Educating our staff at Lessons In Your Home is a big part of what I do. While every music teacher can tell you how to play a song better, fix a phrase, or learn a new piece, not every teacher knows when to address a topic or how to say it. As Email slowly replaces verbal language, we private music lesson teachers need to know when NOT to Email About Music Lessons.
Don’t Email About The Recital
When announcing your student recital, don’t send an email first. You can’t hear excitement in an email and it won’t paint a joyful picture about what it will be like either.
Since a lot of our staff are younger music teachers, I have to explain the first common thoughts of parents when hearing about a recital.
Dad’s thoughts: there goes 3 hours of my weekend. Mom’s thoughts: how am I going to get to a recital, get to the soccer game, and a birthday party in one afternoon.
All this equals a probability that you’ll be told the dreaded words, “we can’t make this years recital”. After all, they don’t even have to tell you in person, they can just email you back. Don’t let that be an option.
A Better Approach To Announcing The Recital
Walk into the house (we teach in-home lessons), recital info printed out and in hand, and with a big smile say “Hi Mrs. Smith, here is the information about this years recital. Sarah (the imaginary student of this story) and I are going to pick out recital music today.” And that’s that, you have a student coming to the recital, guaranteed.
Don’t Email About An Issue In The Lessons
Yea, I know, you don’t want to pull the mom aside after you lesson and let her know you’re having an issue. As much as you don’t want to, you have to. An email won’t tell mom how much you care and value the lesson. That you really love working with Sarah but she just needs to focus a little more for you in the lesson. Or, that she can’t ignore a piece of sheet music she doesn’t like. Sending an email sends the message that you’re scared and not in control.
A Better Way To Approach An Issue About Music Lessons
“Hi Mrs. Smith, Sarah is an amazing student that I really love working with. Lately though, she seams a bit out of focus. Have you noticed that? Anyway, here is my plan and I can fix this, I just wanted to let you know that I know, so we can work together to keep her on track.”
Believe me, if you go into a private music lesson saying those words, you’re going to gain a lot of respect from mom, and what she thinks counts!
Thanks for reading, it’s time for me to get back to teaching and you should too. If you read this article and have some questions or comments, please feel free to read them. Or you can contact us through our web site because we love talking to teachers.
