A Fun Week!

Because the studio recital is this Friday night, I wanted to do something fun this week in lessons.  Everyone is excited, but there is also some performance anxiety, so I wanted to make this week a fun week and try to capitalize on the excitement rather than focus on their nervousness.  With that in mind, I am planning some fun "Christmas activities" to do in individual lessons or to do with a couple of them that come back-to-back for lessons.  In addition to going over their recital pieces, I'm also planning...

a game of Musical Christmas Lights designed by Susan Paradis which is going to work great for my beginning students.  They love to play "bingo" type games and using fun glass pieces to cover the lights will be a hit!

For my pre-reading students I picked up these foam snowflakes, adapted them with keyboards to help reinforce key names, and plan to hide them around the studio. 

I had done something similar at my fall workshop and the kids have been asking me to do it again!  I picked snowflakes so that I can use them in other ways all winter long.  Fun! Fun!

For my intermediate students, I am planning to use some familiar Christmas songs to test their aural rhythm skills.  They will have each measure of a familiar song printed out and will have to think about the rhythm while trying to put the measures in the proper order.  This is a bit of a change since I usually have them look at a rhythm and tap it out.

You can find these rhythms already done for you on D'Net's site here.  Just print, laminate and have fun!

Any fun Christmas activities you are planning?

"Start-Ups"

I've started teaching quite a few new students in the last couple of months and I found myself scrabbling to get all the start-up paperwork together each time.  Of course, I've been super busy, but I finally took the time to put together packets and thought I would share what I do.

First of all I put everything in a file folder.  I later use this file folder to store all the information on the individual student.  Here are the forms I use and that are included in each packet:

Application for Enrollment - I'm sure that you all have these, but I thought I would share a bit about what I put in mine.  After the obvious name and contact information, I ask questions about the student's past music experience, questions about the student's learning style and practice commitment.  Then I specifically ask parents some questions about their commitment to their child's learning.  I also ask about the type of piano the student will be practicing on and then I obtain emergency contact information.  I also attached 2 business cards to the application - mine and the business card for the piano tuner I recommend (who by the way has been responsible for referring 4 of the students I now teach!)

Studio Policy - I include this and go over this at the interview with the parent.  In my policy, I cover my teaching philosophy, my experience, my expectations of the student and the parents, my tuition and enrollment fee costs and what they cover, my "missed lessons" policy, supplies that are necessary, expectations at my studio, group workshops, recitals, and what happens should I have to terminate a student.

Information about the Enrollment Fee - This is simply an informational sheet that details what that one time expense covers. Putting this form together saves me trying to remember everything!  It also helps me to evaluate it to make sure I'm charging an appropriate amount.

Computer Station Letter - This is a letter that explains and offers additional learning at the computer station in my studio.  Right now, this is an option for my students - not a requirement.

Photo Release - This is a quick form explaining to my parents that I have a blog/website and would like to include pictures of their children participating in activities I do in the workshop.  They are asked to sign the form and indicate whether they consent to allowing their child to be included.  I never include photos of a child without this signed form.

Studio Referral Program - This is a flyer letting my parents know about my referral program.  If a parent refers another student who starts lessons, they are given 1/2 off one month's tuition.  I tell them that I'm willing to "hire" them to help me market the studio and that I'm happy to pay them (or in this case, charge them less!)!

...and lastly (finally, right?) I include:

Studio Calendar - This is obvious, but thought I would let you know that I include when the studio is closed, when the recitals are scheduled, when I have my group workshops, year-end evaluations and when my summer camps will take place.  My returning students get this in August and all new students get the calendar at the interview.

This may seem like a lot of "stuff", but I have found that parents appreciate how thorough it is.  I always take as much time as they need to go over everything so that down the road there is no question as to what I expect and what they can expect from me. Right now I have 6 packets all ready..."just in case". 

 Are there other forms/information that you include?