MORE INCOME.
MORE STUDENTS.
LESS TIME.
I knew that I needed to start a group program...
Do You Identify with Any of These Goals?
- You want to make more income
-
You want to maximize your after-school hours
-
You have a waiting list for your studio or school
-
You want to see more students
-
You want to promote student interaction and peer learning
-
You want to create a program that is more fun for students
-
You want to boost student motivation
-
You want to solve your students' practice problems
-
You want to improve your current group program
-
You want to begin a new program in your studio, without paying licensing fees month after month
I have been coaching and consulting for music schools for years now... and I consistently hear teachers and school owners say:
"I was thinking of starting a group program but..."
"...Parents don't want group programs"
"...I don't know how to implement a program"
"...I wasn't sure which curriculum to use"
"...I don't want to create an impersonal, boring studio"
"...I don't know how to address student needs in a group"
"...It sounds like a stressful scheduling nightmare!"
These are common concerns... ones that I dealt with early on.
These days, however, I don't much think about those things.
On a work day, I walk into the studio at 3:15p with a drink in my hand. I'll eat a snack... organic imported chocolate or cashews.
I turn on the digital pianos. I look at my texts and emails to see if there any last minute adjustments.
I calmly wait for students to come in... when they do, I joke around with them. They get to work... we do the work for an hour... and they leave.
It's fun, it's peaceful, it's relaxing. I don't carry stress into the studio room. After a few hours of fun with the kids, I don't take any stress with me into the rest of my life.
It's far better than I could have imagined when I had all those questions and fears a decade ago!
What helped me move past these concerns? What helped me make the decision to do group?
Trial and error!
I had no mentor. And so I struggled for years to get my questions answered... while teaching my group lessons!
I made several discoveries during that time:
GROUP LESSON DISCOVERY #1
You don't need a special curriculum.
I worked with what I had.
I had a traditional curriculum that was designed for a one-on-one format.
Since I knew that curriculum, I used it. And, you know what?
The world didn't end.
I had to change some aspects of my teaching (more on that below)... but overall, I found it far more comfortable to use a familiar method.
This had no detrimental impact on student achievement.
In fact - eleven years on - I have students scoring in the highest categories of the Royal Conservatory development program.
GROUP LESSON DISCOVERY #2
You can mix skill levels in a group setting.
GROUP LESSON DISCOVERY #3
Teaching group made me a better teacher and better business owner.
In the beginning, I wondered if I was selling out.
I wondered if I was offering a sub-standard product to my students and their parents.
Now? I can confidently say that teaching group made me a better teacher and business owner.
1. Teaching group helped me see that I was wasting time in lessons. I was "flabby" in my teaching.
I knew that if the student didn't "get it"...
"Well, I have 4 other ways to teach dotted quarter notes, so one of these will work... I'm sure of it!"
In the group context, time was of the essence, so it forced me to be economical with my words.
This translates to a better value for parents and a better experience for the student!
2. The systems and policies and procedures that work for a 30-student studio don't work for a 90-student studio.
That probably seems obvious.
But, teaching so many kids forced me to "up my game" in dealing with parents, being organized, and taking responsibility for my studio's results (educationally and financially).
It forced me to GROW.
My growth as an individual was the reason for my later business success. My growth as an individual has led me to continually innovate on my group ideas, write this blog, learn about investing, become a business coach, and have bigger goals and dreams for myself.
It might sound melodramatic to attribute this all to teaching group... but I know it to be true!
Your Journey to Starting
a Group Program
1. Secure a space and the equipment needed
2. Determine your logistics and policies around group
3. Market it to your studio
4. Market it to those outside your studio
5. Deliver a high-value educational experience to children
Here's some fantastic news...
I'm not leaving anything out. And, I've given you some really detailed instructions up to this point throughout the many blog posts, emails, videos, and interviews that I've shared.
Yes, you could certainly do this on your own. I have no doubt of that fact... I did it, and (despite all the mistakes and the slow growth) I'm here today with a fantastic studio that I love.
Yes, you could do this quicker than I did it! There's a lot more resources. And, it seems everyone and their brother has a piano blog, Facebook group, or online presence giving advice to piano teachers.
Or... if you like... you could learn how to do this from someone who has tested multiple ways of doing group. Someone who has trained 215+ studios how to do group in a high-quality way.
You could learn from someone who will show you the most simple way to 2x - 3x your hourly rate, maximize your after-school hours, and create something truly unique.
INTRODUCING...
SUCCESSFUL GROUP LESSONS
The only training available to music teachers for planning, marketing, and beginning a group lesson format in a private studio or music school
WHAT'S INSIDE SGL?
- Classroom Control and the Group Experience
- First Steps: Exactly How to Fill Up You First Class In Less Than 2 Weeks
- 100% Success Rate: Exactly How to Get EVERY Parent On Board With Group Lesson
-
How to Get Parents to Pay MORE For Group than Private Lessons
-
Look Inside My Studio: A Tour Of My Studio and the Resources I Use
-
Any Method Works: How to Adapt My Teaching Style to Whatever Method You Currently Use
-
The Six Principles: The Secret Behind My Student's Rapid Progress
-
Over 4 hours of video Q&A with previous SGL students that thoroughly cover dozens of questions about marketing, group setup, classroom control, and education
-
Live Q&A with the Summer 2019 Class of SGL Students
-
The Vault: 34 Commonly Asked Questions About Group Answered in Detail in a New Bonus Section of the Training
-
NEW! How I Created a Summer Camp Using the Basic SGL Structure
-
NEW! Questions about Group Teaching Answered - A Private Coaching Transcript
-
NEW! Teaching Online in Groups
-
Video Observation: How I Get 100% of My Students to Learn Music On Their Own in Just Two Lessons
A further note about that last training… this is hours of video that I’ve put together showing every single interaction I had with two different students in their first two lessons. You can see exactly what I do to get them to perfectly sight read by page 17 of the Faber Primer book.
Additionally, I have added hours of footage of how I teach the staff, beginning concepts in rhythm, and note geography.
Here’s the bottom line. I have helped other people run their studios in a similar fashion to the way I run mine.
I’ve helped them make the changeover in less than a month.
They felt confident and equipped within a short time frame.
How do you know if this training is right for you? Here are just a few ways to know:
HOW VALUABLE IS THIS TRAINING FOR STUDIO OWNERS?
Press play below and listen to the experiences of 5 different studio owners who have taken this training...
How valuable was this training for them? What changes did they see after they took the Successful Group Lessons training?
These studio owners were NOT compensated for their time or their testimonial.
These comments were freely given..
OK, But Does It Work?
Will It Work For Me?!?!?
I can't even tell you how much I love this question.
I have a growing collection of emails, texts, videos, comments, and testimonials from past students about the power of this training and the results they've achieved with it!
Just take a look:
This is just a small selection of comments, emails, and texts that I've received over the past year.
As you can see, this has worked for many teachers.
If you have concerns about your ability to teach this format... relax. All of these teachers did, as well. There is 3.5 hours of video training on how to teach a stress-free group... as well as 4+ hours of video observation.
Facts and Figures: What to Expect From Your New Group Program
What will your new group program feel like?
What can you reasonably expect.
I'm going to explain how it would work for a studio with 50 students that meet each week for a half hour. Let's assume that tuition is $100 / month in this studio.
This would take 25 hours to teach. Your monthly gross income is $5000.
If you invite these kids into a 4 person group, you will be able to fit these students into 13 or 14 groups.
This is about half the time.
Now, using my marketing method, you should be able to do this without reducing tuition.
It might sound like a stretch now, but this absolutely doable.
No studio that has worked with me (215+) had to reduce their tuition by even a single penny when they started their program.
This means that your Effective Hourly Rate goes up as you add group classes to your schedule:
REMEMBER... Teaching group is not stressful!
I have 95 students (almost all of them in group).
I'm going to teach you a system of group management that will leave you feeling happy and satisfied with student progress.
More importantly... it allows you to teach at a leisurely pace. You might even feel guilty how easy your life becomes.
The point. You can begin to fill up these extra hours so you carry your full hourly load again.
And when you do... that will result in a 2x of your current salary.
When you eventually bump your groups to 5 students or 6... this will bump you to 3x your current salary.
This is how you get to six figures with group lessons.
Think about it...
Can You Get One More Student?
frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to license this in my studio?
No! Unlike many curriculums or studio programs, I charge no licensing fees which can amount to hundreds and even thousands of dollars per year. The training course is yours to keep forever - even updates (which I make each year).
Will this work in my studio?
My SGL method has been implemented in both physical and virtual studios ranging in size from 20 to 700. It has been successfully implemented with the teacher-owner... and been taught to employees of a studio owner. It can work for you.
Will it work with any method?
SGL is not a curriculum or method. Firstly.... It is a process for converting all or part of your studio to the group method. Secondly... It is a style of teaching that emphasizes student independence and sight-reading. So, you can use this with any method book that you are already using (Faber, Piano Pronto, Alfred, Hal Leonard, etc.... there are no exceptions that I've found). I will show you how to easily adapt these.
Is this style comprised of teaching "mini lessons"?
This style is flexible enough to do either "mini-lessons" or moving groups through material as a unit. I have done it both ways and my students have done it both ways.
I have a preference, but my preference doesn't have to dictate what you do!
What about lesson quality? Is it going to suffer?
I'm a pragmatic person. I don't care how I get results... But I do expect to get results!
I have put my group students through the rigorous Royal Conservatory assessments each year... and the majority (80%+) of students come back with First Class Honors or highest Distinction scores. These are all group students and former group students who have graduated into my more rigorous 1-on-1 program.
What about startup costs? How much will I have to invest to buy equipment for my group studio?
You could expect to spend a minimum of $1500 in buying equipment for a 4-person program. Small potatoes when you consider that you will 3X your hourly rate and have room to put more students into your schedule.
What if I already have a group program? Would this training be valuable to me?
Yes. Just the marketing training alone could increase excitement for your current program, as well as overall enrollment in your studio. However, when you combine that with the innovative ideas in the "Six Principles" training, as well as the video observations... it could give you fresh perspective on what is possible in your current program.
Who should not join Successful Group Lessons?
The following people shouldn't join the training:
- You teach an instrument that doesn't have the ability to "plug in" (i.e., an acoustic instrument)
- You aren't open to making changes in your teaching style
- You don't want to invest in the equipment
- You don't have a 10x10 room in which to teach
- You are looking for a "general marketing" training. The marketing session in this course is designed specifically to make you VERY good at persuading both current families and 100% of new families that inquire at your studio to join the group. It does not teach you how to run ads.
- You aren't prepared to do the work... you are joining a community of ACTION-TAKERS, and action is expected
THE OFFER
Click on the link below. I will give you over a dozen video trainings, audio trainings, and support PDFs. You will need to work on the course material for just a few hours each week.
At the end of a month, you will have a simple lesson plan for your first lesson and parents eager to sign their kids up for your new program. Guaranteed.
I say guaranteed because if you do the work and things do not work out for you, we will get on the phone together and troubleshoot your situation.
I believe it is impossible to fail with the system that I have created, and I’m willing to back that up by putting my personal time on the line!
I have helped individual teachers do this. I have helped large music schools do this.
I can help you do this!
I will restate what is on the line here. If you would like to do any of the following, this is the training for you:
- Double or triple your hourly rate
-
Begin a group program with little to NO parent protest
-
Make room in your schedule for at least twice the number of students you currently have... with NO additional time needed
-
Learn how to attract new families to a group program
-
Get a group program going WITHIN SIX WEEKS OF TODAY
-
Get motivation, courage, and inspiration from me on how to make this change
-
Learn my complete start to finish system that I've used for 10 years (in other words, more than just some "quick tips")
"CAMP INCOME BOOSTER"
One more thing.
As an added bonus, I have included a special training that I made for everyone who joins Successful Group Lessons.
It is a training on how to add $1,000's in revenue each year to your studio.... using my simple "summer camp" model.
Each year, I use this formula to run camps during the summer, as well as fall, winter, and spring break.
There was a year that I ran 7 total camps throughout the year, adding almost $6k in income to my yearly total. At the time, that was like adding an extra month to my year!
In this training, I am going to show you:
+ How to organize the camp
+ The emails that I send to families to fill up my camps every season (copy and paste these)
+ The format and tricks that I use to delight the students - so much so, that I have parents emailing me MONTHS before the summer begins asking when the camps weeks will be
+ The formula I use to price it "just right" so parents say yes
+ When to announce your camps
This training alone could make you $1000's extra in the coming year... and I'm going to give it to you for free with your registration for SGL.
Yes! I want to join
Successful Group Lessons
If you have any questions about the course, email us. We're happy to help:
training@growyourmusicstudio.com
training@growyourmusicstudio.com
Successful Group Lessons
Testimonials
Here are just a few testimonials given by previous students of SGL... They cover a broad range of topics, including:
- Why they wanted to begin a group lesson program
- Their experiences teaching the group in my format
- The huge differences they've seen in their studios and students
- How they felt SGL helped them to succeed
- Actual, real-world dollars and cents impact on their studio's finances
"SGL Helped Us Grow by 125 Students in 9 Months"
Lucas Music Academy | Hinesville, GA
Using the "Magic" Emails
Li-San Guerette | Spanaway, WA
Converting a Mid-Size Studio to Group Lessons
Kyle McKenna | Farmington, UT
Overcoming Fears About Switching to Group
Kaitlyn Davidson | Atlanta, GA
"I Was Blown Away by the Level of Detail in This Training"
Brett Crudgington | Brooklyn, New York
"SGL Helped Me Make My Students More Independent"
Joanne Faris | St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada
"Will Group Lessons Work in a Wealthy Area?"
Mae McLean | Corte Madera, CA
Building Studio Community with Groups
Susan Hong | San Antonio, TX
"Once I Started... I Realized How Easy This Was Going to Be!"
Tonia Stoney | Charleston, SC
Doubling Income, Decreasing Time
Sarah Coley | Twin Falls, ID
"This Way of Teaching is Better Than Open Air Groups"
Karen Miller | Clear Lake, IA
Earnings disclaimer: EVERY EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE TO ACCURATELY REPRESENT THIS PRODUCT AND ITS POTENTIAL. EVEN THOUGH THIS INDUSTRY IS ONE OF THE FEW WHERE ONE CAN WRITE THEIR OWN CHECK IN TERMS OF EARNINGS, THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT YOU WILL EARN ANY MONEY USING THE TECHNIQUES AND IDEAS IN THESE MATERIALS. EXAMPLES IN THESE MATERIALS ARE NOT TO BE INTERPRETED AS A PROMISE OR GUARANTEE OF EARNINGS. EARNING POTENTIAL IS ENTIRELY DEPENDENT ON THE PERSON USING OUR PRODUCT, IDEAS AND TECHNIQUES. WE DO NOT PURPORT THIS AS A GET RICH SCHEME. ANY CLAIMS MADE OF ACTUAL EARNINGS OR EXAMPLES OF ACTUAL RESULTS CAN BE VERIFIED UPON REQUEST. YOUR LEVEL OF SUCCESS IN ATTAINING THE RESULTS CLAIMED IN OUR MATERIALS DEPENDS ON THE TIME YOU DEVOTE TO THE PROGRAM, IDEAS AND TECHNIQUES MENTIONED, YOUR FINANCES, KNOWLEDGE AND VARIOUS SKILLS. SINCE THESE FACTORS DIFFER ACCORDING TO INDIVIDUALS, WE CANNOT GUARANTEE YOUR SUCCESS OR INCOME LEVEL. NOR ARE WE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY OF YOUR ACTIONS. MATERIALS IN OUR PRODUCT AND OUR WEBSITE MAY CONTAIN INFORMATION THAT INCLUDES OR IS BASED UPON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS GIVE OUR EXPECTATIONS OR FORECASTS OF FUTURE EVENTS.YOU CAN IDENTIFY THESE STATEMENTS BY THE FACT THAT THEY DO NOT RELATE STRICTLY TO HISTORICAL OR CURRENT FACTS. THEY USE WORDS SUCH AS “ANTICIPATE, ESTIMATE, EXPECT, PROJECT, INTEND, PLAN, BELIEVE, AND OTHER WORDS AND TERMS OF SIMILAR MEANING IN CONNECTION WITH A DESCRIPTION OF POTENTIAL EARNINGS OR FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE. ANY AND ALL FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS HERE OR ON ANY OF OUR SALES MATERIAL ARE INTENDED TO EXPRESS OUR OPINION OF EARNINGS POTENTIAL.MANY FACTORS WILL BE IMPORTANT IN DETERMINING YOUR ACTUAL RESULTS AND NO GUARANTEES ARE MADE THAT YOU WILL ACHIEVE RESULTS SIMILAR TO OURS OR ANYBODY ELSES, IN FACT NO GUARANTEES ARE MADE THAT YOU WILL ACHIEVE ANY RESULTS FROM OUR IDEAS AND TECHNIQUES IN OUR MATERIAL.