HELF?

[ewt]

I have a letter to write to my students. I don't like letters like this. I am giving myself a raise, because a) nobody else charges as little as I do in this city for going and teaching in someone else's home, and b) I can't really afford not to.



Dear Blah,

As you may already know, on 13th September I will be commencing a course of study at Trinity College of Music, Greenwich. As a result of this I will be moving into student halls of residence in Greenwich. I will continue to travel to Hendon to teach; however, I will necessarily have to make certain changes to my fee structure and teaching schedule.

From September 13th I will be charging £25 per hour of teaching time. I will require payment by cheque every four lessons in advance. Because of my studies I may have to reschedule more lessons than I have in the past. I will always try to give as much notice as possible of any changes necessary, and ideally students will still receive one lesson each week.

I wish to minimise the amount of time I spend commuting between Greenwich and Hendon. I plan to limit teaching days to two days per week - Sundays, and another weekday. I will not receive my schedule of classes until Monday, 13th September, so I can offer no guarantee of which weekday I will be free, if any, or at what times. I will do my best to accommodate your needs and will contact you as soon as I can to confirm your lesson time. In the event that a mutually workable time cannot be found I will endeavour to suggest a suitable piano teacher in the Hendon area who is taking on new students.

For those of you wishing to take piano exams in (blah dates), the deadline for entry this term is x. Please notify me as soon as possible if you wish to do an exam. I strongly recommend that students undertaking exams take extra lessons in the weeks leading up to the exam.


Umm. Suggestions? Comments?

In other news, 50 days to my birthday so I have updated my wishlist. No, I did not put the Conn 8D on it.

Have to go busk now.

Comments

[spiralflames.livejournal.com]

another response, having read the others. ewt, DON'T change your letter. i've been teaching for 20 years and i know what works and what doesn't. fact? the people who want to study will do it not matter what- and making a letter full of reasons and trying to convince people you're 'worth' a raise-- not important and not businesslike. i remember the last rent raise i got- "as of may 1, 2004, the rent for the house at XXXXXXX will be $xxx a month." no explanations, no paragraphs on how costs had increased and how great the house was. the fact is- you're still going to their house, and you're a good teacher, and you know your rates are still comparable to others. leave your letter alone, inspite of kathrynrose's sincere post.