THanks so much, everyone, for sharing your policies, experiences and suggestions here - both as students and as teachers. Wonderful food for thought! Even though I've come a long LONG way from the shakey teenager who charged $3 for 30 minutes, payable in cash at each lesson (or whenever ... sometimes if ever! - it happened to be convenient) I can definitely see major changes in the works re payment and scheduling requirements.

I've been paid monthly in advance for many years now, but the problem of certain people deducting the hourly fees for lessons they've missed or plan to miss, or expecting me to make up lessons cancelled at the last minute because they "forgot" or "the dog had surgery yesterday" etc etc etc STILL keeps me awake at night sometimes! Not to mention struggling to make ends meet at tax time, and during my many weeks of unpaid so-called "holidays" (summer, Xmas, March break).

It's been the only job where I can sleep at night knowing I've done some good for folks every day.

Yes, there's few things more rewarding than watching eyes light up with the realization "Wow ...I CAN do this after all! I must be more intelligent/ smarter/talented/creative than I thought! I sound so good! And it's so much fun ..."

ANd to have parents tell you how much they appreciate your influence and patience and teaching methods, because it's boosted their child's confidence and self-esteem and helped them academically as well. And then recommend you in glowing terms to everyone who asks for years ...

Or to have the honour of being asked to play for your former student's wedding(s), "because it would mean so much to the whole family to have you here." Remember? The one(s) you struggled so patiently with week after week from age 6, till she finished her Grade 9 was off to university - and now teaches students of her own.

That's happened to me twice this year! :-) *sniff sniff* So I must have been doing something right after all!   Makes all those former frustrations about not enough practice, missed exam deadlines - hey, even the odd missed and unpaid lesson - seem pretty trivial.

(For a little while, anyway - till the next time you realize you've been shorted a couple hundred this month because of other people's birthday parties or trips to the zoo ...)

Mooh, GUEST Nov 4 at 3:40 pm was me - sorry, it's strange but some days it takes forever to load this site when I'm logged in, so I log out and then forget to sign my posts ... arrggghhh ...

I was considering drawing up a brochure outlining new fee payment policies, beginning after Christmas. Explaining that the changes are due to coincide with the new fiscal (tax) year would smooth it over somewhat, I'm sure. Hmmm ...

Whether I start in Jan or next Sept, my new policy will definitely set a lump sum fee per student/family FOR ENROLLMENT, NOT ATTENDANCE!! (that's awesome - thanks so much!) to be paid in advance annually or in a specified number of post-dated cheques. Missed lessons for any reason will be considered paid, but I will continue to make every effort to reschedule appts cancelled for clearly spelled out legitimate reasons (illness if notified before 9am, death in the family, snow days).

Your explanations for those who might complain are wonderful - I'm copying them out. And your suggestions too, Kaleea - especially regarding putting my diplomas/credentials/degrees on display in my new studio. Haven't done that yet, not since I moved a couple years ago ... in fact, I'm going to make a copy of this whole thread!   I LOVE stealing the helpful, excellent words out of people's mouths sometimes - and you people will do wonders for my confidence as I explain all this to my students and parents!

Especially the ones I've been working with for 5-10-15 years already. But THAT'S where freightdawg's adage comes in so handy.

"KIck me once, shame on you. Kick me twice, shame on me".

I won't forget! Thank you all so much,

daylia