6 Questions to Ask if Students are Leaving Your Piano Studio (#1)

A new piano teacher recently contacted me because she’s losing students and she’s not sure why. I suggested that she ask herself several questions over the Christmas break. 

​My plan was to put these in one post, but it got so long that I decided to divide it into a series. It’ll be much easier to read if I focus on one question at a time!
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​#1 - Do your students FEEL successful?

A couple years ago my son was in a speech club, which he was NOT happy about. And who can blame him, right?  Most people hate speaking in public!

One night we listened to a speaker share tips on how to give our children more confidence. My biggest takeaway was when she said that “we all need a little victory. No one wants to do something they think they’re not good at.”

That was a huge lightbulb moment for me. It applies to everything! Speaking in public, playing on sports teams - and yes, even piano lessons.

We ALL want to feel successful and if your students don’t, it could be the very reason they leave your studio.

Ask the Right Question

We’ve all had students who are “stalled” in our eyes and yet they’re thrilled to come to lessons every single week. We don’t need to worry about those students!

It’s the other students we need to be concerned about - the ones who feel like they’re doing a bad job. Those are the students who quit taking lessons. And if a lot of your students who fall into that category, you studio could definitely suffer. 

In fact, Philip Johnston devotes an entire chapter to this in The Dynamic Studio. Instead of asking “Is Julia progressing?” and then doing a quick assessment, Philip suggests that teachers ask an entirely different question: “How can Julia tell she’s progressing?”


​Make Progress VISIBLE

Fortunately, there are lots of ways we can help our students see their progress! Here are a few practical ideas:

• Keep a chart for every song learned. Simple yes, but it doesn't have to be complicated to work. I use this free chart in my studio.
• Create a video. Your student may not have many "performance worthy" songs, but that's okay! Record their best song to show family and friends.
• ​Give your student a lateral move. Playing simpler music might put a smile on their face and give them a little victory!
• ​Keep a record of successes. In The Dynamic Studio, Philip suggests keeping a Record of Achievements and reviewing it - with your student - often!
• ​Find something your student does well and celebrate! You could present fun awards at your recital: Note Reading Ninja or Rhythm Rockstar. Melody Payne has already come up with over 60 creative certificates that you could use. Even these little ribbons would work.
• ​​A few good words can go a long way. Send your parents a note telling them a success story about their child. It might simply be how much you appreciate that they bring their books each week. Or how they use good manners. Just find something nice to say! I use these note cards in my studio.  

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At first, it might seem overwhelming to think about doing this, but I think you’ll find the opposite is true.

With a little focused attention, you can easily help your students see their progress and this could very well stop the revolving door in your studio.

How do you help students celebrate their success? I’d love to hear your ideas!
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