How does a teacher in a private lesson situation do it all?  When we teach at our homes, we live at work… we breathe work, sleep at work, eat at work, spend time with family at work.  Separating the daily workspace and homespace is easy enough, but nearly impossible when our minds are constantly working on our next “to do” list.  Sometimes, we simply need help.

If you could hire the BEST assistant (one who would do everything except the teaching), what would you want?  What skills?  What jobs/tasks would they complete?  What hours?  What mannerisms, habits, and different personality preferences would you hire?  What would be the pay?  Any benefits?

We need to address all of the above questions, and more, when considering someone to hire.  Employing someone in your home studio requires reliability, trust, their ability to work independently, and a quick grasp of their job description and tasks.

For me, the following would be non-negotiable for the all-around helper.  I would consider, however, someone who could learn the skills need (but perhaps doesn’t already use them, or know they exist).

*Clerical – computer, bookkeeping, filing, billing, ordering supplies
*Studio Tasks (daily) – practice logs,
*House cleaning – vacuuming, dusting, straighten waiting area
*Technology – keep things running, programs, software, electronics, printer
*Public relations – quick to respond to emails & phone calls, courteous, friendly
*Advertising – someone who could efficiently & thoroughly utilize the advertising options.

Hours would be…
*Before the Teaching Day (prep, public relations) – perhaps 2 hours?
*During the Teaching Day (tasks not requiring my attention) – 3 to 4 of the hours?
*After the Teaching Day (cleanup, filing) – perhaps 1 hour?

The ideal situation would be as shown above, but I’m not speaking for everyone.  Who would you hire?  If you could sit back, relax, enjoy time with your family, and afford the financial change hiring someone would take, what would you do?  What things would you put back in your schedule?  What enjoyable things do you do to relax after a long day of teaching?  How would your life be changed by hiring someone you could trust to do things just as thoroughly & carefully as you do them?

I am new to the thought, but am excited at the possibility!  I am excited for what the future holds in my studio.  What does the future hold in your studio?

We as teachers and business owners not only manage, promote, and create our studios… we fulfill a job description so extensive, anyone would be amazed.

Are you a planner?  Then you are the events, lesson, & class schedule coordinator.
Are you a teacher?  Then you are probably the one instructing – the main face of your studio.
Are you skilled in math?  Well, even if you aren’t, you are probably the billing department.
Are you good with computers?  Then you are likely the reason your website is kept up-to-date & people are always impressed with your professional documents.
Are you personable, friendly, and quick to respond to your customer’s and student’s concerns and questions?  Then you are the human resources (HR) department.
Are you a person your students can trust, talk with, and relate to while in the studio?  Then you are a mentor, a counselor, a friend.
Have you taken years and years of lessons in your field & do you continue to learn every feasible opportunity?  Then you are a professional.

The list could continue, but you get the idea.  Never underestimate the immense shoes you fill.

Now, throw in the extras…

Recitals, computer lab, concerts, contests, festivals, competitions, incentive programs, lesson planning, book searching, research, lists (I love those!), and so much more – are all likely part of your week, even a daily task considered vital in your studio.  I often ask myself, “What am I offering that other studios do not?”  I am not seeking to be in competition with other studios, just to always be the one offering the very best to my students.  With that, comes the need for help.

In our western culture, we avoid the appearance of neediness.  When was the last time you asked someone else for help?  No matter what tasks I can add to my “to-do” list, and no matter what new project I can dream up, if the actual face-to-face time does not take precedence, then I have failed at my job.

This weekend, I developed terrible stabbing, aching pain in my arms, from the fingertips to my shoulders – pain that won’t subside.  The pain has only gotten worse, and with that, has come the need to remember… I don’t need to type that project and I don’t need to lift that box (it can stay there).  I only need to communicate with my amazing students, be the best teacher I can, and ask those around me for help when I need it.  The very thought is humbling… I want to be able to do everything.  But if I were to push myself any farther, I would only be able to quit.  Ask for help, Kristin, ask for help.

My students proceeded to blow me away.  With more than 3 weeks off, they still faithfully practiced, came eager and ready, and didn’t mind that I was unable to focus or reach as well as I usually can.  My expectations for myself far exceeded their expectations… and far exceeded reality.  But I am glad… that all these years, I have been preparing… and now if I am not perfectly prepared for every moment, it is okay.

If only one thing you take from my jumbled, painful thoughts… let it be that you are a talented, devoted teacher – and you don’t have to be self-sufficient Superman to have a great, positive influence – even through pain.

On a side note, for music teachers out there, I HIGHLY recommend www.tonictutor.com for your students.  It has done wonders here in Oregon.  The customer service is amazing, the games are a blast for students, and it perfectly complements any music teacher’s account with StudioHelper.com.  Use both!    During the month of September, TonicTutor has a promotion for free access (trial) for all of their music games – I believe there are 34 of them now?  It’s amazing!

Have a blessed September.  Welcome back to the school year!

What are these mysterious questions?

1. Ask teachers if they want more students.

It’s possible your teachers would like to expand the number of students they teach. If so, adding time slots to their schedule in Studio Helper will remind you (and them) that expansion is part of their goal. These students could come from a variety of sources.

Perhaps you email the families of all existing students and ask them to refer people they know. Maybe you include an announcement in your newsletter: ‘The following teachers are accepting new students for fall registration…‘ Some of the responsibility could also fall on the teacher, networking with their personal contacts.

2. Ask teachers what other classes/subjects/instruments they are comfortable teaching.

If your studio flute teacher spent time playing piccolo, maybe there’s a specialty market to be explored. Perhaps an music instrumental teacher plays jazz in addition to classical. Is a karate instructor also certified in judo or another martial art? Does a dance or art teacher have other areas of expertise?

Crossing this sort of boundary takes advantage of existing resources, drawing on teachers you have a relationship with – those you already know and trust.

3. Ask your experienced teachers if they have former students who went on to advanced work and are now teaching.

This ‘ask’ could be a source of new teachers. As a benefit, their skills and approaches are likely to be compatible with what’s already going on in the studio. When it comes to suggesting a different teacher for a new student, it’s easy to say “Ms. Jones’ classes are full, but Ms. Anderson has spaces and she studied with Ms. Jones for 8 years before going on to get a degree in…”

4. Ask yourself which areas can be expanded most profitably.

Where is the ‘break point’ when adding students to class size diminishes quality of instruction? Do your teachers agree, and is it possible to increase class sizes by a few students?

What market niches are expanding in your area? Is there a specific subset or variation that could be added to meet a current need?

While it doesn’t make sense to ‘chase trends,’ are there untapped markets? Look around at your students, see what their other interests are. What music do they listen to? What dancers do they admire? Where do they gather? That may point you towards new areas. Perhaps a music studio could add electronic music production/recording; and art studio, digital photography and computer image editing; a dance studio, popular dance styles.

This sort of thinking will likely require an investment in time to find the right new instructor, perhaps even some outlay for equipment. Still, there are needs out there. I can’t help but remember the local camera store with over-filled classes on introductory digital photography, aimed at all those who just bought a camera and have no idea what all those settings and buttons mean.

In Summary

The key to business expansion is ‘Ask…’ Ask others, ask yourself.

Building a better studio is one of the primary goals we each want to do. That’s one reason why Studio Helper was developed in the first place.

Here’s an area you might not have explored, one where creative thought and planning can make your studio stand out from the crowd.

We all want the best teachers in our studio

It’s not uncommon to think that the best performers are great teachers. “It ain’t necessarily so,” as the Gershwin song says.

First, let’s think about the makeup of a successful performer

• Obviously highly talented
• Very dedicated to their art form
• Able to analyze their own challenges and self-correct them while practicing
• Willing to spend an incredible amount of time mastering their craft

So far, so good. These all seem like positive attributes.

let’s think about traits that can work for positive or negative

• Are communication skills strong, given a superb performer’s ability to focus intently (often in isolation)?
• Can this person relate to students by providing age and skill appropriate examples?
• Will high level teacher expectation create frustration towards the student? (Why can’t they get it?)
• Will this person be able to provide consistent compliments on incremental improvement? Parents appreciate positive response to their children.
• Are repertoire and tasks based only on the teacher’s personal learning experience?
• Can this skilled performer lay out logical curriculum at the most basic levels?

Where does this all lead?

It’s not unusual for high level performers to only relate to exceptionally talented students. That leaves lots of students getting less than ideal instruction, leading to potentially unhappy customers.

Maybe the teacher can say “do it like this” with a demonstration but not explain what to do.

I remember seeing jazz saxophonist Art Pepper do a “Master Class.” He would say, “Well, I just… uh, it’s probably… uh.” Then he’d put the mouthpiece in his face and play a wonderful phrase.

Was he able to perform at a world class level? Absolutely. Able to communicate with students? Not in the least..

Here are the real questions to ask yourself

Can a teacher think in terms of varied curriculum materials spanning multiple styles? Does the teacher know a variety of beginning and intermediate level materials? This would be critical if a student “doesn’t get it” and needs to spend more time at the same level before advancing.

How about being able to build essentials in multiple ways? If the teacher had a weakness while learning (arm flow for ballet), was their personal instruction so focused on the problem that their future teaching focuses on the same issue, even if the student has other challenges?

How is the teacher’s “positive attitude” when dealing with lesser skilled students? Is encouragement part of the process, or are there negative words and phrases used?

Are the teacher’s technical fundamentals sound in the area being taught? There are sometimes excellent teachers on one instrument whose background is with another. As long as they know how to teach what they teach, success is probable.

Can this teacher put together an email, letter or face to face discussion to show parents “Your student is progressing wonderfully in skills a, b, and c. The next challenge to work on is…” Negative words (isn’t, can’t, should be, won’t) have no place in parent communication.

There are some performers who are wonderfully gifted teachers. Those folks are the ones you’d love to have in your studio… encouraging your students, educating parents, providing the highest level of artistry.

That said, there are excellent teachers who may not be the most highly skilled performers. In a sense, their “high level performance skill” is the ability to teach.

Just what can you do to learn more about teachers?

Here’s what is often done at the university level, perhaps it might give some ideas for hiring within your studio. When applying for college teaching jobs, my interviews (exhausting as they were) typically included the following components:

• Meet with the top level administrator… that would be you, of course!
• Meet with faculty (other teaching staff, in your case)
• Meet with current students in the subject area (their feedback can be quite revealing)
• A brief performance or recital open to those involved in the studio
• A Master Class, teaching one or more students (this will reveal teaching style, communication skills, use of positive reinforcement, ability to pick up on issues and prioritize them).
• Providing a sample lesson plan or curriculum for beginning and intermediate students.

While it seems overwhelming, these steps would give you a complete picture of the potential teacher.

What does that process really show?

1. Can the teacher relate to colleagues and managers?
2. Can the teacher relate to and guide student progress?
3. Can the teacher communicate with parents?

Thinking about hiring new teachers with these ideas in mind can really add value to your hiring process. Any change on your part hires better teachers.

Here’s another reason to use “planned pre-screening” techniques

With the knowledge you gain, recruiting students for the teacher becomes very easy. Singing the praises of a new teacher catches attention quickly, and you know from personal observation that what you say is true. It helps whether prospecting through emails, posting notices on community bulletin boards and blogs or placing announcements in newsletters.

Give this approach some thought. It may help you hire the best and make your studio “best in class.” Always try to hire the best teachers. That is the critical thought to keep in mind!

Use all the tools at your disposal: Studio Helper, thoughtful hiring, community outreach, creative marketing. Possibilities are limited only by your imagination.

Meanwhile, stop by the blog periodically to learn new ideas that may spark your own creative thinking.