It's all your business: a long-range plan for the professional Studio.

If money was no object, what would the ideal independent studio look like? I immediately imagine two high-quality grand pianos, a workstation area with computers and MIDI keyboards, a waiting room and studio restroom and an area large enough for performance classes. I see a well-organized office area, a state-of-the-art sound system, a library of books and music and an entrance leading directly from the street into my studio. Add adjustable lighting and beautiful windows looking out over a forest of peaceful trees, and I am good to go.

Even if our present studio seems far from ideal, we each can develop a long-range plan for realizing our studio dreams. Such a long-range plan must include decisions about the use of our annual income. Besides the typical uses we all have for income, a portion of our earnings should be put back into our business. Part of our income could go toward professional development, such as attending conferences, and a portion can go back into the studio itself. Most teachers cannot afford to buy everything needed all at once, so it is wise to prioritize our needs in the following five areas: instruments, office needs and equipment, workstations, pedagogical tools and physical space.

Instruments

Primary instrument: Although we may start with a lower quality instrument, first on our priority list should be a plan for upgrading that instrument to the highest quality possible. It 2may take twenty years to go from an upright to a grand piano, or to a fine cello, but planning for that purchase is crucial. We also may develop a plan for purchasing multiple instruments (different types of trumpets, multiple percussion instruments or a travel instrument).

Pianos and keyboards: Each of us, regardless of our primary instrument, will need a piano in our studio. Besides an acoustic piano, many teachers also use an instrument such as a Roland or Clavinova. If piano is the primary instrument of the studio, a second piano should be on the list of priorities.

Office Needs and Equipment

Phone: It is important that students are able to leave messages when we are unavailable. Many teachers use an answering machine or voice mail while teaching so lessons will not be interrupted. Some teachers have a separate phone line for the studio. Others have a recorded message, "If your message is for the -- Music Studio, please press one." This allows business-related calls to be accessed easily.

Desk: A desk with a large, uncluttered surface and usable side drawers allows room to work and space to store basic items such as office supplies, business records and student files.

File cabinets: No matter how much we store on a computer, we all have paper files, such as correspondences received from others, invoices, paid bills and tax records. It is impossible to be organized if we do not have adequate space to store such documents. A good filing system keeps our studio from appearing cluttered or overrun by paper.

Computer: I consider the purchase of a computer essential to the independent studio. Our computer must be kept separate from student use, as students should not have access to the private files kept on a business computer. Software packages include programs that help with the necessary business functions of the independent studio.

CD burner: We can back up our documents by burning them onto a CD, save video of our students' recital performances and save student projects on a CD. Many present-day computers come with a CD burner built in, which provides an even more convenient way to burn CDs.

Printer: A printer in the studio allows us to be more efficient with work at the computer. For example, a printer allows us to print letters, invoices and mailing labels.

Copy machine: By copying items such as policy sheets, recital programs and studio newsletters, we can avoid trips to an office store, which may be time-consuming, costly or difficult to schedule.

Digital camera: Photos taken from a digital camera are downloaded easily onto a computer and used in publicity documents such as studio brochures, fliers, newsletters and even recital programs.

Workstations

Basic workstation: Workstations can start simply with a flat surface for writing, a light to read and a place to store workbooks and assignments, such as a cubby or folder with each student's name. Eventually, a listening station can be added with the use of a CD player and an area to store CDs.

Computer lab: If the ultimate goal is to have a computer lab, each station will require a student computer, MIDI keyboard, speakers, headset and appropriate software.

Software: Deciding on the purpose of the computer lab will clarify the type of software needed. All software will need to function with the type of computers in use, and software purchases can be expanded annually.

Monitors, cables and jacks: If multiple computers and keyboards will be in use, a system must be planned where we can hear the stations individually or together. The correct cables and jacks must be used for any system of computers, MIDI keyboards and speakers to work together. We also must be aware that updating in one area may cause another area to be obsolete, so care should be taken with each purchase.

Pedagogical Tools

Equipment: We all need the music teacher's most basic pedagogical tool, the metronome. A digital tuner is useful for teachers of certain instruments, and a tape recorder allows students to tape and listen to their own playing. A sound system with a CD player allows students to hear performances of the masters. A digital video camera (along with a tripod) allows teachers to tape student lessons and performances. Video taken with a digital camera also can be used for marketing purposes or submission with grant applications. A television is valuable for showing educational videos to students in group classes or summer camps.

Materials: Over time, we can build a library of books for reading, CDs for listening, music for performing and tools for teaching, such as musical games, ethnic instruments, rhythm instruments, flash cards, educational videos and so on. These materials expand the pedagogical possibilities within our studio and contribute to a well-rounded approach to our teaching.

Physical Space

Zoning: Caution needs to be taken when choosing a location, for we must be sure we are in compliance with all zoning laws and homeowner association rules and regulations.

Access: Access to our studios is one of the most important areas to consider. Can students walk directly into the studio from the street? Can they enter while still in view of the parent's car, or do they enter in back of the house? Are there outside steps that are slippery when wet or icy and dangerous in the winter?

Cosmetic improvements: A simple coat of paint can brighten a studio's look, even on the tightest of budgets. Replacing old carpet, adding wall hangings or purchasing a slip cover for an old sofa are cost-effective cosmetic changes that make a less-than-ideal room appear more suitable.

Organization: Organization is the key to avoiding a studio that appears overrun with "stuff." Closet space, baskets, plastic containers and enclosed shelves all provide an ordered system that helps the studio look more professional.

Studio space versus family space: Keeping studio space apart from family life is an important goal. Many studios start out in shared space such as a living or family room, but it is far better to keep the teaching and family space separate in every way possible.

Additional rooms: Having a waiting room apart from the studio itself allows parents and students to wait inside without infringing on any privacy we may want with our students. Another room to consider is a restroom that is not used by the family. If a waiting room and separate restroom are an extravagance in a starter home or an apartment, they should be in the long-range plans of a successful studio.

Budgeting

No matter how tight the budget, we should develop a dream list of what we would like to have in our studio. As in any business, we then can develop a plan for acquiring what we need. Purchases can be spread over time by placing them in one of three categories:

* Immediate purchases are affordable, monthly purchases, which improve any aspect of the studio (a new file cabinet, a music theory game, one piece of software, new music books).

* Mid-range purchases need more planning and saving and can be purchased once or twice a year (new ethnic instruments, a new MIDI keyboard, a new computer).

* Long-range purchases require planning and saving over time (or a bank loan) and might include multiple workstations, a grand piano or an addition to the home.

We do not need to accept current limitations if they are unbearable. Each year our studio equipment, materials and space can improve as we continue on our long-range plan. Such a plan will improve the opportunities and services we offer to our students, the pedagogical capabilities within our studio and the personal satisfaction we feel with our life's work.

Beth Gigante Klingenstein, NCTM, has been an independent music teacher for twenty-eight years and is on the faculty of Valley City State University (VCSU) in North Dakota, where she also is the director of the VCSU Community School of the Arts.