Losing Students, is it the weather?? Options

[JohnS]

A pupil was meant to come tonight at 8.00pm. No show. She didn't come last week either, with no phone call. The week before her mum emailed saying she couldn't come as she had a cold! She has been coming for nearly a year and she and her parents are so polite and friendly. Now I think they are extremely rude. I'll try again to ring them this week and ask what's happening. If she has finished, great - someone else has wanted that slot for a few months.

[gazdudeuk]

i should have 1 that comes weds night but she didnt turn up last week so rang her mother and they said they would ring about tommorrow,......have they ######! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) and another whos already paid for 4 weeks has had 1 week they knew i was coming back from hols last week, havent bothered to ring about starting again and i even left a message!!!!

[Deborah]

The seasonal losses have hit Valhalla this week (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

One girl came for one lesson; her mother phoned a few days later to say that aforementioned girl would be having lessons from school next term.

One adult has decided that she's not commited enough to put in the practice, so has given up.

Another adult is moving from the area. The move is happening very quickly, so no time for any lessons or practice before she moves.

Where's the smiley for "feeling poor?"

[andante_in_c]

Sorry to hear that, Deborah. It's a bit of a blow to lose so many at once. You never know, you might be a couple of phone calls away from doubling your numbers. Things can turn round very, very quickly at this time of year, as I've found out myself over the last couple of weeks (one teacher moving away who has passed my name on, and one school Head of Music phoning up out of the blue). I'll keep my fingers crossed that you find replacements soon. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Charlies Aunt]

I have a number of students (at least four) who have asked for a break during the summer with the promise they will "get back to me" in September. All have asked me to keep their places "open". What do other teachers do about this? I know from last summer that only about half will contact me.

My biggest loss are the brother and sister who were my very first students from two years ago (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) Mum is saying they need to cut back. Youngsters seem to have such a full week nowadays! Not like in my day! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[LizzieT]

I have a number of students (at least four) who have asked for a break during the summer with the promise they will "get back to me" in September. All have asked me to keep their places "open". What do other teachers do about this? I know from last summer that only about half will contact me.

I'm probably soft, but I do accept that at this time of the year people drift off as you say with vague promises about September. This year I have arranged with all of these people that I will contact them late August. That way I'll be able to push them towards a decision and I won't be still waiting into September wondering if they'll contact me.

I know the situation is frustrating but these days more than ever people seem to make decisions at the last minute. I'm probably just as bad!

[carol*piano]

I also let some of mine leave it for the summer. They usually do come back, though it wouldn't be a problem at the moment if they didn't as I have a waiting list.

[jm-hamilton]

All of mine are off for the summer, and intending to come back in September. I've told a few that I'd like them to have a couple of lessons through the holidays just to keep them going, and one of them I was hoping would leave altogether. I hadn't seen him since half term, he was doing GCSE and moving on to a school next year quite a distance away and he didn't do any practice anyway so I wrote to his parents and suggested that it seemed he'd lost enthusiasm and perhaps he ought to leave. Cue phone call from parent saying "Oh no he loves coming to you, he really wants to carry on"!! He's a nice lad and I'm always a sucker for a bit of flattery so he's coming back in September.

[helly burnet]

I have the summer off and so do my students. My three children are at home so it's just easier that way. I just have to pack loads in to term times to pay for the time off. As far as I know, all are coming back in September. Those who aren't have been really polite and told me in plenty of time so I have refilled their slots.

I have had a strange experience, however, this term. I have taught loads of children throughout my career (this includes many years in primary schools) and can honestly say I am pretty good at getting on with most kids. I have had some of my private pupils now for four years and I feel I can build and sustain good relationships with students of all ages. A mother approached me back in March looking for a piano and clarinet teacher for her twin 11 year old girls. I said I would teach one the piano and my daughter would teach the other clarinet at the same time. We met up, had a consultation lesson before Easter and all seemed fine. The pianist twin had had the same teacher for piano (and flute - she also does recorder AND violin and is highly competitive with her sister - and vice verse !) since she was six. Well, from the first minute I just got the feeling that something wasn't right. She was incredibly quiet, didn't seem very interested in what I was asking her to do, etc. Something just felt wrong. It was really odd. On her last of four paid lessons she was 'ill' and them mum said that she was going to stop having lessons with me. She said she had lost interest in the piano and wanted to stop these lessons. She assured me it was NOT me, just that the combination was wrong, and that she couldn't have what she wanted which was her old teacher. I felt really bad about it as I am experienced in dealing with all sorts of characters and am used to handling very difficult children ! Oh well, you win some , you lose some. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[LizzieT]

I have the summer off and so do my students. My three children are at home so it's just easier that way. I just have to pack loads in to term times to pay for the time off. As far as I know, all are coming back in September. Those who aren't have been really polite and told me in plenty of time so I have refilled their slots.

I have had a strange experience, however, this term. I have taught loads of children throughout my career (this includes many years in primary schools) and can honestly say I am pretty good at getting on with most kids. I have had some of my private pupils now for four years and I feel I can build and sustain good relationships with students of all ages. A mother approached me back in March looking for a piano and clarinet teacher for her twin 11 year old girls. I said I would teach one the piano and my daughter would teach the other clarinet at the same time. We met up, had a consultation lesson before Easter and all seemed fine. The pianist twin had had the same teacher for piano (and flute - she also does recorder AND violin and is highly competitive with her sister - and vice verse !) since she was six. Well, from the first minute I just got the feeling that something wasn't right. She was incredibly quiet, didn't seem very interested in what I was asking her to do, etc. Something just felt wrong. It was really odd. On her last of four paid lessons she was 'ill' and them mum said that she was going to stop having lessons with me. She said she had lost interest in the piano and wanted to stop these lessons. She assured me it was NOT me, just that the combination was wrong, and that she couldn't have what she wanted which was her old teacher. I felt really bad about it as I am experienced in dealing with all sorts of characters and am used to handling very difficult children ! Oh well, you win some , you lose some. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

It's so easy to take this sort of thing to heart - I'm the same - but even the mother has assured you it's not your fault. Try to remember all the satisfied students and parents!

[maggiemay]

Well, from the first minute I just got the feeling that something wasn't right. She was incredibly quiet, didn't seem very interested in what I was asking her to do, etc. Something just felt wrong. It was really odd. On her last of four paid lessons she was 'ill' and them mum said that she was going to stop having lessons with me.

It's pretty likely the damage was done long before she came to you.

I find myself wondering if the change of teacher was an attempt by mum to re-kindle a lost cause.

[oboist]

I have all my pupils on contract and I don't teach over the summer holidays because, for personal reasons, I need the break. So, parents have to give half-a-term's notice (ie by half-term in the summer) if they're not returning in September and if they don't do so, they get a bill for half a term of fees. That seems to sort this vague summer drifting out as far as I'm concerned.

As to students leaving - I wish! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) I have a long waiting list and no-one showing the slightest desire to go except one adult pupil who moved to a new job and was quickly replaced by another.

I realise I'm very lucky in this and that it could all change at any moment. Actually, there are a couple of my pupils who are so lazy I'd quite like them to go but because they're quite loveable rascals really, I cannot bring myself to "sack" them! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Onwards to the hazy, hot and sweltering days of the summer holidays. I've promised myself I'll tidy up my teaching room so it's ready for the new term in September so I guess that's what I'd better do......

Have a good summer all. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Oboist