Music Teachers: STOP Putting out Fires!

Real Talk: I don't want to help Music Teachers solve problems as they come up... 

If you're not getting students, it's because you're not being consistent with marketing. 

If you're constantly having to fix mistakes your staff and teachers are making, it's because you didn't properly hire or train them to do what you NEED them to do. 

If your teachers are leaving and poaching your students, it's because you didn't build a community in your studio and take the proper measures and policies of preventing teachers from taking over. 

If you're constantly chasing payments, it's because you didn't set up autopay or stick to a stern payment agreement between you and your students. 

​the list goes on...

I know I sound harsh, but fixing this stuff is NOT why I decided to go into the business of helping Music Teachers...

I want to help Music Teachers and Schools like yours PREVENT problems from arising in the first place.

Listen, I know FIRST hand how difficult and complicated this is. 

I KNOW how much easier it is to eat junk food than to go on a specialized Keto or Whole 30 diet. 

I KNOW how much easier it is to hire people you completely trust to do a job... then accidentally give them MORE tasks than they can handle and end up turning an ally into an enemy... AND have to clean up the mess they made. 

I KNOW how scary it is to say "no" to a parent and end up giving away tons of make up lessons and constantly have to ask them where their tuition payments are. 

When money is TIGHT, I KNOW how much more convincing it is to try and DIY problems than pay for help. 

But Music Teachers:  NOT preparing for things will cost you MORE money, time, and headaches than "putting fires out" as they arise. 

Did you ever watch that TV show Lost? 

Remember that part where Charlie know he was going to die to help save his friends? As he was reflecting on life on his last days, he wrote down a "Best Hits" list of his life. 

I'm not dying or about to quit my job or anything, but lately I've been reflecting on The Studio Challenge and the people I've been able to really help...

I'm so honored to have seen and walked with TSC Member Courtney from being on the verge on bankruptcy in 2020 to having this amazing, BOOMING music and arts studio in the small town on Silva, NC. 

Or, how about member Whitney who lost her full-time gig on cruises to COVID, then pivoted to teach piano lessons full time... and went from 0 to 95 students in 7 MONTHS?!?!

Or, Chelsea, who shared with me the story of how she was frantically dealing with parents and problems in her studio WHILE SHE WAS IN LABOR with her first child? Then I got to work with her while she was pregnant with baby #2 and this happened...

And I'm happy to report she had baby #2 and did NOT work while in labor! :)

Music Teachers, please, PLEASE don't wait until it's too late to fix things in your studio.

Actually, here are 4 things I want you to go ahead and do to help PREVENT the most common problems I see in music schools...

1. Be FIRM with your policies. 

Parents and students WANT to know and be clear on the rules and regulations of taking lessons with you! If they're frustrated, it's because they're confused. 

Make your payment policy CLEAR. Make sure they KNOW your make up policy! Make sure they sign a contract agreeing to your policies. 


2. Make your studio about YOUR STUDIO, not people. 

What's the vibe of your studio? What do you think students should be learning in your school? What jobs do you need teachers and staff to do? 

One of the things we have a lot of our overly stressed members do is write out EVERYTHING they do and that has to be done in the studio.

How can someone you hire do the job if the job isn't clear? KNOW what tasks you need teachers and staff to do so they KNOW what is expected of them. (And if they're killing it, don't keep adding on tasks. This always causes them to burn out and leaves you frustrated!)

Also, make your studio MORE than just a place students come to take lessons and go home. Have kickass recitals. Create a "Karate Belt" type of level system students can graduate through. KNOW what your teachers are teaching and make sure it aligns with what you expect. 


3. Be CONSISTENT.

Have more students than you need? Build a wait list! Because students are GOING to leave. 

Not getting students? How much advertising did you do?

The average person has to hear about you AT LEAST 7 TIMES before they even consider doing business with you! And they won't see EVERY ad or email you send. 

You HAVE to put together an advertising plan and doing it on a REGULAR basis in order to bring in students. 


4. Have an emergency plan and let others know about it. 

Things happen! Some things you can know about and prepare for ahead of time, but some don't. 

What if you end up in a car accident or end up in the emergency room on a teaching day? What if one of your teachers has to leave in the middle of the school year? 

Have plan B's for EVERYTHING and let others you trust in on the plan. 

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What do you need help with in your studio? 

Feel like you're missing something or could do better? 

Need accountability and a clear path to achieve your studio goals?

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