Hi,

I'm interested to find out if anyone has, in the words on the music teachers helper website, "found this the easiest way to manage your music studio!"

Music Teachers Helper

I'm increasing my amount of pupils from September and am trying to find ways to stay more organised.....
not sure if spending valuable time at the computer typing in loads of pupils details is the way to do it!

Any comments on either this software or staying on top of the dreaded paperwork?

Wow! I'm afraid I keep an old fashioned card file for students' details, a diary for appointments, I get paid every lesson, so no invoices to raise, the method of payment is recorded in the said diary, as are fee rates, reasons for cancellation, student holiday dates, festival and exam dates, etc. I keep an old fashioned note book for records of lessons, they buy their own music, etc. I also have an exceptionally good memory, and quite a lot of students. People tell me I am so organised it's frightening! You can also get something like a Simplex D book to record income and expenditure if you want, but a simple note book can be adapted without going to that expense.
I don't use my computer for any record keeping - you have to have a data Protection licence if you want to do that.
Great that you have more pupils to look forward to!

Yes, I use it. It is quite brilliant regarding simplifying scheduling, sending out remiders and doing your tax return.

You only have to type in the data once btw, it's really no problem

I can vouch for it!
In fact, I just mentioned Music Teachers Helper in a post concerning how I like to get paid not two minutes ago!
I moved into my MTH studio website a little over tow years ago, and absolutely love. You can go to www.musicteachershelper.com and download software for free to have your own studio website up and running within minutes, so you can test it out and explore it with up to three real or fictitious students. You will have spend a little time setting things up the way you want to, but you will save so much time in the long run.
My studio runs at full capacity [over 70 students] during the school year, and the online calendar where students can cancel/reschedule lessons WITHOUT CALLING ME is absolutely wonderful. My income in the summer months has increased dramatically because students can hop online and book a lesson at all hours of the day and night. Other very useful features: automatic email lesson reminders, automatic email invoicing, bulk email to students, ability to easily set up a multi-page studio website, easy studio wait listing, and on and on!

Best Wishes,

Ruth Brons
www.brons.us
www.things4strings.com

I use a notepad too!
It would be quite expensive, I would have to use the highest price package.

What is a Data Protection licence?

Not sure, actually, but I received a mailshot from a government department a couple of years ago saying that if I wanted to keep peoples' personal details on my computer I had to have a licence. I ignored it because, as I say, I use a card file.

that's it, I'LL BUY IT

*jokes* apart, I LOVE THE SOUND OF THIS! if I was a teacher I'd have it immediately!!! just 'my cup of tea'
especially the bit where students can book/change their lesson 24hour a day without calling the teacher, AND THE PAYMENTS/INVOICES! WOW like I've said: I'll buy it

Yes, because the government are such experts on protecting our data aren't they?

I'm not sure about the need for a data protection licence as surely we only keep the same details as are available in the phone book? The only records I keep are the names of the parents, child and their current address and telephone number. I always tell new pupils/parents that I keep these details on a spreadsheet and I've had no objections yet.

I previously worked as a financial adviser and was required to hold a valid DP licence but that was because I was holding bank details, credit card details, financial histories, copies of signatures, previous addresses etc, all of which could be used for financial fraud.

I also use spreadsheets to keep track of everything. Not sure I'd want to fork out a monthly fee to use something I could set up on a spreadsheet anyway.

However, I will be looking up what details we can or can't keep on a computer just to make sure

Brynfan, you're right about the Data Protection, you don't need it if all you keep is name/address/contact number, otherwise the WHOLE WORLD needs one, for a start how about our mobile phones? those have names/contact numbers/address/birthday/emailaddress and sometimes your photo too next to it all!

it's just like you said, when you go further and you store medical history/bank-finanacial details etc....

by the way I went to subscribe for this service on the 'free account' which gives you unlimited use with up to 3 students, I am not a teacher but I was TOO CURIOUS to have a 'peep' I LOVE IT, I'd definitely use it if I was a teacher

oh no, another gadget for Jojo!!