CMT : Generally speaking , in terms of inventory aimed at serving educators and classrooms , do you have any tips on knowing what and how much to have instock for the back-to-school sales season ?
Averwater : This is going to be the milliondollar question , right ? We are pretty in-tune with our educators … so they have been a tremendous ally in forecasting inventory needs for us . So far , most educators that we talk with are positive about the upcoming year . So , with that in mind , I certainly don ’ t want to be caught short on inventory this year . If there ’ s one thing the pandemic has taught us , it ’ s that we are pretty lousy at trying to predict the future !
TRICIA HOWE Long & McQuade , Regional Manager for Educational Services – Prairies
CMT : How normal or abnormal do you expect this back-to-school season to be ?
Tricia Howe : I think everything will have a new kind of normal . The important thing is just that each province is going to be a little bit different . The worry that I hear most from teachers is regarding scheduling , because everything moved to “ quadmester ” or some other form of not-friendly-to music-education scheduling , and some provinces had no music at all . A lot of work is being done to ensure parents and school administrators value music education , and have the freedom to make something work with provincial guidelines and can embrace the return to music in this year ’ s calendar .
CMT : What do you foresee for private lesson studios this year ?
Howe : Private studios have had a really tough year , but moving forward might be going into a sort of renaissance . A lot of people who were trapped inside decided that it was a good time to pick up guitar or an instrument they used to play . That was huge .
On the lesson side of that , there ’ s going to be some uptake . I think that since many studio teachers have now learned to teach online , parts of that will stay . I don ’ t think a lot of them are going to want to stay in that universe exclusively , but it ’ ll be a really good supplement . For example , if you have a studio at home and one of your own kids is sick and you don ’ t want to bring students into that , you can say , “ We ’ re going to do it online today .” It also widens access , right ? Like you can say , “ My friend is a specialist in this and we ’ re going to bring them in [ on video ] and have all of my students talk about this today .” There ’ s just so much out there like that . But I think this is ultimately going to be a boon , which will be good , because it will cover some of what was not so good about last year .
CMT : In terms of what dealers should be ready to do this coming fall for educators , is there anything unique to the current situation that would be different than what they would have done in past years ?
Howe : I think that the communication piece is probably the most significant . Not unique , really , but now more than ever it ’ s communication — talk to your local teachers and find out what they need . They ’ ll have a better idea now , having been through it once . No matter how they go back , they ’ ll have a better idea about what they need for support , and by now legislation and administration will be set . If you know you don ’ t have bell covers and masks in your store , for example , find out if they are still mandated in your region and get on that so that you ’ re not leaving people in a lurch in that first back-to-school rush of craziness .
When you talk about studio teachers , if you know that those teachers are going to be extra busy this year , make sure that you have enough resources for them — appropriate method book stock is a great example . Always find out what they need to have , whether in school or in studio .
CMT : In terms of tried-and-true best practices that still apply , what should dealers be ready to do in preparation for any school year ?
Howe : Manage expectations and start in the spring . We start the process by creating a spring order form so that we can process over the summer . It ’ s just like , “ Hey , if you want this stuff , we can do this for you over the summer so it ’ s ready for you in September . And while you ’ re meeting all your kids and learning all of that stuff , you don ’ t have to think about it .”
There ’ s also the art and science of forecast purchasing . Right now , I think one of the biggest challenges that dealers are going to face is in the supply chain . In some cases , demand has been ridiculous — we never sold as many ukuleles in and out of schools , and some manufacturers were shut down at times or were running limited staff . You want to be prepared , and you don ’ t want to be in a situation where you are not ready for all the things that teachers are going to ask you for .
CMT : Lastly , just in terms of products , titles , etc ., is there anything specific that you expect will be particularly popular this year ?
Howe : Being able to have some kind of music delivery is hugely important . I know that wind ensembles and choirs will be coming back and the joy of elementary movement and music will be coming back , based on research going on in several studies , such as one at the University of Colorado , to make making music safer . I think that we ’ re going to continue on trend with ukuleles and other non-wind options , like entry-level guitars and hand percussion like Boomwhackers and rhythm sticks to supplement the normal offering in schools . All of those things are fairly inexpensive , accessible , and all have that extra perceived safety factor .
In terms of print , I think that small-group jazz / combo charts are going to be important . The adaptable band stuff is neat and there ’ s a huge movement called the Creative Repertoire Initiative . It is both publishersupported and just a free-market thing . On the Facebook page , anybody who wants to write one can put it there . Then there are publishers who have gotten onside with all that flexible , adaptable music . So that ’ s going to be huge along with chamber ensemble stuff . Knowing what ’ s out there and how it fits all kinds of teacher needs will be the biggest key .
Michael Raine is the Editor-in-Chief of Canadian Music Trade .
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