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Articles

24 Jan

Teaching Studio = Recording Studio?

by admin
in Performance
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A few years ago, back when I used to travel to my students’ homes to teach lessons, I tried an experiment. I thought it might be fun to be able to hear themselves playing or singing a piece they had mastered, so I brought alone my laptop computer and a USB microphone.

The results were mixed; while most students LOVED the idea of recording themselves, not all of them enjoyed actually hearing themselves. But what I discovered was that no matter how much they enjoyed or disliked it, having my students listen to their performances was an excellent teaching tool.

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21 Jan

Preparing Students for Success

by admin
in Performance, Policies and Procedures, Program Development
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Festival, exam and competition season is upon us. How do you prepare your students for these events? I take this part of my teaching very seriously, mostly because I had a negative experience at a music exam as a student myself. My first piano teacher registered me for a piano exam and I had absolutely no idea what to expect, was not coached on any of the components of the exam, and left feeling like a failure. Luckily, I did not lose my drive for music and instead found a much more competent teacher who took the time to make sure I was prepared. What I learned from her was invaluable to me as both a performer and teacher. Most of this is common sense, but I would like to share some of my ideas.

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09 Jan

Building a Strong Parent-Base

by cconrad
in Marketing, Policies and Procedures, Program Development
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I believe that in order for my students to be successful, and in order for them to become long-term students, the most important thing I can do is have a strong and broad base of parents. The parents must be willing to invest a great deal of time into getting them to lessons and practicing with them at home. Lessons of any sort are a commitment not just on the part of the child, but on the part of a parent, too. The happier your parents are, the more likely you are to develop a long-lasting relationship with the student. Parents are integral to the success of your studio.

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26 Dec

The Elevator Conversation

by admin
in Hiring Staff, Marketing, Program Development, Staff Management
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Recently I was at a doctor’s appointment and was asked what I do for a living. I told my doctor I taught piano. He was very interested and asked many questions, which is typically the response I get whenever I share about my profession. However, as I later reflected on the conversation, I thought that perhaps I could have been more savvy. I often get too wordy and perhaps go into details that are unnecessary and time-consuming.

The experience prompted me to brush up on my “elevator conversation.” An elevator talk is a powerful, compelling, but concise explanation of what you do (or if you are looking for a job, what you want to be doing). Additionally, it can be crafted for different audiences or events, such as interviews or conferences. Its title refers to the length of an elevator ride, meaning that it lasts for about 20 – 30 seconds. Within that time, one should be be able to give the “big picture” about their business that is memorable and clear, sparking curiosity. The goal is for the person with whom you’re speaking to say, “tell me more!”

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24 Dec

Oh No, I’m Sick! Now What?

by admin
in Policies and Procedures
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As I write this blog post, I’m fighting a terrible sore throat, cough, and runny nose. All sorts of worries are running through my head…will I need to cancel this afternoon’s lessons? What about the class I’m teaching later this week and the recordings I need to make for my students? Not to mention the performances that I have scheduled.

Getting sick is often a huge hindrance for studio owners, because in many cases, not only do we own our own businesses, but we run them single-handedly. If we can’t work. we lose income — it’s as simple as that.

So how do you handle your business when you’re under the weather? Here are a few considerations just in case you find yourself in my boat this winter.

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