Music Lesson Help Podcast
Music teachers helping other music teachers be better at the business end of music lessons and become, overall, more effective teachers.
Episodes
21 episodes
Do you gig? What are your credentials?
In this episode we discuss gigging and other activities that may be seen as "street-cred" to your customers. We also talk about the work-life balance that is important to maintain these kinds of activities. If you have comments abou...
How to stay healthy while teaching lessons
You've got a full schedule of private lessons. 30 to 40 kids, adults, etc going in and out of your studio door every week. They bring germs with them! And worst of all, they leave some of those germs with you on their way out the door!!! How do...
Thinking about starting a multi-teacher studio?
In this episode we discuss some of the pros and cons of running a multi-teacher studio. Could this be a good solution for you? Depending on your situation, it might be. If you have any comments on this topic or if you'd l...
How to deal with clutter!
Do you have extra sheet music, equipment, etc tucked in each corner of your studio? Are you starting to look like a hoarder? Cathie might be! In this episode Cathie asks for advice on how to reduce clutter in her studio. Do you have some soluti...
Outside sources?
Have you ever had a student learn a bad habit from an outside source? Maybe an online video, social media, or worse... a different teacher! Are all outside sources bad? How do you handle these situations? That is what we talk about in this epis...
Raising your rates
When was the last time you raised your rates? Are you charging enough? In this episode we talk about the scary process of raising your rate and how we've gone about it in the past, and present. We'd love to hear from you! If you'd like ...
Dealing with change
Sometimes change is something small. Sometimes it's big and scary. How do you deal with it? In this episode we talk about some of our experiences with changes. Big and small. Some on purpose, others by force. We'd love to hear from you!...
Celebrating milestones and rewarding students
When you hear the word "reward" most of us instantly think about little candies and gold stars! But as you'll find out in this episode, rewards can be much more meaningful than that. Not to say there is anything bad about candy and gold stars. ...
Bring energy to your lessons
In this episode we talk about how lessons can become exhausting, monotonous, and boring at times. we share some of our personal failures and how we have learned to overcome them and do our best to always bring energy to each lesson.
Potentially awkward or sensitive situations
In this episode we discuss potentially awkward or sensitive situations. As a music teacher you may come across situations or topics you didn't anticipate. We share a few situations we have encountered over the years. Some funny. Some serious. W...
Teaching students how to practice
In this episode we talk about the importance of teaching our students how to practice. We teach students how to play music, we send them home to practice it... Then they don't practice. Sometimes they may need some direction on how to go about ...
Teaching siblings
In this episode we discuss the pros and cons of teaching siblings (Students from the same family/household). As we discovered, this topic may apply more to some instruments than others. Either way, the topics that were brought up were actually ...
How to be a good teacher
In this episode we discuss the qualities of a good teacher. Or as Frank would say "A good human being". Caring, taking time to get to know your students needs, and so much more go into being a good teacher. Join us for this conversation. Please...
Getting started with new students
In this episode we discuss the ins and outs of getting started with new students. Whether they are brand new to the instrument/music or coming in with experience from another music instructor, there are things to consider to help you get them o...
So, you want to teach online?
In this episode we discuss the pros and cons of teaching online video lessons. We cover some of the main platforms, basic gear needed, trouble shooting, and some real life stories. Do you teach online? Tell us how you do it.
Student retention!
In this episode we discuss the importance of student retention and things to consider that will help you keep students coming back for more lessons. Is your retention good? Let us know.
How to land new students
In this episode we discuss the different ways we can advertise, etc to get new students. All teachers, new and old need a healthy influx of new students. But is that all? How do you land new students? Disclaimer: In this podcast re...
Deep Dive: Holidays, make-ups, and missed lessons.
In this episode we take a look at holidays, make-ups, and missed lessons. This topic is a deep dive into one of the many topics covered in Episode 1 (The importance of a studio policy). As always, we have some real world experiences, and share ...
Deep Dive: Payments and Invoicing
In this episode we take a look at payments and invoicing. This topic is a deep dive of one of the many bullet points we covered in episode 1 (The importance of a studio policy). We tell a few real-life stories of our experiences related to this...
Deep Dive: Music Lesson Pricing
In this episode we take a a look at pricing. This topic is a deep dive into one of the many bullet points that we discussed in episode one (The importance of a studio policy). We cover different pricing models, and give guidance on how you can ...
The importance of a studio policy
In this episode we discuss the importance of having a policy for your music lesson studio. We cover a few stories on how they have helped us in the past, and key topics that should be covered in your policy. Having a policy in place is a great ...