Please know that my intention is not to offend anyone, but I just wanted to share how blessed we have been lately.
Right after my piano recital ended last Saturday, I had a few families come up to tell me that they decided to quit while others wanted to take the month off. I was saddened, but understanding. It didn’t end there though, some waited and called the day of their lesson to break the news to me. One or two losses would have been fine, but SEVEN?
I received various excuses from:
- My children aren’t practicing as they should
- The economy is bad and times are hard
- You are very busy with the wedding and such this month, enjoy the time off, we will regroup in January
- I just can’t afford lessons and Christmas, see you next month……
These are difficult times for everyone and I understand, but because there was no notice given, it has been challenging news to handle because our family lives on such a tight budget.
BUT WAIT... HERE COMES THE BEST PART…..We did as Brigitta often mentions, "Let's find something to be glad about?" Of course she is glad about the extra time I have to spend with her now, but there is always good in every situation and I feel that we have been greatly blessed. We gathered together as a family and discussed our options a few days ago. The general consensus to alleviate our financial stress during this holiday season was a YARD SALE. Each member of the family went through their possessions and sacrificed what they could to make ends meet. Here is the outcome...
This has ended up being a wonderful experience and I feel that like Charles Ingalls’s, we are rich beyond measure because of our children and their willingness and enthusiasm to sacrifice. It is moments like these that help to draw families closer together. I am grateful for such lessons in life, they are character building.
Shantell and Paige also helped with the yard sale, but requested that NO pictures be posted of them. Teenagers!
Okay I am not sure if this is my place, but I will offer my opinion. First off, I am sorry for the situation that you are in, but what a great family you have that pulled together and helped out-Second I don't think that you can get upset with the people that canceled on you(although i don't think it was very nice to do it the day of the lesson) for one they seem genuine in there excuses-this is a hard time of year and I am sure you are busy with the wedding, some of them might of even been concerned about your situation instead of theirs, and two you didn't have a contract to keep them from doing that to you, but lessons can be learned (even when it is the hard way) and if you feel what they did to you is wrong, then you should be more strict. . ., but my feeling is that if you are to strict there might be people that you might loose, because some people just do piano for fun, and some people might not like the fact that they are obligated to a contract- I am sure this is a hard situation to be going through, and I wish you the best of luck through this holiday season and apologize if you feel i was to blunt in my comment:)-
ReplyDeleteBytheway I think that you could make rules up-not necessarily a contract, but things like they have to pay before a certain time, they have to give you a couple weeks notice if they are not going to do the next month of lessons, or they have to pay-little things like that I think would help protect you, but not be so strict that it turns people away-Okay I am getting off my soap box:)-good luck in your decision!
ReplyDeleteKimberly,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your input and it is your place because I opened it up by asking a question.
I hope I did not come off angry in my post, because I am NOT upset at anyone. Students come and go, this is just an unfortunate amount and time of students lost. My intention with this blog is to look at the good and the blessings that can came from adversity.
I do have rules in my studio, but not a binding contract. I hand out my policy to each new student. In it I ask to be paid at the first lesson of the month and for the most part my students abide by that. I do not charge late fees. There are pro's and con's about being more strict, but I am not sure being more strict is the answer I am looking for. I want to do what is best for each student and sometimes that means working with parents and their pay schedules. I do think however that asking for one month notice to fill their time slot would be fair to both parties.
These are difficult times for many people and I am so grateful for my family and their pulling together.
These types of experiences always bring us closer as a family. I know you are not upset at anyone for quitting, or taking a month off...you just aren't that kind of person. What I really like is how you took this hard situation and really pulled together as a family to help make ends meet.
ReplyDeleteI speak from personal experience when I say that I know it is hard to be given so little notice. When that is a necessary source of income, one that is needed to pay the bills, it can be hard to make it work when it is gone without any notice. Especially at Christmas time. But I know that you guys will continue to work, just like the family in Little House on the Prarie to make it through somehow.
Maybe you could add a few additions to your policy to just help ease the pain when a student needs to quit or take a break. Something that will help give you a little more notice so you can plan and budget accordingly! I have faith in you. I know it will work out.
Sabrina, you probably are too lenient, especially if you are feeling this way. I agree with Kimberly...from a mother perspective, I don't know that I would want to sign a contract of length, especially if I had a brand new piano student starting out. But rules, in the form of a contract might not be a bad idea, and we did have a piano teacher that did have something like that. Rules just give bondaries and help keep everyone stay on the same page and understand expectations. Sounds like you might have some time this month to think about this and what you do and don't want to see have happen. I personally never expected make up lessons, if we missed well that was our fault. Now if you have to cancel, that is a different story. Maybe holiday times like December and the summer could be handled in a different manner, thus insuring income for you, but the break that students seem to want. For instance, we had a teacher who charged by the month, not lesson...for her it all worked out in the end. Planning ahead for lean times might help that sting be a little less.
ReplyDeleteHaving suffered from downsizing, loss of work and other economic hazards of our day, I am sorry you are having to experience this and at this time of year. Good luck with the decisions on what to do with lessons. That is hard because you don't want to offend. Look to the holiday and family. A wedding, the start of a new little family. Call me and I will come over and help with dresses...I can even bring my serger, which is so nice on seams of formal fabrics or maybe Aimee and I can take the girls out for an adventure while you sew your little heart out.
Hang in there!
You need to do what's best for your family. If I were you, I would have the students pay at the beginning of the month. This way, the parents are much less likely to cancel or reschedule without having to pay for that lesson. If they pay up front, it eliminates some of that. I hope that helps! You have gotten some very good advice from everyone else!
ReplyDeleteI think your family is the richest family in Tucson. What amazing children you have, and what a great example you set for them. I hope your yard sale was a great success.
ReplyDeleteStudents will always come and go, but a good piano teacher will always be in demand.