Deanna and all: Group classes are a wonderful way for a teacher to reach a number of students in a short amount of time, increasing the return on the teacher's hour and offering a more affordable alternative to those for whom the cost or time investment of private study is not viable.
I usually plan a course quite a bit in advance to give myself plenty of time to assemble enough students. I do choose a set date for the class to begin; an ongoing class wouldn't work as well since the course is structured in a sort of building block fashion. I then publicize it a number of different ways: - I get referrals from a friend who is a speech therapist and sends me lots of patients - I get referrals from UNC-CH (where I used to teach) and from the local professional theater associated with the university. - I put up posters at various community locations (arts center, university, library, YMCA etc. - I haven't yet gone the route of posting at stores and other places, but I might if I needed to) - My brochure with class listings goes out to all local music teachers at the schools, to local church music directors, and to other music teachers (I'm a member of MTNA and our local chapter) - I announce classes on my local Gilbert and Sullivan group listserve (have gotten lots of students from this source, but I was well known in the group prior to starting this) - Word of mouth is really my absolute best advertiser! Others who have taken the course or lessons refer their friends constantly.
I have a maximum number for the class, but I try to over book by one or two as it seems someone will always drop out right before we begin. I get a registration form and check ahead of time so that I know people are truly committed to coming (learned this the hard way!)
I offer two different classes currently: - Beginning Singing for Adults - covers the rudiments of breathing, registration, posture and onset. Primarily exercises for technical development. 6 weeks, $95 - Intermediate Singing for Adults - a continuation of the previous class, covering tone, agility, resonance, etc. Additional exercises, some lecture, then application of technique to actual songs. 6 weeks - $95
Our studio also offers occasional classes in Music Reading and Alexander Technique. Plans are in the works for additional classes in Jazz and Pop Stylings, Movement for Singers, and a Musical Theater Workshop.
The single biggest challenge I face is NOT finding people who want to do the class, but in finding a day/time/weeks when they can ALL attend!!! I have had good experiences with 7:30 weeknight classes and 10:00 Saturday classes which run for 5-6 weeks. Most people can make that work, and since the cost is low, if they have to miss one week it doesn't seem too bad.
Hope this helps!
Sharon Szymanski
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