Music Teacher Ruth Adamson
Music TeacherForum Replies Created
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been there! keep up the good work
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I use an online booking system and can update my slots as and when, it also takes payment for the lesson on booking.. for those that can’t commit it’s up to them to book in themselves on the calender and if there isn’t slots there isn’t slots.. you will probably find the ones that want to be flexible will drop off the radar and then.. you can keep the regular ones but if they don’t and genuinely work different shift patterns then they will fill your last min cancellation slots and it works well for everyone
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Yes… Tell him your full and say he would be better with a teacher that is able to be “more flexible”
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I would do tongue trills sticky out tongue warm ups
Th and general tongue twisters
when practicing slow the section with the th in right down and almost.. shock them when it comes round to it to change the thinking pattern when i say shock them i just mean, make a big thing of it at that part in the line and build up from there the talent code is a good book to just support how to get people to consciously practise something in addition to repetition
Probably all the normal vowel shape exercises, i think its just practise ive had students that ive told time and time again.. but if they dont consciously practice it and change the habit it tends to stay the same
Language is another tough one, german and french and asian find the english or american accent pretty tough ive found.. so its just like they are learning a new language
if they are young its easier adult harder like… if i had learned to do the rolling r with spanish when i was very young it would have been better, not sure id even be able to learn it now
if anyone can think
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lol o yes
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loool ye I’ve done that as well, forgetting i’d booked a lesson
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Lol I’ve double booked before and done that cringe isn’t it x
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Ye I try to give a weeks notice and 24 hour cancellation policy it is a hard one some people get funny about it but there not the type of clients you want.. How do people deal with things like child’s illness etc? x
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Exactly So how dare they even ask then? Don’t they feel even a little bit rude? Lol
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I find if so rude for them to even ask… Mine all get the terms and conditions in an email every time they book a lesson.. What’s hard to understand about that then. Rude
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Beckie Oldham did it x
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Send her to the gp and hopefully ENT to check everything out?
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I put the cancellation policy in the booking email ye? otherwise your more likely to get no shows? or last min cancellations for there first lesson especially if they get nervous or change there mind. I don’t have it set out like that though i word it like.. so please bear this in mind so its not like.. terms and conditions of the lesson all strict like just clear
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oh on the first lesson?
ye of course you have a chat with them sometimes make a cup of tea etc and just go everything.. ask what they want to get out of the lessons etc go over how the lessons work not just like… ok give me your money then lol
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on the invoice is a great idea!
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what do you mean before they come to the first lesson? sometimes i do the first lesson free thing sometimes they pay a deposit before the first one they come to if they book in themselves online but ye i explain the cancellation on the phone before they come and they get it in the booking email x
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kat.. believe me your doing really well..ye you dont need to like give them a telling off on there first lesson its just normalised like.. ok so this is how it works etc.. then its all fine.. its taken a long time to get to this stage and so if i can help you a little bit that makes me happy to know you may not be as stressed lol and i dont know everything.. but i know that works for me with the wording etc!
XxX
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Ye but they wouldnt do that if things had been made clear to them.
So ye.. this is the welcome letter everyone gets in an email and printed out on there first lesson, if they aren’t one week in advance they don’t get booked in.. and they can easily bank transfer or paypal or i can send them a payment link if they don’t give the notice and need to pay to be back into one week in advance
.completley agree its a judgement call if they are a long standing student and they have been coming a long time and they never normally cancel..but i find if they do once and get away with it.. they will again.. or if you let them off one time you have to make it clear not again and then even when its harder to charge the second time.. you have to. it shows you respect yourself and your time as a teacher and are actually busy and can fill the slots if they you have a waiting list! which will only improve credibility
i struggled with it for years and its still hard sometimes but i think back to how much money i must have lost letting people off when now.. everyone is more than happy with the policy and its all fine!
Dear Student/Parent
I would like to welcome you to your first lesson, I will be teaching the highest standards of vocal coaching, with lessons tailored to your personal goals.Payment
• Lessons for pay as you go students are payable weekly, one week in advance at the start of each lesson.
Cancellations
• If the student needs to cancel in the rare case of an emergency, for any
reason, at least 48 hours notice must be given. Failure to give this amount of
notice results in the missed lesson being chargeable.
• Due to the demand for vacant weekly slots, no exceptions can be made when
the required amount of notice is not givenI look forward to working with you to help you achieve your singing dreams!
Thank you
Ruth Discuaedit as appropriate hope it helps!
and yes can i say showing you are human does go along way!
i guess it is at the end of the day a judgement call on an individual basis..how busy you are and how long they have been lessons etc but i feel and when i explain things to the students… it must be the exact same rule for everyone because if not..and certain students are “let off” because they have been attending lessons longer thats actually not fair to any of the students.. the ones that do pay for missed lessons being the main one! so i guess you either stick to your policy or you dont..so its fair for everyone.. and you
x
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yes!! welcome pack!!!
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number 2 That five lessons for four is great!!!!! similar to the first lesson free thing I ma try that out thanks for that!
if it helps the musicians union have free teachers contract templates if anyones a member.
Completley agree the one week in front students are on an online payment system similar to a direct debit so i can request payment for the week in advance straight away.
this forum is great gonna try number 2 out this week! thanks
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Yes I will put that on them from now on not all lessons have to be used just mean at least book them in because, How strange is this, LAST YEAR someone brought ten lessons I must have forgotten about it and they didn’t book in, they have contacted me THIS year asking about the lessons as the mum brought them for her son and he never booked in, sof I’m not really sure what to say they have sent me credit card bill in which they had 10 lessons for price of nine, strange one!
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As becky has mentioned, we introduced the online booking system for new starters a while ago and its very successful.
If you were to tackle it from another angle it would be to offer the *first lesson free* which is like a consultation in which builds trust and attracts more students, you would then at the end of the lesson get them to pay for the next lesson and then always be one week in front, this way if they stop lessons you are covered etc, I would do this if you have slots you need to fill but if you are full vet them on the phone and if in doubt don’t book them in without some form of security
the block booking of ten lessons with ten percent discount can work out the same as first lesson free I would make sure they know to book within 28 days etc if its a gift voucher:)
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Get them to pay one week in advance so they are always one week in front. x
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So many students think I’m crazy when I make them “nah”! This is incredible:) very similar to my own experience! AWESOME! Going to listen to more
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Hahaa firm but fair it’s hard to find the balance I guess not sure ive fully cracked it could do with some more tips if anyone’s got any x
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It’s so common I wouldn’t worry my love I let people faff about for about a year until I got tough xxx
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My motto is “if you take a risk on them turning up or not being up todate be prepared to make a loss” xx
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dont book them back in until they are upto date x
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b06154q3/pappanos-classical-voices-1-soprano
bbc.co.uk
BBC Four - Pappano's Classical Voices, Soprano
Antonio Pappano explores the great soprano roles and singers of the last 100 years.
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theres this free blog podcast that i like listening to
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Ye I have a guy who couldn’t sing a note in tune 2 years later head voice chest voice gigging whole shebang but he has hour lessons a week and works hard takes time go for it xxx
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I also think it’s psychological people are scared of higher notes and they go tense x
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I find they always copy me and want to sing the higher octave :/
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fruit salad is a great one – gets them looking at each other moving around talking to each other and finding things they have in common xxx etc
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she might be nervous – lots of sirens x
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the vocal chink? this is different because the voice is completely cutting out that was like Charlotte but she had been smoking for years and had a cyst on her vocal fold which meant she couldn’t get up there doubt it will be that x
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thanks matt annie will appreciate that, I really would like to attend the masterclass, but I’ve not long got back from the estil training day so i’ll have a think! thanks for sharing!!
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We really really should:)
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Brilliant! Thanks Kat!
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Wow thanks Kat that’s so useful I need to do some more studying I think, I have tried doing lower pitch exercises she seems to really struggle with the lower notes so il have to go gently with those I think – what vocal courses resources could you both recommend? I attended the Estill voice training day recently I’m looking for some more?x
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yes I have a few young teenage girls that I can’t work out weather they are choosing to sing that way or if its a breathiness they can’t help amazing thanks matt, what specific warm ups would you suggest, & where can I do further research into these types of things?
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whichever one is shorter, easier to remember and easier to type?
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Yes I do on the odd occasion for long standing students maybe one chance but make it clear its a one off to keep them on board – I have upset a parent or two in the past but.. The students I want to keep are the ones who are happy with the policy from the start.. If they aren’t there will be more problems further down the line
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I’ve never had any, but I guess its only been a very rare occasion that I have cancelled on the day, people are generally understanding in that instance I’ve found xx
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Ye I was thinking of moving to 48 hour tbh does it work the same as 24? Eliza Jane Fyfe or do you get more hassle? x
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Matt Pocock what a cool/fun way or wording things, I like it:)
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and yes.. always one week in advance mine are i think Eliza Jane Fyfe does block 5 lessons x
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mine get everything in an email, then welcome letter and yes I agree Eliza Jane Fyfe same rule for everyone, no exceptions x
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just booked!! exciting x
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no but you get a free 15 min chat with them so I’m gonna be asking those questions lol
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in regards to lesson plans/excercises or just generally?
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then make the sounds with voice but use the instruments just need pens paper scissors maybe glue? glitter
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make musical instruments:)
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3.12? :/ lol x
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no I think I’ve calculated that wrong – arghhh lol
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ye I’ve had the 5.. although i did get a quote for 300 a month which for 20 hours a week of teaching would work out at 3.75 an hour if I’ve got that right – ok cool so 5 is about the going rate? Laura Miaandthemoon what do/did you pay? xx
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ahhhh.. erm.. so you could split them into groups.. switch up the exercises and keep changing the groups around like matt says top ones with lower ones or the other way round and give them specific exercises – how long are the classes/workshops? x
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360 degree breathing vid absolute dream. he does babble on a bit though? x
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teenstar xx
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I’m getting excited this is going to be great!
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Or yes just an online resource probably sounds better than a book!
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The ideas are flowing now!
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Oooh that sounds good! Yes online resource that maybe once they have completed they would get a certificate? A little like the NSPCC ones maybe?
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I think if I was a teacher just starting out and there was a book and resources available to me I would defiantly invest:)
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Yes matt def up for a collab on that!
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I have higher prices for new students and put prices up for long standing students with a letter/email stating inflation etc and that i value my longstanding students which is why the price is competative in comparison to other teachers schools etc worked fine.. just put up lesson prices by a pound but thats pure profit and work it out however much a yearhope that helps
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Amazing xx
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Ye but the good thing for me is my voice is constantly warmed up.. it is hard to find a unique voice though mine seems to be just a “generic pop voice” which i’m not sure is good or not x
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yellows added a payment system.. too pricey though like 50 per transaction :/
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i got the idea from dentists and doctors how easy they book people in and take payment then it went from there lol
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Ye yellow is simply set out that’s why I chose it.. but now these other booking systems are coming to light I would say have a try of all and tell us which is best lol xx
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booking bug seems better although yellow schedule are getting an app and pament system they said
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one of my previous smokers who had cysts has acid reflux x
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go docs n get your throat checked out just incase.. i told one of my students that previously smoked to go she found 2 cysts on her vocal chords.. prob won’t be that but I don’t understand it either if your warming up properly etc?
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He said he would literally just scream for a bit until it started to hurt then rest it.. Like going to the gym and tearing the muscles – he must have screamed for what half an hour on and off maybe more? Crazy
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I also asked a screamer how he got his voice like that after cringing all the way through his gig
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Theres a blog article about rasp by Chris Johnson vocal coach the naked vocalist somewhere on one of his blog articles I sent it to one of my students then he came back with a bit of rasp so it must have worked lol
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Haha nothing dirty
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I get a lot of rockers wanting a raspy gravel to their voice would be interesting to find some techniques
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ok If it’s more of a social christmas meal then thats cool I just thought we could capitalise on lots of teacher heads in one place so maybe a coffee/meeting first, meal then possibly even drinks at the local karaoke bar for the real party animals lol depends what everyone else up for?
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I dunno about a meal networking coffee might be better on my finances for christmas time? x
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I’m away from the 11th- 30th!!!
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theres some good blenders on the vocalise u app x
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i know theres a theory that there isn’t a difference between chest and head at all.. which i also kind of agree with in some ways but i actually think although you can blend the voice as classical singers do very well.. but there is a difference though.. lol
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I’ve got a few good blending exercises i could email you laura if you like or do you already have some? x
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Eliza Jane Fyfe i see it as the mix of air between chest and head resonance hitting the vocal chords on the like middle pitches, dunno if theres an actual scientifically decided on or proven fact on this Matt Pocock prob has some ideas?
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i had that with a student.. I’ve been teaching her for like 2 years she still won’t sing in chest I’ve tried a few things i guess i sort of gave up in the end lol she did her grade1 and they picked up on it and mentioned in her feedback her chest voice was weak.. but over time her voice has developed around her head voice and it has got stronger.. i cant deny her voice does sound lovely and unique.. for her grade 3 i chose songs that complement this type of voice more.. i did do speech level and shouting with her but i just think some people genuinely think it “sounds better” in head voice and even though her confidence is built now with her performing and i think actually she probably knows how to use her chest voice fair play to her she resisted me constantly moaning and telling her to sing in chest i dunno.. just try and find a balance i would say based on my experience if that helps at all lol
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snow patrol chasing cars?🙂
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woohoo matt get your stats out lol
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lool matt
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The way I’ve phrased it in the past is ‘I think you may be suited to a more flexible singing teacher’ but yes he owes you money x
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ask them what their concerns are, I hardly get deposits now the booking system does the trick as they can say yes or no to attendance and they get the text message the day before that they can reply to so at least you know the day before they won’t be coming
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yep they do pay it, sometimes though its more time/hassel than it’s worth there are signs that people are nervous or messing about if you spot them straight away its easier
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vet them on the phone before booking them in thats what I do, Iv’e had some pay lesson deposits but my no shows seem to have stopped now.. so it is possible 🙂
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https://www.amazon.co.uk/Great-Papers-Certificate-Pre-Printed-930400/dp/B00FW5I73U – just put those in the printer and type what you want to put on word thats what I do they look really professional I think xx
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Bit busy with my own projects at the min matt but i’ll help out if I can! I’ll buy one once its done £7 is a bargain 🙂 let me know how you get on
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Hey Matt nice one. So are you saying you want help writing the book or?
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Depends what her technical ability is like I would say xx
