I love the idea of 8:00 AM Saturday make up time. Except that *I* would have to get up too!

I like doing group lessons, but I find that attendance for this is generally quite low. If I made something like this fro make-ups at 8:00 am Saturday, I would usually be wasting my time. I don't know, but it seems to me like it's hardly worth offering a make-up if you know chances are people won't be able to make this.

I have designated make-up days that people can schedule with me on a mutually agreed upon time, once per semester. Any other missed lessons after that they can swap with another student. Of course, they must do this ahead of time. Many students will swap before using their one lesson make-up in case of illness.

The thing I don't like about swap lists is that it's one more thing to have to 'oversee' in my studio. Some people abuse the list by calling the same person to swap with, or one or the other student will forget their swapped lesson time, etc.... so then I have to set up 'rules' (basically a whole paragraph in my policy just define the terms). For me it's not worth it.

I do like the idea of making up lessons at 8:00am, or even 7:00am.

Let's all put a 5:00 a.m. makeup time in our policies and see who shows up
Regarding the swap list: It would make sense in my studio because most of my students' families know each other. BUT...I did try this for a short time and just last week, 2 students showed up for lessons at the same time: the 2 who swapped with each other.

Well,e very studio is different, and you know your students best. I have used the Lesson Swap idea for one year, and it worked out great. Never had a problem with the wrong person showing up, and it wasn't used all that much, either. By not allowing any make-ups except for 1 per semester, my parents finally understand that they'll have to work around lessons, rather than reschedule a lesson at the drop of a hat when there's a supposed conflict.

Barb, M-Th is 8.5 hr, or 34 total; Fri is 6 hr, so my studio is open 40 hrs per week. I am not teaching 40 hrs per week, but available 40 hrs per week.

If you reschedule, you have to use a vacant lesson slot, you cannot preempt another student's time.

Just to clarify, I tell my parents very forthrightly that their student's time is xxx, and it's their responsibility, not mine, to clear the student's schedule so they can be here for their lesson each week. It is their responsibility to reschedule at least 48 hrs in advance. It is also their responsibility to help their student plan a daily practice routine, and to monitor the situation periodically (depending upon student age).

I want this to be as clear as I can make it: students are purchasing my time, and what ever time they select, if they fail to show, they still owe me for my time.

Does this clarify? Is it helpful?

Yes, John! I wanna be a teacher like you! Seriously!
I just "advised" 2 parents about all of the above issues you mention. I'm a good teacher. My time is valuable. I need to act like it.