Developing the independent music studio - Independent Music Teachers Forum - Calendar

American Music Teacher, Feb-March, 2003 by Kenneth Lee

Jump-start your attendance at the National Conference in Salt Lake City with Professional Studio Saturday, March 15, 2003. The focus of our sessions this year is how to raise the overall level of our studios. So much of our attention is directed to teaching the individual student--to differences in learning styles and aptitudes--that we occasionally need to focus our attention on things we can and should do to motivate and inspire our studios as a whole.

The morning sessions will be devoted to two different perspectives on achieving growth and development of the independent studio. Both sessions feature panel presentations by nationally known teachers. The first session, "Strategies for Growth and Inspiration," from 9:00 to 10:30 A.M., will focus on the panelists' three different perspectives.

Rosita Kerr Mang will encourage us to reach each student, to motivate, cajole or inspire the commitment and practice needed to really make a difference in each student's musical development. It is Rosita's passionate belief (All Rosita's beliefs are passionate.) that one of the more important factors in developing a fine independent studio is the teacher's ability to connect with each student's motivation on a personal level. She will share with us her thoughts on how we can develop our skills in this area.

Joan M. Reist, NCTM, will focus on ways to organize and promote the group aspect of the studio. We all are becoming increasingly aware of the motivational and inspirational powers of peer interaction in our studios. Joan will bring us her ideas about how to harness more of this potential energy.

As the third panelist, I will approach the question from a structural point of view. I will outline plans of action and organization to put the individual and group motivations in a context where students' achievements over time contribute to the studio's development as an organic, growing whole. There will be time for audience questions and reactions following the panel discussion.

The second morning session, from 10:45 A.M. to 12:00 NOON, "Practice Techniques to Inspire Development of Your Independent Studio," is a presentation by Irene Peery Fox, NCTM, and Scott McBride Smith, NCTM, about studio practice techniques. We have asked and heard the question, "How did you practice that?" How often is the answer a thing of truth, intelligence and beauty? I, for one, am looking forward to what Irene and Scott, who have both achieved outstanding results in their independent studios, will share with us.

After a lunch break, Professional Studio Saturday will reconvene from 1:00 to 2:30 P.M. for "Issues Facing the Professional Independent Studio: Tuition, Studio Policies, Zoning, Legal and Accounting Issues." For anyone who was unable to attend last year's sessions in Cincinnati, this updated session is designed to distill these vital areas of our professional lives. The ability to earn a professional income and have a studio structure compatible with our lives are subjects near and dear to our hearts. We have much to be proud of as a profession, yet a way to go to make our chosen career a truly viable option for the talented teachers we must train and inspire to take our place when (or if) we retire.

IMTF Open Sessions are on Sunday, March 16, at 1 P.M. and Tuesday, March 18, at 10:30 A.M. In these sessions, we will follow up on any areas of interest or concern from Saturday and discuss new topics. Please join us in March. I personally promise a Saturday that will provide new ideas for the growth and development of your independent studio.

PIANO TEACHER
SURVEY

Co-sponsored by the
National Piano Foundation and the Retail Print Music Dealers
Association

Attention Piano Teachers!

The purpose of this confidential survey is to learn more about your
buying habits when it comes to purchasing print music, instruments
and accessories. WE VALUE YOUR OPINION and would like to hear from
you BY MARCH 1, 2003. Mail or fax your response to NPF/RPMDA Survey,
13140 Coit Road, Suite 320, LB 120, Dallas, TX 75240, fax (972)
490-4219.

1. Where do you buy sheet music?
(Write estimated percentages for each choice.)

--My local music store

--On-line

--At conventions

--Through mail order catalogs

2. If you receive a discount when you purchase print music, do you
pass the discount on to your students?

--Yes--No

3. What influences your sheet music purchases? (Rate each choice
from 1 to 5, with 1 as most important.)

--Knowledgeable store staff

--Mailers from publishers

--Convention sessions

--Publisher workshops

--Colleagues' recommendations

4. Are you interested in receiving e-mail marketing messages about
music products?

--Yes--No

5. To what do you attribute the declining, trend in workshop attendance?
(Rate each choice from 1 to 4, with 1 as the top reason.)

--Apathy

--Too busy to attend

--Session topic/clinician not appealing

--Other (please describe)

6. What percentage of your students practice on these instruments?
(Write estimated percentages for each choice.)

--Portable keyboards

--Digital pianos

--Vertical piano older than 25 years

--Vertical piano less than 25 years

--Grand piano older than 25 years

--Grand piano less than 25 years

7. Where do you refer your students/parents to purchase a new or
used piano? (Rate each choice from 1 to 3, with l as the top choice.)

--Local retailer

--Newspaper want ads

--Other (please describe)

8. When you refer students/parents to a local piano retailer, rate these
criteria in order of importance from 1 to 5, with 1 being most
important.

--Brands carried by retailer

--Pricing

--Referral fee from retailer

--The retailer and/or salesperson has earned your trust

--Services (workshops, recital space, etc.)

--Other (please describe)

9. Are you comfortable accepting a referral fee from a retailer?

--Yes--No

10. Is the advent of electronic music making (keyboards, digital
pianos, synthesizers, computers) impacting the way you teach?

--Yes--No

11. Rate the criteria that earn your loyalty to a local retailer from 1
to 4, with 1 as most important.

--Location

--Service

--Selection

--Discounts or referral fee

12. OPTIONAL: If you are willing to answer some follow-up
questions, please include your name and telephone number.

Name:--
Phone:( )