Clinton pratt ohio mta lightning round 2016

1. Migraine-free Management
Clinton Pratt, NCTM
Operating an Independent Music Studio with LESS STRESS!
The topics I usually present deal with improvisation, multimedia, Dalcroze Eurhythmics . . . so this is the more “left-brained” organizational side of things, and we have to
do THIS so that we can do all of THAT!

2. Headache, anyone?
Soccer
24-hour
notice?
“We missed last week
so I subtracted the
lesson from the tuition”
“Emergency”
“Can I pay you
next week?”
Illness Vacation
“I forgot my
checkbook”
I have the solution!

3. Attendance
Come when you can
If you cancel, you cancel
It doesn’t matter if you’re sick, you’re out of town, you
have a football game, or you just forgot!
No make-up days, no reschedule days,
no refunds, no credits
Not the ACTUAL policy, the more diplomatic version that I publish for clients is . . .

4. Attendance
“Regular attendance is expected and
encouraged in order to gain maximum benefit
from music instruction. Missed lessons are
inevitable and, therefore, have been taken into
account in the overall cost of tuition.
No credits or refunds are given for missed
lessons. Tuition is due regardless of the number
of lessons attended.”
Actually written policy

5. Calendar
• Holidays/vacation/etc.
• Same # of Mondays/Tuesdays/etc. 37
• Summer - set # of lessons 6
total 43
inevitable missed lessons -3
actual # of lessons 40
40 x $25 = $1,000 annual tuition
+ $20 materials = $1,020
divide by 12 months = $85/month
* Lesson rates are examples only
I don’t publish all the details, just the annual tuition of $1,020 and the calendar, not all the math. I don’t say you get 3 cancellations. I don’t keep track. The key is the wording of the policy that it’s already been figured into the tuition. Some teachers
have asked me what if students don’t miss any? Aren’t you teaching them for free for those lessons? First of all, it’s extremely rare that they would never miss. Second, even if they did, I don’t see it as a loss because I’m actually charging the tuition
that I want to receive. In other words, you can figure out how much you want per month per student, multiply it by 12 and that’s your annual tuition. You don’t even have to figure out how much each lesson works out to. Tuition can include other
things besides the amount of time spend in lessons, it can include materials, recital fees, etc.

6. Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
AUGUST/SEPT 29 30 31 1 2 MARCH 1 2 3
5 6 7 8 9 Auditions Festival
Univ of Cinci- CCM
6 7 8 9 10
Music Alive! 3pm
Parkside Church
12 13 14 15 16 12 13 14 15 16 17
19 20 21 22 23 24 20 21 22 23 24
26 27 28 29 30 26 27 29 30 31
OCTOBER 3 4 5 6 7 APRIL 3 4 5 6 7
10 11 12 13 14 10 11 12 13 14
Masquerade Musicale
Barnes & Noble Newport
17 18 19 20 21 17 18 19 20 21
24 25 26 27 28 29 Queen City Music Fest 24 25 26 27 28 29
31
NOVEMBER 1 2 3 4 MAY 1 2 3 4 5
7 8 9 10 11 Music Development 8 9 10 11 12
Queen City Music Fest 14 15 16 17 18 19 Program May 23-30
15 16 17 18 19
21 22 23 24 25 Spring Musicale 2pm
Willis Music, Kenwood
21 22 23 24 25 26
28 29 30
DECEMBER 1 2
Summer scheduling is flexible, but students are
guaranteed 4 private lessons and 2 group
classes, or 6 private lessons. Additional lessons
can be scheduled at $56/hr.
Students who wish to take a leave of absence
during the summer or any other time must
notify me at least 30 days before. Students will
forfeit their spot in my schedule unless they pay
a retainer fee equal to 50% of the monthly
tuition rate listed below for each month of
absence, due by the 8th of each month. The
maximum allowable length for a leave of
absence is 2 months.
Music Development
Program Nov 28-Dec 2
5 6 7 8 9 JUNE
12 13 14 15 16 JULY
19 20 21 22 23 AUGUST
26 27 28 29 30
2017-2018 term
JANUARY 2 3 4 5 6 begins Aug 28
9 10 11 12 13
Winter Musicale 2pm
Willis Music, Kenwood
15 16 17 18 19 20
23 24 25 26 27
30 31
1 2 3
FEBRUARY 6 7 8 9 10
13 14 15 16 17
20 21 22 23 24 no lessons recital or event
27 28
Attendance
Regular attendance is expected and encouraged in order to gain
maximum benefit from music instruction. If you have a conflict and
give advanced notice, I may be able to reschedule the lesson.
However, no credits or refunds are given for missed lessons.
Tuition is due even if lessons are missed. Missed lessons are
inevitable and, therefore, have been taken into account in the
overall cost of tuition.
Students who are late for their lesson will only be given the
remainder of their time. Please be on time for your own benefit.
Withdrawal
Please give at least 30 days notice if you wish to withdraw from
lessons. No refunds will be given.
Dismissal
A student may be dismissed at any time for reasons including
(but not limited to) those listed below. No refunds will be given.
• excessive absence or tardiness
• habitually late/nonpayment of tuition
• lack of lesson preparation
• behavior or attitude problems
Tuition & Fees
Lesson Length In Full 4 payments Monthly
30 min $1032 $258 $86
45 min $1548 $387 $129
60 min $2064 $516 $172
Forms of Payment:
Cash or Check (payable to Clinton Pratt)
4 payments are due by: Sept 8, Dec 8, March 8, and June 8
Monthly payments due by the 8th
($20 late fee if payment is not received by the 8th)
Tuition reserves your exclusive time slot in my schedule. It also
includes MOST books, music, and other materials needed
(students participating in the Music Development Program may need to
purchase supplemental materials).
Additional Fees
• $25 Annual Registration per family ($12 when you preregister in June)
• Various event fees for festivals, exams, etc.
(use cashtag $PianoSensei)
(must initiate payment by the 1st)
Here is my actual calendar
Tuition and policies are below this
All on 1 page
red days - no lessons (like today!)
summer - flexible

7. Parent 1: "We are going to be out town next Monday, we will see you the
following week!"
Me: "Thanks for letting me know, have a great time!"
Parent 2: "Sorry we missed today's lesson, (excuse, excuse, excuse). . . "
Me: "That's okay, it happens. See you next week!"
Parent 3: "Something came up and Philip has to miss his lesson."
Me: "I actually have an opening at 2:30 on Friday if you want to take that."
Parent: "Great, we’ll see you then, thanks!”
No one ever brings up the fact that they need a refund or a credit, or that
they deserve a rescheduled lesson. Sometimes they ask and sometimes I
can, but it’s not expected and I’m not obligated to do so.
Example (actual) Conversations

8. Late Payments
“Monthly payments are due by the 8th of each
month. There is a $20 late fee if tuition is not
received by the 8th.
If tuition is still not received by the 15th, lessons
are suspended until the account is settled.”
I’ve heard other teachers say that they have clients who are 3 months behind on payments. Really?!? I am so strict with this that I RARELY have anyone pay late, ever!
I’ve only had one person be late one time in the past 2 years. They were only a day late, added the late fee, and apologized profusely.

9. It’s so much easier!
- easier for you
- easier for parents
- easier for students
Migraine-free!
Clinton Pratt, NCTM
cjp_piano@yahoo.com
don’t have to keep track of attendance
don’t have to try to reschedule
don’t have to figure out if an absence is excused or not