What do you teachers do about this:

Student does not come to a lesson with no notice ahead of time. It's just a no-show. Do you call the parents?
I find that when I choose to phone them, I end up listening to their laundry list of excuses as to why they didn't bother to show up. It happens, I understand we all get busy, etc. But should I as the teacher have to listen to a bunch of excuses after the fact?

Hi Barb,

I don't teach children but unless there was a very good excuse, I'd just collect payment for a missed lesson and reschedule. If it happens again ...



give em the boot!

Barb, do you charge them for these missed lessons?

I would give them a call to check that they are okay. If they just forgot to come or were too busy then just tell them you will see them next week. And do make sure they pay for the missed lesson.

I used to, but found it made no difference either way. I stopped calling students unless there was something pressing that needed to be discussed or if it was very unusual that they didn't show. Otherwise, I wait until they realize they missed the lesson. Usually I hear from them within a day or so. If not, then I'll call to check up on them.

Of course, there are those students who you always wonder if they'll be coming this week or not. If it becomes too often, then I'll definitely call and try to give them a different lesson time - one at the end of the day so that I can leave early should they decide not to come. Since they pay the same whether they show or not, it's not as big a deal for me, but I'm in this business to teach, and so that is what I prefer to do. Too many no-shows usually means the student will be dropping soon.

Like Morodiene said, I used to. Sometimes it was a "oh! we totally forgot, can we come tomorrow instead?" That would put me on the spot as to whether to let them make it up or not.

At any rate, it didn't matter because by the time I called (15 minutes into the lesson) it was too late for them to get here anyway.

Now I just make a note of it in my book, ask them at the next lesson what happened, and tell the student that I would like a call if that happens again "because I was worried about you".

Too many notes in my book and then I call the family and ask if they need a different time.

Oh yeah, and I know I'm risking a bashing here, but an outright no-show is NEVER credited. There is such thing as a phone!

I guess I shouldn't say NEVER, if there were a serious incident I would probably reschedule.

Same here. If there were extenuating circumstances then I'd reschedule.

Do people actually forget to go to lessons?
And they don't even call afterwards?

Excuse me but this is just bad manners and a total lack of respect.

YES!!! and THAT my dear is what we have been saying!!!!

Thanks for that

I know, Huh!?

My whole life seems to revolve around where in the week I am with relation to my lesson. It did when I was a kid, too, but that was because I was dreading it, tracking how many days I had to catch up missed practice

I know for lots of people (perhaps the bulk of those students that teachers depend on for their income) piano is just a thing among many things they do...but if it wasn't a very big deal in my life I wouldn't bother to do it at all.

yes, I charge for the no-showed lessons. I like your response of "see you next week" and that should do it, rather than letting them vent on and on about how the dog got out and ran down the street and chewed up the neighbor's leg and they had to call 911 and follow the ambulance to the ER and wait with the wounded and arrive home late for dinner so they had to go out and then there was no gas in the car....

Hahahahaha!

Sounds like the kind of messages I get left on my answerphone. Until eventually it cuts them off!

I got one yesterday informing me that they would not be coming because the dog out......etc. The best bit was when they said they will come for an extra lesson during the Summer holidays (when I am not teaching). Good luck with that, I thought.

There you guys go again, being all negative and unfair.

I can't understand how people can just not show up either.

I mean - I can imagine a situation... if your piano lesson day has just changed, and your pet needed emergency surgery that morning, and your boss yelled at you and made you work late in the evening to finish what should have been done while you were at the vet, and you maybe got subpoened for a trial or in a car accident, and were just so incredibly turned around that you lost track of what day of the week it was -

But, that should be really really rare. And, if it happened, even given all that, I (as the student) would STILL be incredibly *embarrassed* and *apologetic*.

I can't understand how these people don't even grasp that it's rude, or seem embarrassed by their behavior. It just seems so bizarre to me...

It's a good thing I'm not a teacher. I think I'd be tempted to set up a "make-up lesson", and then conveniently "forget" to show up!

Since I charge by the semester, I don't refund any money for a no-show. I also don't schedule a makeup unless it's a VERY good reason (like a car accident, or someone going to the hospital).

Yeah, that's us!

The best thing about no-shows is that we can kick back and relax and think of all that lovely money we are getting for nothing.

If there are any lurkers planning to sign up in the future please remember to pay your fees up front and then take as much time off as you like!



Oh, and in case anyone doesn't realise, I am joking.

I have a good relationship with the family who called and cancelled. I don't much like being informed that I will be making up their lesson in my holiday but I know they didn't mean it to sound rude. They know that I would not want the kids to miss. Most likely I will end up teaching them in the holiday at no extra cost.

You have to judge every situation individually. My policy states that make-ups are at my discretion which allows me to be flexible when necessary.

Love it!

I got an email on Thursday morning from a student who was not taking summer lessons, but I had owed her 2 make-ups from the spring semester (one from when I was sick, another when she canceled due to a conflict). Her email said, "We will be making it to our lesson today. Can you please send me info about registering for the Fall sometime in August?" Since I don't always see her at the lessons, I thought, OK, she was confirming this and wanted to be sure I'd contact her to remind her to sign up. I responded, "Yes, I'll send that out the week of Aug. 17th. See you tonight!" And lo and behold, I *didn't* see her or her daughter that night. I called and left a message after 10 minutes into the lesson time wondering if she meant to type "We will NOT be making it to our lesson tonight..." That one little word makes a lot of difference, doesn't it? She sent me en email the next morning apologizing for the mistake. I thought it was kind of funny. Of course, canceling a make-up lesson the day of means she forfeits that lesson, and she did not expect to get a make-up for the make-up.