Can I ask your opinions about paying for music lessons?

[Tokelau]

I'm interested in opinions from private music teachers and parents of children who go to these lessons.

I am a music teacher. I work part time, I would like to work more hours, but only have enough pupils to be part time. I am thinking of advertising, as all my pupils have come to me through word of mouth so far.

This is the problem. Most of my pupils and their families are nice people, dependable, they pay each week with no problem, turn up on time, and if they need to cancel, they let me know in advance and we rearrange for another day. However, a few are not like this at all. They cancel last minute, or forget to come, and then I don't get paid. I know that sometimes things happen, and that can't be avoided, but it's the same people all the time.

For example, one pupil forgot to come the week before half term. I texted the parents who said that they had something on that night and had forgotten to let me know. I didn't see them over half term, that's fine. This week, they didn't turn up so I texted the parents and had no reply. I was told by another pupil that the first pupil has gone on holiday for two weeks. They didn't let me know, and obviously won't be here next week either. That's three lessons where I was expecting them to come and now haven't been paid for. The parents are actually nice, but very disorganised I think.

I have another pupil whose parent has just texted me to say that they only got back from their holiday yesterday, so they want to cancel the lesson tonight as the child is tired. The child is in secondary school, so not a very young child.

I have a good relationship with most of my pupils, and if they cancel occasionally, I don't charge them for the lesson. It annoys me though when people mess me around regularly and I don't get paid. Would I be unreasonable to tell all my pupils that from now on, they have to pay for four weeks in advance? If they can't make a lesson, I will rearrange it if possible, but otherwise they will lose the money, not me.

What would you think about this? From a parent's point of view, or from a teacher's point of view? What do other teachers do in your experience?

I feel that it's unfair to do this to the reasonable pupils, but can't implement this to some and not others, as a lot of them know each other!

AIBU or should I just suck it up that I am not employed, and it's the nature of the job that if a pupil doesn't turn up, I don't get paid?

That's not sustainable for you at all. Make them pay you by term - 3 x 8 week blocks or similar.

You have to pay by term for things like ballet lessons, so YWNBU to expect the same for music. Most music teachers charge by term anyway, IME.

I used to have music lessons where the private teacher came into school to deliver them. We paid half termly in advance, on the rare occasion the teacher missed a lesson the fee was taken off the next half term's bill. So I don't think yabu to want paying in advance.

YANBU - this is your business

I pay twice a year, in September and January. I'm happy with the arrangement.

Sounds reasonable to me! My son (4) doesn't take music lessons but all other activities- swimming lessons, gym etc- are paid for upfront for the whole term (6-12 weeks). That you are happy to re-arrange when they need to cancel is flexible enough.

We pay by the term in advance, seems the way to go

Always paid 6 weeks in advance when mine were learning. Lost a good chunk of money when the eldest was being a brat about going but it seems a reasonable way to work.

I've always paid for terms/half terms in advance, I think that's normal.

I'd expect a 2 strike rule. Life happens and it may be you cancelling short notice, once to forget then ask them to leave. This is your income.

At school lessons we pay monthly throughout the year by direct debit. The private lessons I pay for I pay monthly in advance. If you were happy with that I think that would be the best option. It can be hard to pay all the lessons and clubs termly it's a lot of money to find all at once if you are paying more than one thing.

I agree that life happens, and if I had to cancel for any reason, I wouldn't expect them to pay.

I'm surprised actually, I thought everyone might think I was being grabby!

We pay by month direct debit for violin lessons. It's obviously still possible that families could cancel the DD but it's sometimes easier to find £x a month than £xy in advance. The DD runs all year even though the teacher takes holidays so I don't need to think about dates amd cheque books (which is my personal parenting hell)

But it's totally expected to guarantee pay in some way.

YANBU. Don't undervalue yourself, get them to pay in advance, bet you will have less cancellations if they have already paid!

We pay monthly in advance, either direct debit or bank transfer. No payment, no lessons. Exactly the same for swimming and kickboxing. Dance we pay a term in advance. I think payment per lesson is quite unusual these days when electronic payments are so easy, and much less hassle than asking/chasing for money.

Yanbu
I pay termly in advance for music lessons (at school ).

You should have a cancellation policy, for example if lessons are cancelled with less than 48 hours they cannot be rearranged, except in exceptional circumstances.

Also, if DD misses a lesson, we don't feel guilty as we've already paid for it (obvs we let the teacher know she won't be there).

I don't do music lessons yet.

But. I've paid for a half term's swimming art and gym up front this week. So almost everyone else charges up front.

Music lessons tend to be more expensive. Which might put some people off. If you found your uptake was dropping Perhaps you could offer monthly payments or even weekly in exceptional cases, but you make it clear that if they don't come they still have to pay. Like a dentist.

Tell them verbally and in writing.

The problem with this sort of teaching is often a mealy mouthed approach to money. Make your terms and conditions clear. You are a professional. Treat yourself as such

Good luck

This is a good time of year to write to all your parents and tell them that you will be introducing new terms and conditions from September 2017 - beginning of the next school year. You put together a simple agreement that pulls together things like payment arrangements, how much notice they have to give for cancellations etc, send it out with the bills for next term. You can get more specific advice on this from ABRSM forum, or Musicians Union or ISM if you are a member. Anyone who really objects has time to find another teacher, but most people will be glad to pay in a block and not have to scrabble for cash before every lesson.

I used to lose about 20% of my potential lesson income when I charged in arrears. The moment I switched to payment in advance for the term, the rate of missed lessons dropped to 5% and was usually only for illness. The clincher for me was the parent who wanted to cancel at short notice because the lesson clashed with swimming or some other activity, and when I asked why she was choosing the other activity over a music lesson it was 'because I've PAID for that!'.......

Whole you're at it, consider charging up front for materials too. That way you can order books rather than waiting for the parents to get round to it. Again, it's more convenient for them and most will be quite happy to let you organise everything.

Think about whether you want to bill for half term or a term or perhaps a monthly charge by direct debit (increasingly popular). Just do it, you will feel so much better!

I agree that you need to bill in advance that way it makes them more inclined to stick to it rather than think oh sod it , it's sunny lets go to the beach/park/whatever. I would bill up front a term at a time.

It shows a commitment from both parties. I have always had to pay up front for all DD's clubs and activities, and would expect to do this should she ever start music lessons .

I was discussing this same problem with a client the other day and she said it makes her feel like her time is worth nothing if people just swan off and say "oops I forgot". Everybody at that point said she should charge a cancellation fee or not book the client again (it happens repeatedly).

I definitely think you need to charge per term (or half term). Don't turn up = their loss. You can still be flexible if needed. It just means you start off with the payment and it's them that misses out - not you - if they don't attend.

Our piano teacher used to send an invoice at the beginning of each term making it clear that lessons would be charged for unless notice was given. She also let us know the price of any books and exam fees.

You are too soft!

Not music lessons but my child has swimming lessons that we have to pay for in blocks of 10. If he missed one because of holiday or illness then it's still paid for but because the class isn't taught over school holidays, we don't pay for them. If a school holiday falls mid session then it carries on after.

I had piano lessons when I was 18 for 3 years and I had to pay for them every 12 weeks. They were through school holidays and the only time I didn't pay was if the Teacher cancelled, which didn't happen.

It's your business and you need to know what money you have coming in and when. You will probably find that getting them to pre pay increases their attendance. It's not a requirement but I prefer pay for my exercise class as I know I will attend as I don't want to lose the money!

I pay for piano lessons for DS that he has at school in blocks of 5 in advance . If he doesn't go (got the time wrong one week...) then I've still paid.
Not sure what would happen if the teacher weren't there - I should think we'd get an extra lesson.

DD has singing lessons (also at school) - I pay termly in advance for them. I think we can cancel up to 9am on the day but you'd probably get another lesson rather than money back.

We currently pay our music teacher weekly but we confirm every week that the lessons are happening. I could afford to pay a 4 week block in advance but not termly. If you were our music teacher I wouldn't mind a payment up front request at all.

Our tennis coach did what you did and people started taking advantage. He now charges you the full price of the class if less than 24 hours notification. Admittedly he lets us off, but that's his discretion and he knows we pay and turn up regularly. In fact he's let us down more than we have him.

Additionally, the ballet school that I do admin for charges whether you decide to turn up or not every half term. And if you want to cancel altogether, you give six weeks notice.

This is a business, presumably it's in your home, and that's one reason why people don't take it seriously.