Student Cancellations Advice

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Music Teachers Chatboard

Student Cancellations Advice

by Francesca Murray

Oct 9, 2014

Three (ex) students of mine that I travel to teach who are related, continuously mess me around by either not being home, changing the lesson times or cancelling last minute WHILST I'm at their location. I've reluctantly been putting up with this for the past 2 months. They cancel all three of their lessons a few hours before they're due for no good reason, to which I inform them I'll still have to charge due to short notice of me not being able to fit in other students requesting those times (in the most polite way possible!). They kick off saying that I'M the one being 'tedious' and having the 'cheek' to charge them for a lesson they've not had, completely ignoring how much they've actually messed ME around.

Charging for lessons cancelled on the day has always been my policy, as it is with many other music teachers I''m familiar with, as it was my Piano teachers when I was having lessons!

I'd just like some advice on this, as to whether I'm actually being unreasonab...See More

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Kate To be blunt: Stop giving them lessons. You're wasting your time and sounds like enough is enough.

On 10/09/14, Francesca Murray wrote: > Three (ex) students of mine that I travel to teach who are > related, continuously mess me around by either not being > home, changing the lesson times or cancelling last minute > WHILST I'm ...See More

Oct 9, 2014

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Charlotte I agree with Kate. Sounds like you've been more than accommodating by offering to make up lessons, which is more than many teachers do.Clearly, lessons are not a priority for them. You needn't make it your priority to try to change their habits.

On 10/09/14, Kate wrote: > To be blunt: Stop giving them lessons. You're wasting your > t...See More

Oct 9, 2014

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of course you are reasonable Especially if you've already traveled there.

Set up a monthly tuition plan. My daughter's teacher did it as follows:

A year of lessons includes 32 lessons. This is school year, September through May. Families pay a monthly fee each month, regardless of how many lessons they actually have in the month. This way, the teacher can rel...See MoreEspecially if you've already traveled there.

Set up a monthly tuition plan. My daughter's teacher did it as follows:

A year of lessons includes 32 lessons. This is school year, September through May. Families pay a monthly fee each month, regardless of how many lessons they actually have in the month. This way, the teacher can rely on a set income. The lessons are tracked through the school year. In May, if you have not yet had your 32 lessons - you can sign up in a notebook of available lesson slots over the summer to make them up. If you want more summer lessons, or you are not owed any, you can pay for the lessons as you schedule them.

She sometimes did rearrange schedules to make up during the school year as well, if possible.

This way - there is far less quibbling. You are paying a monthly fee to have that lesson slot available to you. If you choose not to show up - the teacher should not be the one to lose out.

On 10/09/14, Francesca Murray wrote: > Three (ex) students of mine that I travel to teach who are > related, continuously mess me around by either not being > home, changing the lesson times or cancelling last minute > WHILST I'm at their location. I've reluctantly been putting up > with this for the past 2 months. > They cancel all three of their lessons a few hours before > they're due for no good reason, to which I inform them I'll still > have to charge due to short notice of me not being able to fit > in other students requesting those times (in the most polite > way possible!). > They kick off saying that I'M the one being 'tedious' and having > the 'cheek' to charge them for a lesson they've not had, > completely ignoring how much they've actually messed ME > around. > > Charging for lessons cancelled on the day has always been my > policy, as it is with many other music teachers I''m familiar > with, as it was my Piano teachers when I was having lessons! > > I'd just like some advice on this, as to whether I'm actually > being unreasonable or not. Of course I always offer to > rearrange the missed lesson. > > Thank you in advance.

Oct 9, 2014

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more from "of course" The monthly payment plan was really a suggestion to use going forward - to avoid this kind of thing in the first place.

I agree with the others, that if they aren't willing to agree to your terms - you aren't required to keep them on as students.

On 10/09/14, of course you are reasonable wrote: > Especially if you've already tr...See MoreThe monthly payment plan was really a suggestion to use going forward - to avoid this kind of thing in the first place.

I agree with the others, that if they aren't willing to agree to your terms - you aren't required to keep them on as students.

On 10/09/14, of course you are reasonable wrote: > Especially if you've already traveled there. > > Set up a monthly tuition plan. > My daughter's teacher did it as follows: > > A year of lessons includes 32 lessons. > This is school year, September through May. > Families pay a monthly fee each month, regardless of how many > lessons they actually have in the month. > This way, the teacher can rely on a set income. > The lessons are tracked through the school year. > In May, if you have not yet had your 32 lessons - you can > sign up in a notebook of available lesson slots over the > summer to make them up. > If you want more summer lessons, or you are not owed any, you > can pay for the lessons as you schedule them. > > She sometimes did rearrange schedules to make up during the > school year as well, if possible. > > This way - there is far less quibbling. You are paying a > monthly fee to have that lesson slot available to you. If > you choose not to show up - the teacher should not be the one > to lose out. > > > On 10/09/14, Francesca Murray wrote: >> Three (ex) students of mine that I travel to teach who are >> related, continuously mess me around by either not being >> home, changing the lesson times or cancelling last minute >> WHILST I'm at their location. I've reluctantly been putting > up >> with this for the past 2 months. >> They cancel all three of their lessons a few hours before >> they're due for no good reason, to which I inform them I'll > still >> have to charge due to short notice of me not being able to > fit >> in other students requesting those times (in the most > polite >> way possible!). >> They kick off saying that I'M the one being 'tedious' and > having >> the 'cheek' to charge them for a lesson they've not had, >> completely ignoring how much they've actually messed ME >> around. >> >> Charging for lessons cancelled on the day has always been > my >> policy, as it is with many other music teachers I''m > familiar >> with, as it was my Piano teachers when I was having lessons! >> >> I'd just like some advice on this, as to whether I'm > actually >> being unreasonable or not. Of course I always offer to >> rearrange the missed lesson. >> >> Thank you in advance.

Oct 9, 2014

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