We all want paid time off, right? But how do you manage that as an independent piano teacher? Let me share a few ideas with you!
- Schedule it into your existing studio calendar. (Hopefully you are currently implementing a Tuition-based model. If you aren’t, check out this article on why you should!) Depending on how you run your studio, you may choose to charge tuition for a 9-, 10-, 11-, or 12-month calendar year. Your tuition can include monthly private lessons for a certain number of months along with a required summer component (either a set number of private lessons, a camp or two, workshops, or some combination). You can then schedule your PTO into your studio calendar. Present this to parents in your studio policy at the beginning of your studio calendar “year” and make your expectations for payments and lesson attendance clear.
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Offer a summer intensive. Offer longer-length lessons or more frequent lessons during the summer for your existing students (a summer “intensive”). Use the time to focus on a particular skill or music genre. You can also offer a month of “trial” lessons (paid) for prospective students who want to “try out” your studio.
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Save up! Maybe you want to take 2 or 3 months off for the summer without offering anything extra. Run your studio calendar of private lessons for 9 or 10 months, and for each month you teach set aside a little money for your “Summer PTO.”
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Find accompanying gigs. If you love to perform, seek out gigs in the form of weddings, church positions (sometimes music directors/pianists want a sub for a substantial part of the summer), or musical theater summer camps or shows. If you start looking earlier in the spring, contract with an instrumental or voice studio to rehearse students and play for their spring recital.
- Run your own Piano Camp. If you love to teach groups of kids, have the space to host 4-10 kids, and want to either recruit new students or offer a fun alternative to lessons for current students, this could be a great option for you! Check out my two camps for beginners in my shop.
I'd love to hear what other ideas you have on how you boost your summer income! Comment below!
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Picture Credit: Image by Diego Ortiz from Pixabay