studio management Archives - Music Studio Startup

Startup Checklist for Music Teachers

April 20, 2018

college, entrepreneurship, focus, goals, increasing income, music majors, organization, starting, studio management, time management

As the school year winds down, it’s a natural time to think about “what’s next?” for our studios. Maybe you’re graduating and preparing to start your career as a full-time, independent music teacher. Or maybe you’ve been teaching for a while, but you’re getting ready to make a big investment in your studio by moving…

Computer Backup the Easy Way

March 26, 2018

automation, insurance, organization, productivity, studio management, systems

A while back, I shared my Tech Disaster Preparedness Checklist. This list covered all the things I do to protect my tech from all the typical disasters: power surges, stolen devices, failed hard drives (all of which I have personally experienced!) and more. Now, it’s time to get real. Did you tell yourself, after reading…

My Business Goal-Setting Process

January 22, 2018

focus, goals, introspection, productivity, studio management, systems, time management

In my last post, I talked about some of the questions I reflect on when evaluating my previous year in business. After I’ve finished looking back, I get to do the fun part…looking forward and planning the future! When I threw out the idea of starting new year’s goals on January 1, I also threw…

Gift Guide for Entrepreneurial Music Teachers

November 27, 2017

goals, holiday, organization, productivity, studio management, systems, website, WordPress

With the new year just around the corner, I’m thinking a lot about the goals I have for my studio and business. Some of these goals require investing in equipment or software. Call me boring, but I’ve always been a big fan of practical gifts. When I put together my wishlist for the family gift…

Scheduling Emails to Automate Recital Communication

October 2, 2017

automation, organization, productivity, studio management, systems

Last week I described how I communicate recital information to my studio families. This process includes sending a series of four emails to my studio families in the weeks leading up to the big day. I could put reminders in my calendar to send those emails on specific days, but why do that when I…

Recital Communication: A Week-by-Week Guide

September 25, 2017

automation, organization, productivity, studio management, systems, time management

I hear stories of teachers getting inundated by last minute questions from parents about recitals. “Where is the recital?” “What is Emma supposed to wear?” “Is Jack playing this piece or that one?” I confess, I have a hard time relating. It could be that I’m spoiled by exceptional studio parents (I think they’re pretty…

Crafting a More Flexible Studio Calendar

July 31, 2017

lifestyle, studio management

I think my calendar is trying to kill me. This is not the first time we’ve had our disagreements. A few years ago I noticed that my studio calendar was becoming rather demanding, so we sat down and renegotiated. For the first time ever, I scheduled time off. Real time off. The kind where I close…

Clear the Paper Clutter with a Tickler File

July 17, 2017

organization, studio management

I love a good digital system (especially when it comes to record-keeping) but sometimes you just can’t escape the paper. My inbox this week was a good example of that. After digitizing the handwritten notes, recycling the brochures I didn’t need, and scanning the tax-related receipts, I still had several documents that weren’t good candidates…

How a Weekly Review Keeps Me on Track

July 10, 2017

introspection, organization, productivity, studio management, systems, time management

I’ve mentioned before that I use routines to manage my time and eliminate decision fatigue. “Use” might be a bit of an understatement. I probably abuse routines. I’m a routine addict. Whether it’s for blog writing, marathon training, recital planning, or birthday card sending, I have systems and routines in place to keep my business and…

Never Give Another Makeup Lesson

July 3, 2017

studio management, studio policy, time management

Tell me if this scenario is familiar: It’s Friday morning and you’ve had a long week, teaching every evening. You just have to get through today and a few lessons Saturday morning and then the weekend is yours to spend however you wish. You can see the light! Then you check your phone and the…

Checklist for a Carefree Summer Vacation

June 5, 2017

customer service, lifestyle, studio management, time management

With summer vacation season upon us, I thought I’d share the checklist I follow to prepare for time away from my studio. Usually, students are understanding of occasional weeks of for vacations (everyone needs a break!), but forgetting to communicate the travel in advance can lead to frustration. To keep a happy studio, it is important that…

A Tattoo-Worthy Studio Experience

May 22, 2017

customer service, student experience, student retention, studio management

The phone call will forever be cemented in my mind. A parent from my music school called and she was angry with her child’s teacher and wanted to quit lessons at our school. I spent half an hour on the phone with the parent, calmed her down, and promised to switch her child to another…