Feeling $hort in the summer? A working summer strategy to have your cake and eat it, too!A teachers, we love our students and they love us-but we must always remember that our relationship is primarily professional. In that regard, it is our responsibility to ourselves to keep our businesses solvent solvent, constituent of a solution that acts as a dissolving agent. In solutions of solids or gases in a liquid, the liquid is the solvent. In all other solutions (i.e. and protect ourselves from financial hardship. One of the challenges in our profession is keeping our schedules active in the summer when our students wish to take breaks from their studies. We do, toot The problem is, our overhead does not take a vacation! And we all know what September is like when students return after several months away from their studies. With a good strategy and advance planning, this challenge does not need to be a problem at all. They can have their break, enhance their skill level, and we can meet our financial needs without any conflicts of interest! In the simplest terms, what we do as independent teachers is sell our time providing education. While the majority of our work is done in weekly meetings with our students, this is not pre-ordained. Our working hours can be managed any way we would like to offer them. The choice is ours!! If we examine the current conventions of summer life for our students, we find that group activities are the norm-and, in fact, the preferred format. Camps (of all kinds), extended sessions of all kinds of activities are offered--horseback-riding, golf, band practice, girl scout activities, boy scout outings--the list goes on and on! Why not music? We can offer a variety of subjects-even projects-to keep heir enrollment active and our studio needs met. Strategies 1. Annual billing: 43 lessons annually for Sxxx. Plan your calendar and schedule accordingly throughout the year. 2. Required minimum summer enrollment: require two to four hours of summer enrollment for your students to retain their enrollment in your studio--lessons to be scheduled anywhere between June-August (even 2 two-hour sessions-one at the beginning and one at the end of summer). 3. Group lessons: extended sessions with multiple enrollments. 4. Camps--select your favorite subject: a. Music literacy (for beginners) b. "How to Practice"--step by step using their individual repertoire Repertoire may mean Repertory but may also refer to:
c. Ear Training d. Technique e. Theory f. Music History Several publishers offer pre-packaged "Camp" material. 5. "Focus Sessions" special topics (appropriate for each level) a. The Sonatina/Sonata--staples of student studies! Discuss the form and introduce your students to the great works of Clementi, Kuhlau, Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart had a powerful influence on the work of Ludwig van Beethoven. Beethoven knew much of Mozart's work, and modeled a number of his own compositions on works of Mozart. In addition, the two may have met briefly in Vienna in 1787. b. "Impressionistic im·pres·sion·is·tic adj. 1. Of, relating to, or practicing impressionism. 2. Of, relating to, or predicated on impression as opposed to reason or fact: impressionistic memories of early childhood. Music"--find your favorite examples and introduce your students to a genre they may be unfamiliar with c. Variations of Mozart and Beethoven d. Chamber literature e. Musicianship for the intermediate student 6. "Theory Gymnastics gymnastics, exercises for the balanced development of the body (see also aerobics), or the competitive sport derived from these exercises. Although the ancient Greeks (who invented the building called a gymnasium "--a game based theory/rhythm/ear training/history curriculum at all levels. Students LOVE this series! There is a wealth of supporting games and materials for us to use with our students. Visit www.tcwresources.com. 7. Projects: a. "Guest Session"--invite a friend to present a topic or different instrument b. Composition--focus on the act of creation! If you have a computer lab this can easily be done using software c. Community Recitals--at the mall, children's hospital A children's hospital is a hospital which offers its services exclusively to children. The number of children's hospitals proliferated in the 20th century, as pediatric medical and surgical specialties separated from internal medicine and adult surgical specialties. , zoo, retirement center d. 'Theme' recitals--"Pajama Piano Party"/"Pianimals" (music highlighting their favorite animals)/"Dance Day"/a Concerto concerto (kənchâr`tō), musical composition usually for an orchestra and a soloist or a group of soloists. In the 16th cent. concertare and concertato implied an ensemble, either vocal or instrumental. Concert e. Outings--visit the symphony or tour your symphony hall There are a number of concert halls known as Symphony Hall. Among the best known are:
The Nuts & Bolts--(conservatively) Camps Typically several hours daily for one, two or three weeks; in the morning, afternoon or both. Fees can be set at your hourly rate for double the time (plus materials/costs) per student. Invoice An itemized statement or written account of goods sent to a purchaser or consignee by a vendor that indicates the quantity and price of each piece of merchandise shipped. A consular invoice is one used in foreign trade. per week or for the entire session; check other camps in your area to be competitive and do include any and all overhead in your fee. If you don't have the space 'in-house', look into using a nearby location, such as a church. Four to 24 students per group work well depending on your space (and patience!) Focus Sessions These could be of any length, invoiced at your rate plus materials. A 90-minute session at $50 is quite appropriate. Focus Sessions can be scheduled in one, two or more sessions of any length and on different days. Depending on the topic, four to eight students in a group is comfortable and allows for an interactive format. Projects Calculate your fees based on your lesson rate plus any overhead for the event (rentals, music, etc). Scheduling might be done in pairs or groups, and more than once weekly. Use your imagination! Find a goal and create an opportunity for your students! Calculate the number of lessons necessary to participate (ensemble lessons are time efficient and fun!). Remember, the most important thing is to get the word out early! Parents start scheduling their children's summer camps and other activities as early as February each year so don't be shy about your advertising! Suggestions E-mail an announcement in January informing your class of your summer offerings that year. Follow it up with an email in February that includes an attachment of a flier with a registration form (be sure to have a due date). Start talking up your activities in early spring so they are a clear part of the scene as your clients explore summer activities for their children. Remember that during the summer, parents are looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. activities that keep their children busy and hopefully--be good for them as well. They already trust you and might be thrilled thrill v. thrilled, thrill·ing, thrills v.tr. 1. To cause to feel a sudden intense sensation; excite greatly. 2. To give great pleasure to; delight. See Synonyms at enrapture. to entrust them to your care for two weeks of a music camp that would "crunch (1) To process data. See number crunching. (2) To compress data. See data compression. 1. (jargon) crunch - To process, usually in a time-consuming or complicated way. " their development, raise their playing level, and broaden their understanding. Working your needs into your program is your best option. A simple survey will allow your clients to tell you how they wish to spend their summer--you can then plan accordingly. If YOU wish to limit your summer teaching and still meet your needs, schedule your classes, camps and activities in June or late August so you can enjoy your summer "time off" as well. For most of our students, music is their "hobby A hobby is a spare-time recreational pursuit. Origin of term A hobby-horse was a wooden or wickerwork toy made to be ridden just like the real hobby. From this came the expression "to ride one's hobby-horse", meaning "to follow a favourite pastime", and in turn, " and one of many activities they pursue. Because our relationship is more personal than most, it may not occur to them that we need to meet our overhead--just like any other business. But our students do honor and respect us. If they are reminded that, as professionals, we have business costs to sustain and require continued enrollment (in some fashion), it is unlikely they will decline enrollment if they wish to maintain your professional relationship. There are many creative ways to keep the boat afloat! Start by asking yourself how YOU would like to spend your summer--calculate your needs and the needs of your students-and plan early. And remember--a rising tide Noun 1. rising tide - the occurrence of incoming water (between a low tide and the following high tide); "a tide in the affairs of men which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune" -Shakespeare flood tide, flood floats all ships! If you find a winning formula, it will inspire your colleagues! Sheila Vail Vail (vāl), town (1990 pop. 3,569), Eagle co., W central Colo., on Gore Creek, in the Gore Range of the Rocky Mts.; founded as a ski resort 1962, inc. as a town 1966. holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from the Peabody Conservatory conservatory In architecture, a heavily glazed structure, frequently attached to and directly entered from a dwelling, in which plants are protected and displayed. Unlike the greenhouse, an informal structure situated in the working area of a garden, the conservatory became of Music. She has been on the faculty of the University of Cincinnati-College-Conservatory of Music Preparatory pre·par·a·to·ry adj. 1. Serving to make ready or prepare; introductory. See Synonyms at preliminary. 2. Relating to or engaged in study or training that serves as preparation for advanced education: Department and is now managing director of the Indian Springs Indian Springs may refer to:
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion