Does anyone have suggestions for marketing to get students for morning lessons? I've thought of offering reduced rates and contacting home school programs. I'm up for any ideas. Thanks!

Hi Keith,

I, myself, wouldn't want to do it - but, are you talking about early bird mornings before the middle school/jr high/hs students go off to school? Or reasonable, mid-morning 9:00 to noon?

Senior Citizens? A music retailer with space for teaching? Group "Music Appreciation", "Master Classes", "Themes such as certain era's, specific composer's might get you a "series" of 1 to 2 hour "events" where you meet many (over time) pianists or music lovers who become "occasional" students to follow up on study of music from topics from your events.

The events could be done publically and the teaching could be private at your studio.

Actually, you could do this idea at any time of day or early evening. Be seen doing it, put invitations in the newspaper "arts events" columns where they have them (email them in advance). (You can't advertise a business venture - but in the interest of getting well known - everyone you meet and greet is important.

Have your photo and bio to distribute - as well as business card. Be your charming self. Develop and sell your services for "music education and performance' events.

Who knows? Oh, maybe create video things in your spare time for long term distribution and marketing.

Become an accompanist for ______ ? Get thee before an audience. I don't know about early though.

As far as early goes, I usually am, but not this morning. Those late nights listening to barbershop chorus rehearsals are wonderful, but sometimes leaves me so elated, that I sacrifice sleep. This morning is one of those! Go "Harmony Kings!"

Betty

Home schoolers by definition are usually individual families who are not involved in programs. However, they form support organizations in order the encourage, advise, and access resources, and as such there are newsletters and meetings. For a homeschooling family, daytime is "school time", and a piano lesson can be part of the "day time curriculum". If you want daytime students that might be a source.

Homeschoolers come in two broad stripes. There are independent minded families who have their own ideas - sometimes a handicap is involved in which a child would have needed a "special program". The other side of the coin are religion-based: churches who don't like evolution taught in school, or other values. In that case your resource may be certain denominations.

Adults who don't have a 9 - 5 job, and senior citizens.

Clearly people who have 9-5 jobs and children still in school are not your target audience for the morning time slots.

So who is left?

- Senior citizens or retired individuals
- People who work a swing or graveyard shift
- College students (who have some flexibility in their classes)

Have you considered contacting senior citizen centers and asking if you can put on a performance (assuming they have a piano)? I think this is a great way to introduce yourself, and give them a taste of what they could be doing. They have lots of free time (probably looking for something interesting for them to do), so that shouldn't be a problem.

You could also go to college campuses and put up fliers (or again, offer to perform at a college sponsored function), offering them student discount rates.

You could also take out an ad if your local newspaper or any other widely circulated local publication, again offering discount rates for mornings.

Tell your current students that you're offering discounted morning rates and for every student they bring in that signs up for a morning slot, you'll give them X lessons for free.

Find as many Internet sites like this as you can and start signing up, again, promoting your discounted morning rates.

I think if it were me, I'd offer the first lesson free of charge, in order to induce them to put their foot in the door. This will allow you the opportunity to further convince them why they should study with you.

A few years ago I had a number of school-age students who came before school, that is, 7.30, 8.00 and 8.30. It worked very well for me (I'm an early bird), but the only reason it worked for them too was that I lived within walking distance of a school. My marketing was purely word of mouth, and the time seemed to suit a lot of families who would drop the child off and then leave him/her to walk the short distance to school after the lesson. If you live anywhere near a school, it's a possibility, and a spot in the school newsletter might help.
I now have mostly adult students, who come during the morning (but later!). I've also taught some home-schoolers in the middle of the day. It really helps with scheduling, as usually everyone seems to want the after-school slots and there are only so many 4pms in the week!

I market to home schoolers but only have one. I think it's because they are doing school work during the day, just like public school kids.

Don't forget mobile home parks. Usually, you can go to the rec room and put up a flyer.

Usually, the seniors have had lessons in the past and want to take it up again, so make sure you put that in your flyer that you cater to that.