A Mass Of Pupils Leaving! Options

[Cat Lover]

Has anyone ever had a whopping number of pupils leave for various reasons? Before the summer holidays, I will have a total of 8 quitting! 3 from one family are moving to India and another 2 are also vacating the country and have had a futher 3 announcements that pupils are leaving due to too many clubs etc etc. I've never had such a vast number leave in succession and usually as soon as one goes i have one on the waiting list to fill the space and for the first time i have no waiting list. You do feel almost as if you've done something wrong....maybe I've just been lucky in the past. Going to have to watch the pennies and wait for the next announcement(hopefully not) Cat Lover

[Susie]

A couple of years ago I had a phase of pupils leaving at the school where I teach. I have 9 pupils in total, and 4 or 5 of them departed in the middle of the year - mostly due to the fact that they weren't making much progress, and were in lots of sports clubs. But I felt as though something was wrong with me - not helped by the fact that everyone else was quite settled with their pupils. I thought the head of music would think there was something wrong with my teaching. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)

[Clare1986]

I've had more give up this year than in previous years but they were all pupils who weren't committed and weren't really advancing because of their lack of commitment and practice. I have found, though, that parents are not encouraging their kids as much to continue. I guess if their child isn't really throwing themselves into it they don't want to be wasting money on it at the moment.

[barry-clari]

Has anyone ever had a whopping number of pupils leave for various reasons? Before the summer holidays, I will have a total of 8 quitting! 3 from one family are moving to India and another 2 are also vacating the country and have had a futher 3 announcements that pupils are leaving due to too many clubs etc etc. I've never had such a vast number leave in succession and usually as soon as one goes i have one on the waiting list to fill the space and for the first time i have no waiting list. You do feel almost as if you've done something wrong....maybe I've just been lucky in the past. Going to have to watch the pennies and wait for the next announcement(hopefully not) Cat Lover

We're heading for the new school year : hopefully you'll get some new pupils to replace those that are going : certainly I find I get more enquiries in July/August/September than at any other time of year. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[SueHM]

5 leaving the country - hardly a reflection of your teaching (surely it isn't that bad?!) Losing 8 at once is rather harsh, but it does happen. I anticipate losing a few at the end of this school year, as always. Some have been straggling for a while, but there are always a few surprises too.

You could let your current students know that you will have some vacancies for September - there may be younger siblings or friends waiting in the wings. Perhaps this is the time to do a bit of advertising / marketing to drum up some more business?

[flutepiano]

I've got a feeling I'm going to lose at least 3 over the summer. I'm due to have a baby in 3 weeks and I think the parents of these pupils have managed to pursued them to keep coming until I go on maternity leave. I'm only have 4 weeks off the teaching but it'll be long enough for them to have the excuse to stop.

I've got a waiting list so not too worried. I'd prefer it if they would stop coming if they're not interested anymore to give the space to somewhere who really wants to learn. Some of them are quite talented but it's their decision at the end of the day but I know they'll regret it when they're older.

[Dugazon]

8 at once is of course frustrating and financially hard, but I would also say that it isn't that uncommon and can happen any time.

If I look at my statistics, only roughly 1/3 of students "survive" the first 6-12 months. Most of these people have a wrong idea about instrumental/vocal tuition and are really not that into it anymore once they notice they actually have to work (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

The remaining 1/3 on the other hand usually turn into long-term students. This is usually a core of 10-15 people, with a fluctuating 10-15 on top, so I constantly float between 20 and 30 altogether. They usually just don't leave all at once, but there are times during the year when more movement happens (usually before Christmas and the summer holidays).

The only thing I did notice: Even some of the longer standing, committed people had to cut down due to financial reasons. I didn't really lose any of these, but a few changed from weekly to fortnightly because they can't afford it anymore.

So if people lose their jobs down to the current economic climate, of course we will notice this. I wouldn't worry though that we are doing something wrong - it is just the run of things ...

[Bagpuss]

Sadly sometimes this sort of thing does just happen.

Fret not, I'm sure the new academic year will bring plenty of new business.

I really understand your despondency, however, so HUUUUG...

Bx

[Dove]

Last Summer I lost 8 too - one of which has come back, but yes a whole load of reasons, quite a few leaving the country as well (5 in total!) - I guess people move around a lot these days! And a couple who hadn't been practising or progressing much. And one who got unexpectedly pregnant!

I've been doing this less than two years so far, but am already suspecting I'll lose quite a few every summer - already two have given notice and I've got my eye on another two who've mentioned moving abroad at some point.

It's reassuring to hear that others have about 50% who come and go, I think especially adults tend to move around more. I always take it a little personally when it happens, but now I never think about the ones who've moved on. I have a few who I'm quite attached too but hopefully they're for keeps! And I've built back up to above my previous number of students.

Hang in there, move on, and make sure to get a few adverts out towards the end of summer...

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/thereThere.gif)

[edgmusic]

I too will be losing at least three pupils who are now 18 and off to university after the Summer

Problems often arise when you teach two (or several) from one family- you lose a lot all at once if they have financial problems or move out of the district.

But it is a good idea to let your present pupils know when you have vacancies. Many just presume you are permanently 'full up' unless you tell them. And 'word of mouth' is always the best advertising!

[Susie]

Hang in there, move on, and make sure to get a few adverts out towards the end of summer...

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/thereThere.gif)

I'd agree that getting some adverts out is a good idea, but maybe have a double burst - I've already had a few well organised parents making enquiries about lessons for September - so there'll be people looking this half term, as well as those who usually leave it late and imagine that instrumental teachers are just waiting to receive new pupils.

[Aquarelle]

I'm in the line of fire for this one too. It is the first time it has happened in something lile 26 years of teaching here so I am both comforted that I don't think I've done anything wrong or it would have happened before and worried just in case I have!! I'm also worried about the financial impact and how to rebuild.

I lose 2 older pupils who are now going to boarding school. They will be home only twice per term so there is no point in continuing as I sometimes do with weekly boarders. This is a natural loss - both I and the boys are sad to leave each other but it is simply part of life's rich pattern. They will continue lessons at school.

I lose one little boy whom I have failed to motivate. He wanted to give up last year but mother insisted we give it another year"s try. This child is a bit fragile healthwise and has never really put in much practice. I have done my best but he is definitely not one of my successes.

I might well lose the 12 year old girl I mentioned in the thread about a pupil wanting ro play "modern" piano music though more of that in that thread.

I have a difficult little boy who wants to leave me for guitar. This is a special case - very supportive parents who feel it is the wrong year for yet another change in his life as he goes to secondary school in september.
But the child is going through a very difficult phase and has become closed in on himself and stubborn about everything - not just music. I have had a word with the guitar teacher, arranged for them to see him and told them to let the child choose for himself but I will keep the door open if he finds guitar too difficult. He does recorder with me.

On top of all this a mother came to see me yesterday to tell me her husband who is in the army, has been posted elsewhere and they will be moving. There go a very promising Grade 3 girl and a fairly good beginner - very nice family.

My nursery class, which usually feeds in new beginners has been a disaster this year with a string of totally uncommitted parents. Only two out of the original seven will be continuing.

Rather depressed!

[dolce@piano]

First year ever that it's happened to me too !!!

One family leaving the country, one girl off to board at sixth-form, one boy who wants to join the traditional music school so he can play chamber music, one boy who has major physical coordination problems who has really come to the end of his classical piano pathway and I am going to let go, one girl who's not sure about carrying on and one girl who NEVER does an iota of what i ask (though plays her own stuff fine) so I'm wavering . . .

It feels quite weird but maybe a bit of natural turnover is not bad and who knows who is waiting round the corner . . . .

[Alder]

I also lost two in the last month, and will lose two (emigrating) after this week [one of which I'm slightly ticked off about since she's suddenly started doing really well since about January!] and I suspect one may not come back to me after the holidays, since they moved to the other side of the town and it's quite a drive to get her to my place for her lesson.

And it was me who was complaining about the local music shop closing, so I won't be getting any enquiries from there any more.

Ho hum...*sigh*

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/thereThere.gif) to everyone else who needs it!

[vectistim]

With all these people that everyone is listing as leaving the country at the same time, are they going to the same place? If so someone could move with them and clean up!