Hi!

Having read "should I charge a retainer fee?" I am suprised that so many teachers do in fact carry on with piano lessons over summer.

How many people teach all year round and what are your views on it?

Thanks!

I do if the lessons are wanted. (Some at least usually are)

However I don't teach full time (due to illness) and don't rely on it for my income.

Both of my longer standing pupils are coming except when they are on holiday or when I go away next month. To stop all Summer would impede their progress a lot, rather like what happens with school pupils.

I don't generally, but there are exceptions. I've just started two new pupils this week, so obviously I can't not give them lessons over the holidays.., I have someone else wanting lessons for their son over the holidays because they're not entirely happy with the teacher already (he may then continue with me after the hols), and another adult learner who wants lessons, but that may not be feasible. So, it all depends really.

I aim to teach forty-eight weeks of the year but if any of my students want additional holiday I offer to reschedule their lessons. Most of my students seem happy with this arrangement and it helps keep the pennies coming in!

I teach quite a lot of adults now, so apart from the usual holiday arrangements most people will have, I continue teaching throughout the year.

At the other end of the spectrum, a lot of private schools seem to have excessively long holidays. They are the students who should be continuing lessons over the summer, but their parents rarely want them - claiming it's too difficult for them to get the children to practice while they are off school This becomes hugely counterproductive and I'm sure most other teachers here will empathise with how I feel when the new autumn term starts and none of those pupils have even taken the instrument out of its case since I last saw them.

Then the parents expect ME to perform miracles with the children so that the little darlings are 'exam ready' by November. It's a good job I can laugh about it all, otherwise I'd sit and cry with despair.

I don't teach over the summer at all. It is very unusual for students to continue over the holidays here. However as Amanda and Noodle have said it can be very hard to get kids back on track in September, especially when some parents don't encourage them to practice in the holidays. This year I tried to head this off by leaving them all doing something they enjoy and mentioning that they should aim to play SOMETHING every day (in the ad break of the Simpsons or something at least!)

I currently go to people's houses as where I live is not suitable for teaching. If I was teaching from home I would probably tell them that I was available one day a week for occasional lessons or something. Financially speaking, I just have to make sure I earn enough September to June and budget for the summer. At the moment that's fine as I don't have kids or any huge outgoings.

As for the future, I will have to sort something better out...

I teach most of the year round, about 45 weeks. August is optional (lessons charged week by week in August) but most adults prefer to keep going as far as possible. Most families don't want lessons right through, but are happy to bridge the gap with two or three extras if we can coincide on "here" weeks.

absolutely - congratulations on running a successful teaching business!

I teach all year round. My students book lessons with me 1 month in advance, rather than term by term. This allows us both to schedule holidays etc. I'm sure 6 weeks off would be very detrimental to their progress. Especially the less-motivated ones.

I have offered five dates out of the nine weeks and have asked pupils to book lessons.... at leasr two is advised and must be if they are taking an exam next term. It is too long a break otherwise and will feel like starting again in September.

My piano teacher teaches me and another person in the holidays because she feels that we will benefit from it the most... and the fact we are the only two who will bother to turn up

I've always wanted lessons in summer but been too shy to ask.

This year, however, I managed to pluck up the courage to ask for theory lessons, and there's a possibility it might be a twenty minutes of singing, twenty minutes theory thing. I just want to start learning the stuff! I feel so backward!

I wish I'd plucked up the courage to ask earlier, as I've found out that my teacher leaves it up to the students - on the basis that if they care enough to continue lessons they will ask about it.

I teach in term time but offer lessons on a casual basis in the summer holidays if pupils want them. I did have a pupil once who wanted to come 3 times a week in the holidays

Now that's enthusiasm! (Or insanity...)

When I lived in England I taught through the summer and pupils only missed when either they or I were away.

When I was given my present job one of my first reactions was "Oh good now I can earn throughout the school holidays." - I needed to.But it didn't work out like that as the Association that employs me works and charges on a termly basis that follows the school year. As I said in another thread French families regard holidays as sacrosanct and the only person I shall teach this summer is an adult who didn't have time to come in term time as she was teaching as well.

Contrary to my expectations I've never found the pick up in September difficult. But that may be because French children are so totally accustomed to this rhythm. After the first two lessons they are all way back on course and they are certainly rested and refreshed. (So am I!)

My own children are still relatively young, and one of the perks of teaching is that I have the school holidays free to be with them. The only pupils who come in the summer are those who are hoping to do an exam in the autumn term, if they didn't keep up their practice they wouldn't be ready.

In the future, I may teach during the holidays, who knows?!

Is there a difference in attitude between those who are learning because they really want to and those who are learning because someone else wants them to or because it's something that's just ok to do when it comes to having several weeks break for summer?

If it's an activity you've chosen to do because you really love it then isn't holiday time a chance to spend more, not less time, doing it?
Or is it just me who feels like that (and always have) about my lessons?

Aren't instrument lessons and playing a leisure activity for most people?

I would hope so and that's what they are for me anyway! I also cannot relate to people who don't want lessons during the summer holidays (obviously if they are going to be away they can't, but if not?). I can't get enough of my lessons/practice and I always make it well clear to my teachers that as long as they are around I shall carry on If I have to go away (like I did for 10 days in february), I pack my violin and keyboard and take them with me! If I could 'pack the teacher' along with them I would!

I teach all year round, except for two holidays when I go away for a fortnight, and a week at Christmas/new year. I take the four days at Easter. I don't have any problem with people attending lessons. Of course, school children or teachers tend to take holidays in the summer break, but that's fine. I've even been known to go away just as the term is starting in September. My income dips a little over the summer due to the above, but never more than a third for the most popular fortnight of the holidays. We are all happy with the arrangement.
Trouble is I serve so many different education authority areas that it would be impossible to determine when each break from school starts and finishes.

I haven't taught in the holidays before.... but yesterday I was running late in the school I teach in (due to the fact my son had forgotten his trombone and i had to take that to his school first) and I was at school at the end of the day. 2 parents asked me to teach through the summer... I'd never thought of it... so I might do some this year.

Gosh, it appears I am missing out here then.

Teaching is my full time job and I teach upwards of 50 students a week, but only to school holiday, I tend to (on average) work a 12 week term with holidays etc.

How do you find attendance in the school holidays pans out and do you make up lessons or refund them for family holidays?

I am delighted to be able to have lessons over the summer once my teacher is back from his holiday elsewhere. He is on holiday from school and has a couple of private pupils. I am able to change the day and time of my lesson in the school holidays which means I can combine it with another activity which in turn gives me an extra 'free' day'.
The other side of adults, especially us OAPs, is that we disappear off on holiday when the schools go back so may disappear from our teachers as well.

I can relate to that, particularly with school half-terms. Stopping for half-term isn't practical because not all of my pupils are on half-term at the same time.

As for teaching over the summer, I try to keep the momentum going if possible. I'm really disappointed that my piano teacher is stopping though, although I accept that she's entitled to a break.

I offer one or two days a week during the summer (except the last week) when pupils can book lessons. These tend to be the ones who are taking exams next term or who have auditions coming up. This means that I get to spend at least 5 days a week with my own children, and can also catch up with the housework!

Virtually everyone comes for lessons during the school holidays. They can take their holidays when they want without charge, also cancel with adequate notice for whatever reason they like, also without charge. I will always agree to rearrange if I can, but in practice there are never any spare slots unless by another cancellation - holidays or sickness.
I have kept very careful records over a number of years, and I find that I teach 95% of students for more lessons than they would have taken if we stuck to terms. It just means that my income is steady throught the year.
Incidentally, although I have Ts and Cs which are displayed on my notice board, and gone over carefully verbally at the start of lessons, in practice I don't get people to sign contracts. However, I don't find that people take advantage. They know what is expected and I hope, value their lesson slot not to abuse it. They respect my time, as I do theirs by rarely cancelling - I did not take one day off last year when I had pneumonia and my GP threatened to hospitalise me.
Maybe I'm lucky, but it works.

Hi there. I teach in holidays because most pupils are keen to carry on and I enjoy it. I just say to them if you are around and not away somewhere then come along, and I tell them when I`m away. I also enjoy the luxury of just cancelling some teaching guiltfree (as it IS holidays) when I feel like it as in the other day when I cancelled one session (I teach all three children in one family) because relatives were over to visit.

Seems a good arrangement usually anyhow and keeps money coming in

This has been my experience too, as I take July and August off - full stop. Everyone needs a break from the treadmill, especially if you have been busy preparing students for exams. If you're used to teaching practically the whole year long, then you may not be aware of just how much the break refreshes, renews, reinvigorates. I do take the point though, that although, like Aquarelle, I find it easy to pick up again in September, it's not always possible to say by 22 September that a particular candidate is ready for December entry. One man's meat is another man's poison I suppose. I admire those who don't take a substantial break and I think it's ideal if you can cajole/ encourage / brow-beat December examinees to come for at least a few lessons. It's terrific to see such enthusiasm manifested here on the part of both teachers and pupils. It doesn't happen in my part of UK - our two month holiday period appear to be sacrosanct - as in the French system.


LR

I know I don't teach instruments but personally speaking I HAVE to have a break over the summer and I think children do too.

I'm absolutely on my knees at the moment. I find that it's mental exhaustion as much as anything and desperately need to recharge my batteries in order to be a good and effective teacher throughout the next academic year.

Guildhall runs 3x10-week terms only. As a result they get a very long break over the summer (this year longer than usual as we go back late due to building work going on - their last session was 1st July and the returning date is 29th Sept). I've never found this to be a problem - yes, of course you need to go back over things but consolidation never did anyone any harm (in fact, the opposite!) and it's not long before we're fully back in the swing of things - everyone is refreshed and raring to go!

But I DO recharge my batteries! I teach throughout the year except when I take my holidays, and that is no different from anyone else who has a stressful job. Like everyone else on these forums I am constantly preparing student for exams, festivals and student concerts - large scale with audiences of 180, in addition to my own performing. But when I do take a break (two or three times a year) I go away and thoroughly relax. I'm off on a two week cruise in September - after teaching during the school summer holidays. The continuity of lessons takes the stress off everyone - besides - I LOVE what I do and I hope my students love their lessons - I don't get many cancellations.

I take holidays at other times of the year too and my students have holidays (My T&Cs allow for any 3 weeks on top of my own holidays without fees due).
I also have 2 weeks at Christmas and Easter but usually offer lessons for one of those weeks for those who want.
Different holiday arrangements suit different people and for me a long break is hard to pick up from..... too long in holiday mode and I find it hard to switch on again and I wouldn't like a long break from my own lessons.

I'm teaching up until the end of next week and then on 3 Wednesdays only in August. That way, people who want to can keep their playing going (usually all the keen ones who I really like teaching), and I earn a little something for those weeks, but I also get a full 2 weeks to go away at the end of Aug and the best part of the beginning of Aug off as well to recharge. A great compromise I think - tried it last year and it was fab!