Is anyone else having a spell of losing people?

I've lost 2 in the last couple of weeks and another I've not heard of since half term so I'm not sure about.
One is a boy who really would have been better with more home support anyway and who may return at some time if his interest re awakens. The other is an adult who will be continuing piano with her violin teacher because of the travelling time.

Doesn't sound too bad but I only teach part time and this represents almost half of my numbers.

I suppose I will have to look at some advertising now.

That's a shame sbhoa
I haven't lost any yet but this term is a nightmare for cancellations - too much going on!

I have one who is wobbly due to family situation at the moment, and who I may lose between now and next term - although I sincerely hope not.

I lost one just after half-term - father simply wrote and said they'd got an immediate place at school - no hint of it earlier and no notice. Been with me about half a term Communication had been a nightmare so I didn't bother chasing it.

I was told by another one yesterday (separate thread though on this!) that she's probably going to learn at school next term but will come back if she doesn't like it (!).

I was starting to feel that it's the season for it too! although it doesn't usually happen to me this time of year. I have another who was thinking of a break (slow prog, lack of interest) but we are trying to resurrect enthusiasm with Microjazz and so far so good.

I do have a waiting list, but I'm finding it's starting to be the norm for parents simply to either lose interest in the interim, or to make other arrangements (oh - he's doing drama and French now - as if any activity is better than none).

Sorry - bit of a grouch ! feel a bit like you do Sbhoa.
We could just blame the football??

ps - a couple I forgot ...

one family e-mailed just after half-term and said they were having to cut back on activities - little girl had made a great start in a one term but I was already giving them a reduced rate,
and a lady booked in for two introductory lessons during May - and failed to turn up for either of them!

In some ways it's not been a great term. Others have worked well though and a couple who were lagging seem to have got going again so that's good.

to be honest, i find that every summer is the same, you lose a few. For the kids, usually they want to be outside (cant blame them in this weather!) but doesnt help income.

I've just lost the majority of mine..... - but then it is now the school holidays....

Seriously though, I hate it when they just seem to stop coming - I had an adult came for one lesson, and then we arranged the next.....and she never turned up, so I rang to re-arrange, which we did, and I didn't see her then, or the week after....... so I'm afraid I didn't bother wasting my time on her any more.......

I will be losing 60 % of my school pupils this term as they are leaving primary school for secondary school. There doesn't seem to be enough new ones coming through who want to learn woodwind. Guitar seems to be the most popular instruement at the moment.

I'm definitely losing one student this term, although Mum has given plenty of notice. He's going away to school in September. And an adult who I have been teaching for about ten years, and has progressed very slowly but is now quite a nice pianist has decided to move to another town about thirty miles away. She says that she still wants to come for lessons, but I think it will fizzle out as she works full time as well.

No new pupils on the horizon either, and I don't have a waiting list now as I only work part time. I'd really like about another four or five pupils to make up the numbers next term.

I'm only losing 3 students this term - because I told their parents to find them a new teacher. The parents are more bother than they are worth (you've probably read about them here! ) and I don't need the hassle.

I have not lost any so far as many have been working for exams and are looking foreward to having some new work when they are over. I did have a teenaged girl book a first lesson with me just before half term though who has not turned up since! Her father rang to arrange a consultation lesson and I offered him a time and asked him to phone to confirm if his daughter was to come. No call, but she arrived anyway 15 minutes later than offered, forgot purse to pay for first lesson and made an appointment to see me the following week. I trusted her and lent her a book of songs. She seemed keen and genuine but no sign of them since. Time to send a letter I think! Oh yes, I did lose two last summer but that was because they were both off to music colleges. What a nice loss!

It always seems to be a case of being up and down. Before Easter I had 10, the during the Easter holidays I booked in a further 17. After Easter, 5 failed to show for the first lesson. A further two have gone during the term for valid reasons, so we're back down to 20 again. That said there's 2 new one's starting next week so we'll be up to 22 again! You can never tell!

Anyway, I've got 14 more this summer than I had last.

David

Private teaching - I too am losing some pupils 3 so far. I think to be honest that I shall be sad to lose only one of them the others never practiced and attitude stank in lessons!! Having said that I do have a waiting list and hopefully can put four new ones in for September.

Peri work - I get very sad a this time of year as I tend to lose loads moving on to other schools (that i don't teach at). 10 i think this year - it seems that you start them off year 3 or 4 come year 6 they are just getting to the really good stage Grade 3 + and they leave (very inconsiderate - i think that they should stay at primary school forever!!!!!) Then you have to start a new bunch off and it all happens again.

Oh well enough of the moan - I do love teaching my kids it can be a tad frustrating at times though!

I can't believe the number of you who have pupils just not showing up for lessons! I can't imagine being that rude unless there was some genuine emergency (even then I would do my best to let the teacher know, and would definitely explain and apologise afterward...) or possibly if I genuinely forgot - but again I would take the time to explain... it's appalling that anyone can think it's OK to do that.

I'm afraid I fear that is simply a sign of the times. I agree with you. It's the same when people commit to doing something and then let you down - suddenly decide they can't do it after all. I just couldn't be that rude to people.

David

I simply build into my planning that people will drop out usually at a moments notice
I keep advertising all the time - which is expensive but means that I have a constant flow off enquiries

Thank God the football is coming to an end as this has really affected things this summer

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.

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 ######! 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!!!!

The seasonal losses have hit Valhalla this week

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?"

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.

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 Mum is saying they need to cut back. Youngsters seem to have such a full week nowadays! Not like in my day!

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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! 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!

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.

Oboist