Phil Schneider
Music Teacher
2 Profile Activity Points
Forum Replies Created
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I have standardised the 45 minute lesson for 2 years now from my point of view I prefer it. I did have a student who wanted a 90 minute lesson which I did reluctantly. I found it more like a 2 hour lesson. Its like running 1 mile regularly then running 2 miles at the same pace and wondering why you feel exhausted.
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Since starting 45 minute lessons. I have found they are good for beginners but also I am liking the length for myself. Some students benefit from an hour for more indepth music. I only teach adults and Diane point is what I find. Work / family any thing else leads to cancelations. Also like Diane I can only keep saying 24 hours notice to cancel, but a lot of students dont pay or cancel 25 hours before. You can only push it so far without losing students. Any student with 3 cancelations in a row usually means giving them an off peak time. This type will nearly always continue with eratic attendance and think its perfectly acceptable.
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I think the price point thery is correct having two price point gives more options. I am having a higher uptake ot this 45 length. Suitable for beginners too.
Not mentioned is if I can fit in an extra student it means the dreaded cancelations are a smaller percent of lost income.
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The point about adult learners Alan raises is interesting. I only take adults. The lack of time to commit is a common reason. Then lack of money. Also people move jobs or are travelling away for work regularly. Retirees are good. My figures are skewed because I have students who take a 10 lesson package subsidised by their employer. Then that ends.
its not just retention its also regularity that counts. Im plannig next year to specify an 80% attendance rate.
I agree with Matt besides the difficulty of collecting age and gender of students it will not reveal much of use (too many confounding variables).
But the number of times a student has taken a lesson, how frequently those lessons are and the average number of lessons a student will take before they stop taking lessons is the key stat.
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Yes Matt
Any stats would be great. I need to start collating my own too. As my thread was a guesstimate.
