 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bob
Date: 2002-11-20 20:00
Does anyone have suggestions for sources for getting private lessons organized for both the teaching content and the bookkeeping needs for several students? Things are starting to get out of hand. Thanks, Bob
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Author: Ken
Date: 2002-11-21 01:17
I'd be very interested in learning too. I have 20 H.S. students myself and implementing a good basic lesson plan, but I'd be grateful for suggestions from Allen Cole (a good teacher) who posts here, time to time for better suggestions.
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Author: William
Date: 2002-11-21 03:31
My wife was taking piano lessons for a while from a local teacher who charged a flat fee for the entire semester with no refunds for missed lessons--entire payment due before your second lesson (first one is free). Makes the "money management" easier to keep track of.
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Author: Melanie
Date: 2002-11-21 08:05
I only have about 9 students, but it seems to run smoothly. A lot of that is in part due to the Community School of Music that I teach through. They take care of billing for me and I get paid whether students show up or not. This of course is a dream world, and collecting the money is also difficult for them. In the past, I have had students pay cash when they get there, or pay a month in advance. As for lesson planning, I have a folder that I keep that is divided into sections (1 for each student). I keep notes on what the student is doing and what they need to do as well as long term goals and any other pertinant information. This has worked well for me as well as keeping attendance sheets. I mark when a student is present, absent, or when there is a teacher absence. This helps the Community School with billing and helps me keep track for myself. My last piece of advice is to send home a calandar that shows when the lessons will be. I have found this helps a great deal especially with my parents who are not fluent English speaker. Please share any other tidbits you learn
Melanie
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Author: Meri
Date: 2002-11-21 21:03
I use a spreadsheet system in MS Excel. It indicates the student's name, parent's name, cost per lesson (since different students have different rates), the month/year, and the amount paid for that month/year. My student's lessons are paid a month in advance, and the next month's lessons are due on the last lesson day of the month, which I always remind my student's parents the week before and the night before.
As for the structure of lessons, it starts with a series of warmups, with long tones, articulation patterns, rhythmic warmups, and sight-reading. I use different scales and apreggios for the long tones and articulation patterns.
The rest of the lesson...it depends on the student on that particular day. If a student is dealing with a cold and doesn't feel like playing, for example, I will use the lesson to introduce a new rhythmic concept, focus on theory or ear training or bring one of my clarinet recordings, and see if, for example, if my students can figure out what the form is. Other times we will spend the entire lesson on a solo the student is working on, scales, articulation, or duets.
I like to make notes in a small notebook about what I discussed with a student at the last lesson, and write notes about what I may want to introduce or discuss. I also make notes on particular habits I need to watch for with different students.
Meri
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Author: diz
Date: 2002-11-22 02:54
Meri - good advice, I also think paying for a term or block of 10 lessons in advance is a good idea - if you miss then tough luck. My old teacher used this system and it worked very well - if she was unable to take the lesson we were either refunded or given an alternative lesson.
We have software here called MYOB (Mind Your Own Business) - I'm not sure if it's available in the States but it is fantastic.
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Author: Ken
Date: 2002-11-23 21:56
Splendid Melanie and Meri! Extremely organized, well conceived and business like. I will adopt some of your teaching concepts to my own. v/r KEN
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Author: Allen Cole
Date: 2002-11-25 05:36
Hmmm...this is the first time anyone's SOLICITED my input. Here goes:
On money, the semester system can't be beat. It enhances security, enforces discipline, and minimizes recordkeeping.
On lesson organization, I don't think that I can add much to what I posted on integrating Theory a while back. My philosophy is that strong basics coupled with real-world tasks make for mature, methodical students. Have a blast!
Allen
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