Unlike most other professions, most private music teachers do not get paid sick days – if we get sick, we cancel the lessons, loose our income, unless we do make-ups. I am always curious to read other teachers’ studio policies and so far, I have only ever come across one teacher who has included teacher sick days into their studio policy – she gives herself one ‘sick-week’ a year, students still pay their usual monthly fee, and she does not have to provide make-ups! Someday I hope to implement such policy!
In the mean time, I am always consciously doing everything I can to prevent myself from getting sick, and if I do get sick, I count it a blessing when/if it occurs during weekends! The following are my stay-healty tips that I would like to share with fellow private music teachers:
1. Flu Shot – I try to do this yearly as soon as they are available. This year I got it done in late September. I know some people do not believe in this, but it has helped me from getting really sick.
2. Hand Wipes – I require my students to clean their hands with a wet wipe when they arrive at the studio. This prevents dirty fingers on my piano and helps to keep germs away. Some students are so used to this that they even come with their own hand sanitizers!
3. Throat Drops – I always have these handy to boost my immune system as well as soothe my throat from hours of talking. My favorites are the Burt’s Bees Honey & Pomegranate Throat Drops, and if I feel I have a soar throat coming, I will take the numbing Cepacol Throat Lozenges.
4. Stay Hydrated – I always have a glass of water next to me. I used to worry about having to go to the bathroom a lot, but staying healthy is more important!
5. Air Purifier – I have the Sharper Image Ionic Air Purifier, and totally swear by it! Those stainless steel, washable filters really do get very dirty from trapping viruses, dust mites, pollen, bacteria, and odors.
6. Essential Oils – I also believe hugely in the benefits of essential oils. I use it aromatically, topically, and internally. I have a diffuser that I use to diffuse my favorite all-purpose oils such as Purify and Lavender, I apply Breath and Past Tense topically to reduce Allergy effects and ease tension, and I take On-Guard and Lemon internally to boost my immune system.
The above add to my studio expense, but are so worth it! Of course, it goes without saying that one must have a healthy diet and exercise regularly for overall well-being. (I thank my two dogs for making me walk them everyday!) What do you do, fellow teachers, to stay healthy year-round? What has worked for you? Do you have a studio policy that protects your income from sickness? Please do share your comments!
Thanks, Yiyi- some great tips here! I think I’ll try some of those essential oils. The only thing I would add is plenty of sleep! That seems to make all the difference to me, health-wise.
Valerie: thanks for your comments – yes, having plenty of sleep is so important, too! Thanks for the reminder!
I charge not by the lesson but for the whole year, for group lessons as well as private.
In sports, such as hockey, dance, etc. parents pay for the whole year and we should do the same. Parents don’t complain about missing, they know they’ve paid for the year and that spot is reserved for them.
So if I have to miss, my parents know its for a good reason. I don’t have to worry about make-up lessons, although sometimes I will add 15 minutes onto a lesson for 2 wks if to many wks are missed.
If you think about it, those parents are paying not only for the child to learn an instrument but also has reserved that spot for their child, it cannot be given to another person for whatever reason a lesson is missed.
A few years ago I changed to a flat fee. Everyone, including me, likes it better. I set my calendar for the whole year – holidays, school vacations, etc. I allow a week of vacation for me, and another for the student, and a sick day. Then, I total up the amount due for all the lessons that year, and divide it out to an equal monthly fee. The families are more motivated not to miss. It averages out, and the more conscientious ones sometimes even come out with extra lessons. I do my best to make-up lessons in the summer, but I rarely make-up lessons during the busy school year. Indeed, they are paying to reserve my time slot.
Wipe down those door knobs and light switches in the bathroom, etc.! I’ve also sent kids to the bathroom to wash in the middle of the lesson if I see their finger go in the nose! I also try not to rub my eyes.
I do give make-ups (limit 2 per term) for sick students. The reason being I don’t want people to feel they should bring their sick kids (or selves) just because they don’t want to miss on what they have paid for. Might just be an imagined scenario in my mind. Those of you who don’t do make-ups… do you tend to have sick students show up? (I have to say – even with my policy, I did have a student show up who had mono once.)
Barb: yes, regular disinfecting of all surfaces, especially in the studio and bathroom is essential! thanks for the reminder! I don’t offer make-ups for sicknesses (unless notice before the day of the lesson is given), simply because everyone’s definition of “sickness” is different – some people cancel because they have a little headache, or are simply feeling tired – sometimes the parents are the ones that are having a long day and do not feel well enough to bring the kids. If I offer make up for everyone that cancels because they feel “sick”, I would be doing makeups all the time! Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule, and sometimes I will offer make ups to those that rarely cancel, and you know they are good students so I will give extra time when my schedule allows.
The subject of make-ups and to give or not to give was discussed in my previous blog article: http://www.musicteachershelper.com/blog/make-up-lessons-to-give-or-not-to-give-that-is-the-question/
I think charging for a teacher missing a lesson is quite harsh. i think we need to site this in to the base price of a lesson and if we are lucky enough to not fall ill, it is a bonus. it would be great though if parents didn’t send children who are clearly really ill to a lesson though.