I know it is only March, but it is time to begin thinking about year end celebrations and beginning again. In the piano teaching world, that generally happens in May or June as school lets out. I know that people do not like to think this far ahead because schedules are not out yet for extra-curricular activities, but it has worked well for me for a number of years.
In the fall, students can work AROUND their piano time as much as possible. I generally only have to move around 2-3 students during the school year as activities roll out.
Before our Spring Recital, I send out registration for commitment to the next year. I use google forms for this process. One required response on the google form is for recital participation and choice of time. This ensures the form is filled out.
Because my studio requires lessons year round, I try to make that clear with the next section. They are given an option of continuing or giving notice. Then they proceed to the summer choice options which I can cover in another post.
It’s important that I know in May who will continue or not because that is when potential new students will start calling to line up lessons for the new year.
The next forms are about the type of lessons they are choosing for the summer and a grid to choose their possible times. They can also list their vacation times and other camps so that I can work around them because summer is the only time I allow flexible rescheduling.
The fall scheduling block is below. That’s when it gets real. I do not give priority to students due to seniority. I don’t feel like that really helps the group as a whole. For the most part, the entire schedule is shuffled every year.
I am convinced that tying the form to the recital dates really helps me get everyone’s information in a timely manner and the next year’s registration fees charged before we have a small break at the end of May.
I am about to rehash the form and summer choices for this year and will update everyone on some possibilities in the next few days.
