Rest Notes and Refresh: Why Summer Breaks Can Be Helpful for Private Music Teachers

In the world of private music teaching, it’s easy to feel like you’re always "on stage." Each lesson demands focus, warmth, and high-level guidance—and over time, that can wear even the most passionate instructor down. That’s why building a purposeful summer break into your studio calendar isn’t indulgent—it’s essential. I personally take 10 weeks off, but that is because I have my 3 kids home with me all day, every day. And balancing that family life, keeping my own kids entertained and a regular teaching schedule and balancing summer vacations just doesn’t work for our family right now.

🎼 The Harmony of Taking a Break

A summer slowdown is about more than just catching your breath:

Preventing Burnout: Teaching music is deeply rewarding, but it’s also emotionally and mentally intensive. A seasonal pause helps you refuel, both personally and creatively.

Reorganizing Systems: Summer is a prime time to refine scheduling practices, revamp policies, declutter studio materials, or upgrade technology.

Researching & Reinvigorating: With fewer lesson hours, you can experiment with new repertoire, explore fresh teaching methods, or deep-dive into pedagogy books that spark new ideas for fall.

📯 The Trade-Offs to Consider

Taking time off also requires strategy, especially when your studio is your livelihood:

Income Gaps: A full summer break can interrupt your cash flow. To prepare, consider:

• Spreading tuition over 12 months.

• Establishing a summer-specific savings cushion.

• Offering prepaid summer lesson packages or digital resources.

Retention Risk: If you pause completely, some students may drift away or seek other options. Clear communication, early scheduling, or offering a light-touch summer program can help maintain continuity or even a midsummer break get-together. Ice cream social with a mini group lesson attached to it.

🎶 Flexible Summer Rhythms That Work

You don’t have to choose between full throttle and complete silence. Try one of these tuned-down alternatives:

Teach every other week: Offers Balance - Students stay engaged and you still get rest and time to recharge

Teach 1 month in the summer like July while taking June and August Off: A clean end, start, reset rhythm that honors both momentum and downtime

Offer Camp Style Intensives: One or two theme weeks with group or private sessions- great for scheduling and income

Go Lighter, not silent: Offer fewer lesson slots or switch to virtual check-ins to check on their progress. Aim to send an email at least 3 weeks BEFORE you start teaching to confirm lesson times with your students and to see how many, if any, openings you have for the next school year.

🎹 No Break? No Problem—Teaching Through the Summer

For some studio owners, pausing during the summer simply isn’t practical—or even desirable. Maybe you love the consistency, rely on the income, or find joy in helping students make progress year-round. Teaching through the summer can absolutely work, especially with a few thoughtful adjustments:

Shift the Focus: Consider relaxing your regular curriculum to allow for creative detours—like student-led projects, fun repertoire, or theory games.

Adjust Expectations: Lighter attendance and vacation schedules can make summers feel more flexible. Use this time to encourage casual learning and exploration.

Capitalize on Availability: Students often have more free time in summer, which can lead to more focused practice, lesson intensives, or scheduling flexibility.

Build Momentum: For newer students or beginners, continuing lessons keeps their progress steady and helps build strong foundational habits.

The key is to communicate clearly with families about your summer policies in your studio policy and remind them early in the spring, so they know what to expect and can plan accordingly.

At its best, summer becomes a beautiful fermata—a pause, yes, but full of intention and grace if you choose to take a summer brek. Whether you fully rest or shift into a lighter tempo or keep going, planning your summer can protect your artistry and your business in the long run. Plus it’s your studio, you get to make the rules.

So take a breath. Reset your rhythm. Your studio (and your sanity) will thank you.

Happy Teaching!

Becky

Free Guide: Build a Stronger Music Studio Policy in Just 5 Steps!

Crafting the perfect studio policy can be overwhelming, but having a rock-solid foundation makes all the difference! If you're building—or refining—your Private Music Studio Policy, make sure you're covering the essential elements that protect both you and your students.

But here's the catch—rather than giving everything away here, I’ve created a FREE download that lays out the 5 essential elements you absolutely need to include in your policy. If you want a truly structured and effective agreement, this ebook will guide you through the process step-by-step.

Why is a Studio Policy So Important?

Your studio policy isn’t just a formality—it’s the agreement that ensures clarity and professionalism in your teaching business. Without a strong policy, you may run into:

✅ Unclear lesson commitments

✅ Payment confusion

✅ No-shows or last-minute cancellations

✅ Unexpected student withdrawals

✅ Lack of accountability

Get Your Free Guide!

Rather than guessing what should go into your policy, I’ve already done the work for you. My FREE ebook—5 Essential Elements for a Rock-Solid Private Music Studio Policy—covers the key details you need to make sure your policy supports your business and keeps things running smoothly.

Grab your copy today! Don't leave your studio policy up to chance—set yourself up for success from the start. Download it now and take control of your studio! 🎵

Happy Teaching,

Becky

Free Spring Recital Templates to Make Your Music Event Shine

Need help with a quick and easy recital program? I made 6 different Spring Themed Recital Program Templates you can use, using Canva.com.

You can access them here using this LINK. You must create an account to access, and be sure to save the templates to your account before you make changes so everyone can access them as they are now.

Successful Music Studio Strategies Online Course

🎉 Exciting News: The Successful Music Studios Online Course Is Now Live! 🎵

Calling all music teachers, musicians, and aspiring studio owners—your journey to creating a thriving music studio begins today! After months of careful planning, refining, and pouring passion into this project, I’m thrilled to announce that my Successful Music Studios Online Course is officially live and ready to help you unlock your studio's full potential.

Why This Course Was Created

When I first started my own music studio, I faced countless challenges—figuring out pricing, advertising, bookkeeping, and even choosing a studio name. It wasn’t easy finding resources tailored to my needs as a music teacher. Through trial, error, and determination, I built not one but TWO thriving studios within just three months each, and now I want to share the strategies that worked for me with YOU.

This course is designed to empower music teachers, whether you’re starting fresh or looking to grow and streamline your business. You’ll gain actionable tools, proven strategies, and customizable resources that help you take your studio to the next level.

What You’ll Learn

The Successful Music Studios Online Course is broken into three transformative parts:

Part 1: Getting Your Studio Started Build a strong foundation with lessons on pricing, branding, advertising, and creating studio policies that work.

Part 2: Keeping Your Studio Running Streamline your business operations with bookkeeping systems, student engagement tips, and strategies for simplifying your workload.

Part 3: Making Your Studio Thrive Discover how to host unforgettable recitals, grow your studio’s reputation online, and explore exciting new income streams to expand your business.

Exclusive First Look

Here’s just a taste of what the course covers:

• Develop your business model and teaching schedule.

• Set strategic pricing and create your studio’s brand.

• Build your website and social media presence.

• Master studio bookkeeping and student retention strategies.

• Monetize your teaching expertise online with memberships, ebooks, and courses.

• Expand your studio through new offerings and opportunities.

Whether you’re just starting out or ready to scale your business, this course has something for everyone.

How to Get Started

To celebrate the launch, I’m offering an exclusive 20% off discount for my subscribers. Subscribe here and I’ll send you an email with your Discount code available between April 17 and April 30 to save on the Signature Course payment option.

👉 Visit the Course Sales Page Now and start transforming your studio today!

Thank you for your support, and here’s to building music studios that inspire students, create lasting success, and empower passionate teachers like you!

Happy Teaching!

Becky

Launch Your Dream Music Studio: Introducing Successful Music Studio Strategies

Are you ready to turn your passion for music into a thriving, rewarding business? I’m thrilled to announce the launch of my brand-new online course, Successful Music Studio Strategies—a comprehensive online program designed to give you all the tools you need to build, run, and grow your own private music studio!

LAUNCHING APRIL 17!

When I first started my studio journey, I had no idea where to begin. Like many teachers, I felt overwhelmed by all the moving parts—business licenses, studio policies, and even figuring out how much to charge! I pieced things together through trial and error, learning what worked and refining my process over the years. Now, my studio is thriving, and I’m sharing everything I’ve learned to help you skip the guesswork and hit the ground running.

This course is unlike anything out there, and it’s packed with all the resources and strategies I wish I’d had when I was just starting out. Here’s how we’ll make it happen:

What’s Inside the Course

The course is divided into three parts to guide you every step of the way, whether you’re opening your studio doors for the first time or looking to expand an established business:

• Part 1: Getting Your Music Studio Started Learn how to develop a strong business foundation with lessons on creating your business model, setting strategic tuition, branding, and marketing.

• Part 2: Keeping Your Music Studio Running Streamline your operations with tips on bookkeeping, student retention, and managing the day-to-day challenges of running a studio.

• Part 3: Making Your Music Studio Thrive Take your studio to the next level with creative strategies for hosting recitals, expanding your offerings, and increasing your income streams.

Each part includes 18 video lessons, step-by-step guidance, and customizable templates to help you organize and grow your studio with confidence. Whether you’re just starting out or already have a studio, this course is designed to save you time, increase your efficiency, and elevate your success.

Why This Course is Different

This isn’t just another business course—it’s tailored specifically for music teachers like you. From setting up your first policies to building an online presence and exploring exciting growth opportunities, Successful Music Studio Strategies empowers you to create a studio that inspires students and stands out in your community.

My personal goal when I started was to enroll 10 students within 90 days. Within those first few months, I had 22! Now, I want to help you surpass your own expectations and build a studio that thrives.

Get Started SOON!

I’ve poured years of experience into this course, and I’m so excited to finally share it with you. Whether you’re a new teacher or a seasoned pro, this is your chance to level up your studio and make your dream a reality.

Ready to join the journey? SEND ME AN EMAIL NOW and take the first step toward building a music studio that you and your students will love.

Happy Teaching!