 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2008-10-24 18:22
I'll tell ya - this economy has hit the new student market big time.
Haven't seen lack of calls like this ever, even in the early 90's there were more calls for new students.
What's it like in other areas? I'd figure the same.
I'm lucky that I'm busy, but if I had graduated a lot of Seniors last year they wouldn't have been replaced hardly at all.
So if your phone isn't ringing off the hook like in the past ......
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: C2thew
Date: 2008-10-24 19:17
people are cutting back on discretionary spending. the government wants to deficit to create a stimulus, but we'll be back in the same place a few months down the road.
hope you have a rainy day fund.
Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. they are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which was already but too easy to arrive as railroads lead to Boston to New York
-Walden; Henry Thoreau
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2008-10-25 00:05
Yup...things in Minneapolis are slow for new students too. My violinist friend is having a really tough time too.
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Author: dmfett
Date: 2008-10-25 04:05
Not so in northwest Iowa!
I teach in a school of 200 kids in K-5 and our 5th grade kids have 33 kids in the class and this was the best year I had in 10 years...I started 19 in August...
I also teach music k5 and I start talking to kids in Kindergarden and have 5th graders play for them and you all have to be an even better sales person in 2008 to get kids in band...
We have a "band Aid" thing where people donate good used instruments for those who can not afford them...none this year but we have at least 3-8 in most years...80% of kids rented new horns this year!
We have to find ways to get kids to play...
I for one will be out of a job if I do not keep my numbers up...this keeps me looking for ways to get kids in band...
I get the community to get the Omaha Symphony to come each year to play in small groups...
I have a 3 year plan with Woodwind year one, Brass year 2 and Strings year 3...
My band numbers have gone up each year since I did this...99% of my students will never see a pro plays unless I get them to our school...
$580 per year is lots but in our poor small town in Iowa people have felt this was a good investment even in bad $$$ times...
Never give up as if you look for a way and you have a gift to get kids in band you will money not needed...
We have 85% free lunch in grades K-5
Do give up just find a way to get kids in band as you will if you never give up...
Dennis
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Author: pewd
Date: 2008-10-25 04:13
i haven't noticed anything, yet.
however, i charge by the semester, my students are paid up until january 1.
i hope i'm wrong, but i imagine i'll lose a few after the first of the year.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: johng ★2017
Date: 2008-10-25 04:22
I am finding the same thing in my private teaching.
Usually I have plenty of new students in the fall, but only a couple this year. I think people are being afraid of the economic situation, and don't want to make new financial commitments.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2008-10-25 22:27
If only people realised that education is a more sustainable investment than bonds, stocks and options...
--
Ben
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Author: pewd
Date: 2008-10-26 04:05
education is a better investment than ipods, cell phones, makeup, jewelry, fancy cloths, etc.
i get students who can't pay for lessons on time - yet the student (age 11 or 12) has an ipod and a computer and a cell phone.
or lives in a $400K house (property tax records are public information in the us, if i know your address, i can look up your house value on the tax rolls). well, they used to be $400K houses, I'm not so sure this month
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: pewd
Date: 2008-10-26 15:31
its all relative to what part of the country you live in. a 400k house here is pretty nice.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: GBK
Date: 2008-10-26 15:42
pewd wrote:
> its all relative to what part of the country you live in. a
> 400k house here is pretty nice.
Around here, it's called a "handyman's special" ![[wink]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie3.gif)
...GBK
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Author: clariniano
Date: 2008-10-26 23:27
I've been having quite the opposite problem--more students than I actually need!
I recall that in a past discussion on this board many of the teachers only offered quarterly or semester payment. Perhaps it's time we learn to meet client's needs by offering various plans, while most of my students families pay lesson fees on a monthly basis, I have one family who pays for two weeks of lessons at a time, and a couple who pay quarterly or by the semester. Oddly enough, in all of the unconvential payment options, all the families have multiple students. A number of the better teachers here are surviving and even thriving in spite of "the economy".
And then having mutliple sources of income from performing, recording, composing and arranging music!
Perhaps some of us need to read The Secret, or watch the DVD, because it's all about what think tends to be what you attract.
Meri
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Author: C2thew
Date: 2008-10-26 23:33
"I've been having quite the opposite problem--more students than I actually need!"
heh i don't think i've ever heard that one before =) you must be in demand in your area
Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. they are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which was already but too easy to arrive as railroads lead to Boston to New York
-Walden; Henry Thoreau
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Author: clarinetguy ★2017
Date: 2008-10-27 00:53
I'm curious, David, about how much you charge for lessons. I'm in Michigan, and I charge $20/half hour. That's on the low side of the going rate in my area. I work out of a store, and the store gets a small share of this each week. To me it's worth it because the store and its teachers have an excellent reputation, and this helps attract students.
My numbers are low, but the economy in our area is in bad shape. It's affecting other private teachers too.
When my kids were young it wasn't workable to teach out of my house, and for some reason I didn't teach at a store. I'd travel to my students' homes (they weren't far from me), and the parents loved it. I was Mr. Nice Guy and had the parents pay me every week. The downside was that I'd always have deadbeats. The parents wouldn't be home, and they'd forget to leave payment. I'd contact the parents, receive an apology, but it was sometimes two or three weeks before I got my money. Now I ask for a month's payment in advance.
I've thought about lowering my price a little, but I'm hesitant. It's not a good idea to make lessons too expensive, but it they're too cheap, students and parents don't take them very seriously.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2008-10-27 01:52
Price can affect new signups, but if the inquiries aren't being made, it doesn't come into play.
Deadbeats are always hard. And it can certainly get tricky once they get behind. Sometimes it can be forgetfullness, but it also could be genuine financial struggling to afford the lessons. So ya have to figure out what's going on and go from there. Even dropping back to every other week if needed.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: clarinetguy ★2017
Date: 2008-10-27 20:39
Interesting points, David. With at least one of my deadbeat parents, I don't think money was an issue. Both parents had very good jobs, and I know that their family income was higher than mine.
I once had a student whose parents always forgot to leave a check. The student, who was in middle school, would tell me not to worry. He'd whip out his parents' checkbook, write me a check, and sign his father's name. I had my doubts, but the checks always cleared.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2008-10-27 21:29
I used to get parents who were borrowing $$ from their kids to pay for the lesson.
Was an interesting sight......
"uh, could you run upstairs and get me $10".......
"ok Mom but that's $75 now that you owe me"......
The kids are sometimes the bank
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: malanr
Date: 2008-10-28 17:48
In the situation I'm in, I'm thinking about giving lessons again. It been a few years since I have, so I'm wondering what the price has inflated to. When I was teaching a few years ago I was getting $10/half hour. Now that I have a child and the economy is going in the crapper, this would be a good way to supplement.
Any suggestions?
Matt Reid
Just another muscian
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