Studio Evaluations

Summer is a great time to think through what worked and what you want to change in your studio this year! This will not only help you identify what specific things you need to work on, but it will help you be even more prepared for the fall semester. Let's dig in! Parents

• Were there tensions with specific families this past year? Thinking back through stressful or intense parent/guardian interactions, are there any patterns? Such as frustration due to waiting to hear from you about scheduling, tuition, email replies, etc.? What can you change this coming year to help things run more smoothly and to help your clients feel more connected, or are there any clients you need to remove from your studio?

(I struggle with getting back to people in a timely manner at times, and when I do, it's because they've asked a question I need to ponder or get back to them about after I've thought/researched/checked my schedule.)

• Did you experience parent/client issues on any of your policies such as makeup lessons, etc.?If so, take time this summer to reword and rethink that policy so it's more clearly expressed in the new year! 

Students

• Were there any patterns with students you found to be frustrating this year (or was this present with multiple families?) Forgetting books, lack of preparation, behavior struggles, lack of interest/participation, things 'not clicking,' bored, etc.? 

Identify the key struggles and contemplate if these can be addressed through studio policies and clearly expressing expectations at the first lesson so the student can make it a habit! If you had multiple students struggle with learning specific concepts (key signatures, counting) or behaviors (lack of attention/preparation, hyperactive) then it's time to research and brainstorm some new ways to teach those things (and learn more about disabilities) so you'll better connect with your students. 

You (the teacher)

• How did you feel at the end of your teaching days this year? Tired but happy, exhausted and overworked, frustrated? Maybe it's time to rearrange some students so not all of your challenging or hyperactive students are on the same days, or schedule breaks between students. It's no fun feeling totally emotionally, physically and mentally drained at the end of every teaching day because you're cramming too much into one day (I've been there!)

• What was the reception and response of the new things you tried this year? Perhaps it was new technology/apps, new games, different method books, new assignment sheets, etc. How did the students respond? Was there anything that took a large amount of your time but didn't yield a result that merited the time commitment? 

• How was your balance of teaching/working + creating + learning + your time this past year? Did you try to fit in too many music teacher meetings or conferences, or felt so overwhelmed by podcasts that all the ideas got jumbled? Maybe you didn't take a few minutes for yourself to just do something non-work related? How can you schedule this time intentionally in the new year so you will feel more balanced?

Studio materials/music

• What materials/music books did you use most often this past year? 

• Are there any materials you used that didn't work well and should be retired?

• What materials didn't get used this year, and why not? Maybe you just didn't have any advanced students this year, maybe the pieces never really work for students or seem to feel awkward. 

• What materials do you need for the next year? What do you have that you can adapt for your growing musicians?

--> Tip: I keep a file folder/basket of music I've recently purchased and another basket of music I haven't used recently. I make an effort to choose things from those baskets so I can evaluate both the new and the overlooked to see how they work. It's so much fun to buy and use a variety of music, but this helps us only keep things that truly work for our students rather than holding onto things that don't work.

If any of this resonates with you, please know that you are not alone in your attempts to communicate with parents, make time for yourself, keep your students motivated, and keep things organized. It's a very delicate balance! This is going to be a huge focus on The Piano Teacher Reset this August as we work to find balance and routines that will help us achieve all of these things while not losing our sanity. 😂 There's a flash-sale of $30 for BOTH days of the virtual retreat, and this is only active until midnight EST on Thursday, June 22- so don't wait!  Do you have any evaluation traditions in your studio, or anything I didn't talk about? Let me know in the comments- I'd love to hear!

Until next time, -Elizabeth

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