Receiving Temporary Students from Another Teacher

In every situation like this, one teacher is the sending teacher and the other the receiving one. Some clear communication between the two parties and the incoming students is critical!

Sending Teacher

When approached by another teacher to take on students on a temporary basis, decide whether you want to do this. Ask: Look at your schedule. Do you have time? Do you want to make time for the type and number of students the teacher is proposing to send to you?

Make it clear that students will have to pay your fee during this time (assuming it's higher than your colleague's). Also they will have to fit in around your present students and should not expect to keep their current day and time.

Ask for a list of names, addresses, and phone numbers.

Discuss materials. Presumably you will not want these students to purchase anything while they are in your care, but talk this over with the sending teacher, especially if it's a holiday period. Certainly these students will want to play holiday music if they do not have books their permanent teacher asked them to purchase.

It goes without saying that these students are yours only temporarily. It is unethical for you to entice them to your studio.

Students and Parents

Contact the "incoming" students to welcome them temporarily to your studio.

Confirm with them that they agree to study with you for x number of weeks. (You do not want to squeeze them into your schedule and have them "drop out.")

Assure them that you hold their current teacher in high regard and will do your best to provide a smooth transition to and from your studio.

Inform them of the tuition for this temporary stint and when it is due.

Mail a copy of your studio policies. Answer any questions they may have.

Make sure they know where your studio is located, the date of the temporary lesson, and what time it starts.

Does This Work?

I have received students temporarily from other teachers, so from my standpoint it is done. I have done my best by them, disrupting as little as possible and always supporting the sending teacher. So, from my standpoint I -hope- it worked!

Naturally, if some teachers weren't doing this, no one would know of this topic!

copyright 1998, Martha Beth Lewis, Ph.D.
Contact me for reprint permission.


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