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Original poster

Anyone a Rhythm time/Sing and sign/Tiny Talk/Jo jingles group leader and how did you find it?

23 replies

AlexanderPandasmum · 07/02/2008 23:31

Hi,

Just wondering about doing this sort of thing in future once I work off my maternity leave, and wondered if anyone could answer these questions for me:

Is it worth it?

Did it fit in well with being able to spend more time with your DS/DD(s)?

What is the pay like and how much work did you get?

How did you organise childcare?

Thanks in advance for any answers. At present I am part time as a teacher but the commute home is over 2 and a half hours and after I factor in the cost of childcare and tax I think I am going to come out with less than £120/week. Just wondering if there's a better way where I can earn as much (ideally £200/week) and spend more time with DS, nearly 1 year old.

OP posts:

luciemule · 08/02/2008 13:44

I looked into buying a Musical Minis franchise but it worked out quite expensive and I could have earnt a lot more doing it on my own.

I took my DS to a Jo Jingles group and wasn't impressed at all - the leader wasn't particularly apt at singing either which suprised me!

If you it it on your own, somewhere with minimal rent costs would be ideal (church) so that you weren't forking out hods for rent each month. Then there's personal liability insurance etc but if there's a need for it in your area and it's not flooded with music groups or similar, I bet you could make it a success.

luciemule · 08/02/2008 13:46

Forgot to say, I was basing figures on having about 15 children in a class.

Original poster

AlexanderPandasmum · 08/02/2008 20:05

Hi,

My area is absolutely full of such groups, but they are successful because I live near to the sort of town that people would take their young children to every group going. In fact, at mother and baby groups I would regularly overhear parents who went to baby swimming on Monday, mother and toddler on Tuesday, baby yoga on Wednesday, Rhythm time on thursday and Tumble Tots on Friday (bit like I did in my last term at home with the baby!).

This is obviously a good thing for getting a job teaching a group, but I find it unlikely that another music group (for example) would flourish because of the success of some of these groups. I have never been to Jo Jingles but have found Rhythm Time to be generally very enjoyable and good quality sessions. I bet it varies from group to group though!

Anyone else have anything to add? Surely there's someone out there doing it if it is supposedly 'ideal for young families'?

OP posts:

ChirpyGirl · 08/02/2008 20:29

If there are a lot of groups then possibly not such a good idea to do another singing one, maybe think of a group that doesn't exist yet IYSWIM?
I have seen franchises for a messy play one. I was seriously considering it before I got pregnant again as I don't know many people who are happy to let their DC's run riot with paint and stuff!
I think it was called messy monkeys or something.

mablemurple · 08/02/2008 20:43

I was a helper at one of these groups once. The only way to earn reasonable money was to expand so that you were running lots of groups in several places, but the problem the leader had was in recruiting and retaining reliable people to help. Lots of the helpers just treated it as a casual job that they didn't have to turn up to if they didn't feel like it, even though they were being paid. The leader was fantastic, very enthusiastic but in the end she had to sell the franchise as she couldn't cope with the lack of commitment from her employees.

luciemule · 08/02/2008 22:14

Something like La Jolie Ronde might be good if you're a french speaker as people always love their kids to speak a foreign language whilst they're young.

rookiemater · 08/02/2008 22:39

My friend runs Jo Jingles classes.

She absolutely loves it and the franchise holder was so pleased with her that they gave her a lovely big hourly raise. It's still not great money but she can do it round school hours, she enjoys being with the kiddies and is still completely tone deaf

I do think the most important thing is to have the personality for it though. I took DS along to a tester for a certain music class and the lady holding the class was getting uptight because the children were crawling around and wanting to play with the monkey, and this was an under 2s session!

Original poster

AlexanderPandasmum · 08/02/2008 22:43

Lol@Rookiemater. Monkey?

La Jolie Ronde, luciemule? I do happen to speak french (not as a native but I did it at university as a minor up to 2nd year).

Thanks for replies. Any more welcome.

OP posts:

luciemule · 09/02/2008 09:03

La Jolie Ronde runs age split sessions (after school for older children if I remember correctly)and introduces them to french in a fun way.

Not sure how good your french has to be be but you're a qualified teacher so I bet that would be fine.

aoliver · 09/02/2008 14:50

Hi,

I runa cookery club for pre-schoolers, it's booked termly so I know what I'm getting. The problem I felt with come when you like is that you never know exactly where you are - ie if it's very wet people stay in and very warm they go to the park.

I make a good wage and it allows my son to go to nursery which he loves, plus we spend so much more time together than if I were on a normal wage.

If it's something you'd like to do too let me know as I'm just starting to licence.

aoliver · 09/02/2008 14:50

Hi,

I make a good wage and it allows my son to go to nursery which he loves, plus we spend so much more time together than if I were on a normal wage.

If it's something you'd like to do too let me know as I'm just starting to licence.

Original poster

AlexanderPandasmum · 09/02/2008 23:31

Hi aoliver,

That sounds great, but where do you hold your classes? I am not exactly loaded after just coming back from maternity leave though!

Thanks Luciemule for your reply

OP posts:

aoliver · 11/02/2008 09:00

Hi Luciemule, I'm based in Bucks, but looking for people to do them all over the country, depending on whether you're thinking of coming or doing!

wangle99 · 23/02/2008 20:34

I own a Sing and Sign franchise, fits in fantastically well with the children.

Doesn't bring in a HUGE income (but that is largely due to the area that I'm in) but it works well for me.

Any more questions please ask!

anniebear · 25/02/2008 00:19

aoliver , where do you hold your classes?

musicwithvanessa · 26/02/2008 18:09

You might want to consider running a music group that isn't a franchise. I run Kindermusik classes in Surrey to about 100 families a week and my start up was low because I didnt have to pay out franchise fees. My job fits perfectly around my kids and I earn a reasonable amount for the hours I teach.
I paid for the training and a yearly licence fee. I also recruit new teachers for UK/Ireland - if you have any questions let me know

aoliver · 28/02/2008 21:01

I hold my classes at home, in Bucks

LisaCic · 03/03/2008 16:36

My friend and I bought and Musical Minis franchise 5 years ago and we think its fantastic. We both had 2 year olds when we started and have since had another child each and it fitted in well with both our children and home life. We have just renewed and are looking forward to another 5 years. We are currently on the look out for staff to expand our business.

It is really rewarding seeing children grow in confidence and social skills and see parents/ grandparens and carers enjoying the classes with their children.

I feel one of the main benefits of buying the franchise and not "going on your owm" is the amount of support that you get not only from the franchisor but also other franchisees too.

At Musical Minis pacage has definately worked for us. Providing structured sessions. Safe equipment and specially recorded music so no breach of copyright issues

Pay obviously depends on the number of classes that you run and the csts of your halls and staff etc some franchisees earn a really good income and have a number of staff working for them.

If you did not want to buy a franchise perhaps you could look into leading classes or managing an area. Salaries may vary from each franchisee.

We haven't looked back

CathieF · 03/03/2008 16:47

Hi I have a Musical Minis Franchise in Merseyside and have found it a great way to work, do something fun and fit everything around my family life. I have been running for 6 years now and have several staff who help me. There are opportunities to run classes in Children's Centres and nurseries as well as your own classes if you want to boost your income. I liked the idea of a franchise because you have a trusted brand and the back up of head office who are able to support and advise. I earn what I consider to be a good wage from the business and I have been able to put more time into it as my daughters have grown. I'd say definately worth looking into.

funtimemusic · 03/03/2008 18:48

Hello!
I have a Musical Minis Franchise and highly recommend it to anyone thinking of running or attending a funtime children's music group.

I took my children when they were babies/toddlers and thoroughly enjoyed it. I used to sit there just knowing that one day i wanted to do the same thing - and i did!

I am in my second year and am growing all the time (i too am now looking for help!). It's a busy as you want it to be - the more work you put in the more you get out!

It works around my school pick up and drop offs, i earn money AND i get to spend all the schools hols with my family (not many places you can do that!).

I have a fantastic job (many people tell me that!). I have met some lovely people and the children make it so rewarding.

Aside from all this i get solid support from the Franchisors at any time i need it. Established 1989 and with excellent people behind it Musical Minis is a great choice for a Music group or a career!

Talk to Musical Minis if you are thinking about buying a childrens music franchise, i am so glad i did!

musikate · 17/03/2008 18:49

Hi
interesting discussion you have going here.
I am a qualified primary school teacher and music specialist - As a music consultant I am involved in teacher training too mainly to Nursery School Staff as I specialise in the Early Years.

I also run my own music and movement sessions for children aged 0 - 7 years. I decided to use the US based Kindermusik Curricula and have successfuly taught this for nearly 7 years now. There were many reasons why I choose Kindermusik and I looked at just about everything else on the market. The first reason was that Kindermusik was not a franchise. I was not in a position to buy a costly franchise and knew that I would not be able to meet the business targets required - essentially I teach music because I love it - not because I want a massive business. The second reason was beacuse I loved the curricula. I am more than qualified to come up with my own materials - but here was a quality curricula with excellent recordings all cleverly researched to link with child development. Thirdly Kindermusik is more than music and movement - research suggests that early music instruction develops the whole child and kindermusik have developed a programme with this in mind.

IrisTheBestStartClub · 17/03/2008 23:33

I teach Kindermusik classes in Hertfordshire. It's a wonderful programme, there is so much fun in every class. I attended lots of music classes with my children when they were babies and toddlers and now I so wish that Kindermusik had been in my area then for them. It's the best programme I know of in the UK and while lots of music classes say they do movement which is usually a little lifting up and down of children Kindermusik really explores movement with music. It's such a full well balanced programme.

I can honestly say I haven't found anything negative in Kindermusik it's all positive for me and its fun and exciting to teach.

It's worth looking on the website www.kindermusik.co.uk

Good luck

FrancesT · 18/03/2008 15:58

I teach Kindermusik in Bolton and I have to say it's the best job ever. The best parts are the children (babies to Y1), the independence to develope the way that suits me best, and the low start up costs. My own little one is nearly 2 and regularly entertains all by spontaneously dancing, but the best I've heard was after a new 10 month baby started with me, mum came back the 2nd week to say that since coming to Kindermusik, every time he hears music he sings 'eeeeeeee'!

As to your other questions, financially, it's like any new business, you get out what you put in, and it takes time to get established. My hubby is unable to work (form of stroke at 34) and helps me where he can, so I see him more than if I were doing a regular 9-5, and childcare is between mum and mum-in-law - or else she comes along with us!

Frances

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