Entitled parent?

You should still be paid for your time, instrument is their responsibility. Put it back on the parents, do as you suggested. X

This. You made your time available. The parent needs to pay.

Parent sounds like a nightmare and I'd stop teaching the child if you can fill the slot with another pupil.

'they wouldn’t be paying as she didn’t have a ‘proper lesson’. Parent then said maybe I should just bill them each month or so for the lessons she’s had. They added ‘it may be helpful if I text a reminder the day before the lesson'

Oh throw that back at them.

Dear Parent

I was available to provide a proper lesson however it wasn't possible* *Miss Perfect left her instrument at home.

It maybe helpful if you paid monthly in advance I am more than happy to accommodate monthly payments - in advance - as with the rest of my Ts&Cs.

If I don't receive payment for the last lesson and the next one before Tuesday I'll consider the lessons terminated.

Poorly paid teacher

I'd text back the parent that your terms are payment before the lesson and they pay for your time. If their child forgets her instrument that is beyond your control, and payment must still be made and you'd ask them respectfully to consider if they still wish to book your service on these conditions. Add invoice for the last lesson.

They must be able to afford it - what difference if it's after or day before to them?
I'd respond with: 'I'm happy to take monthly payment in advance. May I also remind you that your child should bring their instrument with them for each lesson as I cannot guarantee their will be a spare available '
As nice as their child may be, this is your living. Also do you have a cancellation policy? You could say without an k strummer this will kick in and they need to pay regardless as it's not your fault they. Ant seem to remember to bring it in.
This is your business snd you have to be strict.

was told they wouldn’t be paying as she didn’t have a ‘proper lesson’. Parent then said maybe I should just bill them each month or so for the lessons she’s had
This is unacceptable. I think it would be better just to remove the child for non payment.
"Dear CF Parent,
Music lesson T&Cs are clear that lessons are payable in advance and require children to bring their own instruments. Your child attended a lesson on X date; you have not paid and you have confirmed by email on DATE that you are not willing to pay for lessons according to T&Cs. I have therefore removed your child from the register effective immediately. I wish ChildName every success in her future studies.
Regards,
@MusicalityM"

No. This is not ok. Talk to the music department and/or the admin staff member who oversees the peripatetic music teachers. Tell them what’s happened to cover your back.

100% switch to payment up front for half a term (or a whole term).

We pay for a whole term in advance and have to give a whole terms notice to quit. That’s standard.

I'm feeling the stress of this on your behalf!

I agree with everything to said with regards to this situation but I don’t agree with the ideology that music/playing music is a luxury item and if you can’t afford to be involved with this elite pursuit you should just suck it up and be grateful your not starving.

It depends how full you are op. Can you fill her space?

I run my own business, a different industry. I have long waiting lists, so I have no problem saying to any pita parent 'sorry, I'm fully booked.' This includes people who have to be chased for payment, I don't need to do that, so I'm not going to create work for myself. They get one chance, and I never say anything, just 'sorry, I'm fully booked.' the next time they ask.

I would say something also the lines of this-

'Dear Cheeky Parent,
Thank you for your recent message.
All lessons must be paid for prior to lesson. This was agreed in advance with the school. I reserve the right to not teach your child if payment has not be received.

If a child forgets their instrument, I will endeavour to find a spare one at school. However, if I cannot, you will still be charged for the lesson.

With regards your kind suggestion that I text you the date before XXX's lesson- here is a list of the dates for the rest of the term/year for you to input into your phone calendar. I hope this is helpful.

Many thanks,

Teacher just trying to do her job'

I don't know where you are in the UK but good music teachers are a rarity around my area. It's your income and she needs a gentle reminder of this.

It's the suggestion that you send a reminder of the actual lesson which would have tipped me over the edge, and that's without the money issues

Basically they're trouble, and since it's not going to get any better I'd cut loose and offer the place to someone else

I would simply go back and say they have a choice

1. they set a reminder in their phone that the lessons take place the next dAy, send the payment and make sure the child brings the instrument
2. they find another tutor

I’m also worried if I stop teaching her they’ll kick up a stink at school and then I’ll be involved in that too!

Hmmm. I'd be interested in what the school thinks of the parent. I wonder if they're a PITA at school too? Worth a quick chat with the office staff???? Might be enlightening!

I would insist all parents pay for half a term/term in advance. Failure to do that and child cannot have music lessons with you.

this is how we pay for swimming lessons, wrap around childcare, nursery fees, scouts/brownies and music lessons.

your time spent chasing lessons is also not acceptable!

I send out my terms and conditions annually and ask parents to sign up to them, though you do still get some very entitled ones! I would recommend going to monthly standing order - I calculate the number of lessons over the year, the total cost and divide by twelve. It also helps with the long summer holiday with no pay, and it helps parents budget for the lessons.

Do they sign up for a term and just pay weekly for convenience? Remind parent that payment must be made in advance, even if child forgets instrument. This is the last time you will accept a late payment and if they want to do monthly payments this needs to be in advance as lessons are not opt in. Otherwise you will give notice and have someone more reliable take spot. Certainly make sure things are working well before recommencing in Sept.

It doesn’t matter that it is a group lesson. I sometimes go to a class at the gym, if I have to pay I expect everybody else to have to pay. And if somebody that hadn’t paid was there, they would inevitably be a little bit less of the class taker to go around and the payers all get that little bit less of attention.

Getting rid of the parent may be annoying in the short term, but if you have to deal with her for several years you could have this level of aggravation every month or two.

I would cut them off over the non-payment for the last lesson. She has an infernal cheek when it is her fault and the fault of her child that the lesson couldn't be a practical. The request that you send a reminder before each lesson is just obnoxious.

I recently started working at a private school and I am dealing with finances and I initially started off feeling sorry for parents that could not pay, cost of living and all that. (And I would add I am comprehensive educated from a deprived part of the country, but that was a long time ago). Anyway I have decided that they will all be well fed and educated anyway and this is a business transaction for a luxury item. The music lessons are a luxury item, if the parent won’t pay, ditch them, the child will survive.