI calculator: http://www.abs.gov.au/websitedbs/d3310114.nsf/home/consumer+price+index+inflation+calculator Canada CPI calculator: http://www.bankofcanada.ca/rates/related/inflationcalculator/ Sample wording for your policy: “Families should expect a yearly increase in tuition appropriate to cost of living increases, expenses, and services offered.” Here is an article further discussing this: www.ComposeCreate.com/whyyoushouldinstituteyearlypriceincreases

How to Continue to Increase When No One Else Is… 1. _______________ more value. 2. _______________ value. (We’ll talk more about this under “communicate wisely”) 3. _______________ your value. 4. _______________ more value.


What is Valuable? Just a few things... 1. A teacher that is always ____________________. 2. A teacher that is __________________________ (within reason!). 3. A teacher that is not _______________________________________________________.

The new Teaching Resource Paradigm 1. The ability to access ________________ anytime, anywhere. 2. The ability to access ___________ _____________ anytime, anywhere.

http://www.composecreate.com/store/music/happyhappybirthday/ 3. Ability to use ___________ that _________ to lessons.

The iPad Piano Teacher http://88pianokeys.me/ 4. Ability to access resources that are __________ right __________.


Rhythm Training SHOULD Be Fun! 2 DAY SALE only for webinar attendees! Use Coupon Code: “Webinar2014” for 15% off resources and music in the webinar!

What’s Wrong with Random Rhythms? 1. Rhythm is rarely ______________________________________________. 2. Random is not ______________. 3. Random inhibits ___________________. 4. Random is good for ______________________, but that’s not very _____________! Here are examples of free (random) rhythms helpful for testing (but not training) students (so use carefully): http://www.composecreate.com/rhythmworksheets/

Principles of Teaching Rhythm 1. Rhythm is _______________ but... 2. Rhythm has to be ____________________. 3. Rhythm deserves __________________________________________________________. 4. Rhythm needs to be ___________________________. 5. Rhythm needs to get past the _____________________________ stage.

Rhythm Menagerie http://www.composecreate.com/store/rhythmmenagerie/

Rhythm Manipulations http://www.composecreate.com/store/rhythmmanipulations/ http://www.composecreate.com/rm2challenge/ Have your students take the world wild challenge!

Rhythm Cup Explorations http://youtu.be/nFtfk0bZVRM Watch this to see a room full of students doing the pop piece! http://www.composecreate.com/jellybeansrhythmcups/ fun incentive! http://www.composecreate.com/waystogetrhythmcupstoexplodeinyourstudio/ the fun just keeps going and going! http://www.composecreate.com/thisvideosworthathousandwords/ fun video with cups


Store Page Click here to see at a glance and order any of the rhythm books or sheet music mentioned. www.composecreate.com/store/

Create Flex Weeks (for sickness, jury duty, snow days, surgery, etc.) Create unscheduled time off in your studio year to allow for unexpected time off.

a. Plan your _____________________ time off (7 weeks is normal for a teacher) b. Add ________________________________ (unscheduled time off) c. Calculate tuition based on ______________________________________ (add your

scheduled and unscheduled time and subtract it from 52 weeks. Then multiply your lesson price by this number.)

d. Send out your teaching schedule. (showing your scheduled time off. Include a pad of at least however many flex weeks you might take.)

e. Take off extra time as needed. (keep track) f. Add any _______________________ you use to the end of your term (e.g. If you take

2 flex weeks off during the year, you’ll add these to the end of your term. THIS is why it’s important to leave at least this much padding at the end of your schedule.)

Note: When using a flex week, remind parents they they are not paying for the week that you are taking off. Your policy should state, “This tuition price guarantees that I will teach xx weeks per year.” In an email you can say, “I am taking this week off as one of my vacation weeks. You will not be charged for this week of lessons as I will make sure that I am scheduled to teach xx weeks this year. This month’s tuition remains the same.” More information in this article: www.composecreate.com/snowdaysjurydutyillnessohmy/ www.composecreate.com/moreonunscheduledtimeoff/


Stressfree Business Practices for your Studio Day 2

Presented by Wendy Stevens

Stand Firm about Makeup Lessons Ask: ___________________________________________________________________ Correct your false narratives about makeup lessons: False Narrative #1: “It’s only fair to my students.” Consider: False Narrative #2 “I’ll lose money if I don’t do makeup lessons.” Consider: False Narrative #3 “I’ll feel guilty if I don’t give makeup lessons.” Consider:

The least stressful solution? ______ ______________. The fewer times you have to make small decisions, the more energy and brain power you have for the larger, more important decisions. Eliminate the possibility of makeups and you will save time and energy and experience less stress. Top 5 Reasons for Giving Makeup Lessons: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.


Sample wording for your policy: “Because specific times are set aside for specific students, a student who does not attend a lesson will simply miss the benefit of that lesson. There are no makeups given for missed lessons. Your tuition pays for more than your weekly lesson. See Where Does My Tuition Go?” Free brochure: www.ComposeCreate.com/wheredoesmytuitiongobrochure/ Allow wiggle room that fits your situation: ● _________________________ ● _________________________ ● _________________________

For a detailed discussion on even more options for makeup lessons: www.composecreate.com/togiveornotgivemakeuplessons/ For a stepbystep guide to moving to a no makeups policy: www.composecreate.com/nomakeups/

Creatively Deal with the Overscheduled Student Temporary overscheduling:

● _________________________ ● _________________________ ● _________________________ ● _________________________

Swap list rules:

● Only parents who sign up for the swap list can participate (they do this on the policy agreement)

● Swaps must be approved before attempting ● Parents must arrange the swap ● I must be notified after you have made the swap (Forward the swap details to the other

party.) ● Should two students arrive at once, I will teach the one normally scheduled at that time

Long term overscheduling:

● _________________________ ● _________________________ ● _________________________

Keep things in perspective:


Communicate Wisely

1. Always remind parents of the ________________________________________. 2. Communicate ____________________________. 3. Explain changes clearly but _________________. 4. Package everything with your __________________________________ in mind. 5. Continue ________________________________________________________.

Learn how to make any policy change without a revolt: http://www.composecreate.com/howtoincreasetuitionwithoutarevolt/

The New Teaching Resource Paradigm What’s New? Click here to see and order any of the rhythm books or sheet music mentioned in our store.

www.composecreate.com/store/ August 56 only: Get 15% off with this coupon code: “Webinar2014”.

Drastic Measures

● Intermediate ● Contemporary, syncopated, rhythmic ● Single and Studio license ● 15% off with “Webinar2014” coupon code

You Don’t Scare Me Now!

● Midelementary ● Surprising, flamboyant, extramusical sounds ● Single and Studio license ● 15% off with “Webinar2014” coupon code

Be Thou My Vision ● Late intermediate or any of us! ● Irish, melancholy ● Single and Studio license ● 15% off with “Webinar2014” coupon code


Carol of the Bells Elementary

● Midelementary (no eighths!) ● Big sounding, easy pedal ● Single and Studio license ● 15% off with “Webinar2014” coupon code

Carol of the Bells Intermediate

● Mid intermediate ● Passionate, falls within the hands ● Single and Studio license ● 15% off with “Webinar2014” coupon code

We Three Kings Snappy, jazzy duet

● Intermediate ● Optional snapping part for a 3rd reinforcement ● Multiple score options (vertical and horizontal) ● Snapping, improvisation, popular sound ● Single and Studio license ● 15% off with “Webinar2014” coupon code

A Thanksgiving Prayer

● Elementary with vocal PLUS easy guitar or advanced guitar ● Meditative, prayerful ● Single and Studio license ● 15% off with “Webinar2014” coupon code

Happy, Happy Birthday

● Early Elementary Full color graphics on every page! ● Celebratory, Fun! ● Single and Studio license ● 15% off with “Webinar2014” coupon code

The Booger Song

● Elementary Fun song about what NOT to do with these pesky realities. Only encourages the finest nasal etiquette!

● Get a smile from even the most unenthused boys! ● Single and Studio license ● 15% off with “Webinar2014” coupon code


Smoothly Shift to Longer Lessons 1. Don’t worry about whether families can afford it. Why?

2. Tell parents ________________________________________________________.

3. Make a general policy about ______________________________________.

4. Write a personal note to the “chosen” family.

5. Deal with exceptions as they come.

6. Be ________. You are the _____________________. A guide to moving students to longer lessons: http://www.composecreate.com/aguidetomovingstudentstolongerlessons/

Fix Those Vexing Problems Students arriving too early?

Students staying too late?

Feel like you are working too much? Tired of the same old questions from parents?

(Do I need a real piano? How much practice time is necessary? Can’t I just use a cheaper teacher when my child is young?)

Overwhelmed by decisions in general?


Extras My favorite teaching tools Pilot Frixion Erasable Gel Pens! (as incentives or my own use)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004DOMK2U/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B004DOMK2U&linkCode=as2&tag=wwwcomposecre20&linkId=XECXPANS5IGYURR7

Pilot Frixion Highlighters http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0027EJ0OY/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0027EJ0OY&linkCode=as2&tag=wwwcomposecre20&linkId=DHWNMYS5OTVH2DXW

Free Certificates of Artistry http://www.composecreate.com/certificateofartistry/ and http://www.composecreate.com/preparingforfallcomposersealsartistrycards/

Betta Fish Sweepstakes (and a free list of creative projects) http://www.composecreate.com/freecreativeprojectideasforpianostudents/

30 Piece Challenge (Elissa Milne’s idea adapted) http://www.composecreate.com/takethe30piecechallenge/

Diane Hidy’s blog http://dianehidy.com/

Door Prizes Here’s more information on how you can purchase any of the items that were given away on either day: The iPad Piano Studio by Leila Viss http://wmsna.amazonadsystem.com/20070822/US/js/linkenhancercommon.js?tag=wwwcomposecre20&linkId=O4YCV4ZKUYPJHPVU “Supersonics” Music by Daniel McFarland: http://supersonicspiano.com The Young Musician’s Guide to Songwriting by Lisa Lukas http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/061591571X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=061591571X&linkCode=as2&tag=wwwcomposecre20&linkId=BH3S5WLMWQ2XCTGB “Still Blue” and other digital sheet music by Diane Hidy: http://dianehidy.com/

Read More Articles on Stressfree Business Practices: www.composecreate.com/webinarfollowup/ (All the links in this handout are listed in this blog post so that you can just click on them and not have to type them!) http://www.composecreate.com/howtoincreasetuitionwithoutarevolt/ http://www.composecreate.com/aguidetomovingstudentstolongerlessons/ www.composecreate.com/asyoureviseyourpianopolicy/ www.composecreate.com/gotenoughmoney/


www.composecreate.com/indexofdollarssensearticles/ (This contains an index of 20 articles on business issues specific to piano teaching.) www.composecreate.com/apolicytipfromdaycare5aday/ www.composecreate.com/andyouthoughmymakeuppolicywassevere/ www.composecreate.com/marketingtohomeschoolstudents/ www.composecreate.com/dollarsandsense/ (an entire category of posts relating to money matters) Please sign up for the email newsletter that delivers pedagogy articles including “dollars and sense” posts right to your inbox.

Contact information I’d love to hear from you! I’d love to help with brief questions and comments and I will do my best to help or find professionals who can help you! I’m also available should you wish to schedule a consulting appointment for questions that can’t be quickly answered. [email protected] www.facebook.com/ComposeCreate www.ComposeCreate.com


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Stressfree Business Practices for your Studio Day 1€¦ · Stressfree Business Practices for your Studio Day 1 Presented by Wendy Stevens Correct False Narratives False Narrative