In-Store Lessons Done Right Tips for Maximizing Your Teaching Program
By Manus Hopkins
PHOTO : CRAIG HUNTER ROSS
We talk a lot about music education here at Canadian Music Trade , be it school band programs , online musical tutoring , or a number of other facets . Here , we ’ ve gathered a group of MI professionals to dish on what it takes to run a successful music lessons program as part of a store , and how the pandemic affected the way programs are being operated long-term . Read on to hear from lessons expert Pete Gamber , music school owner Mike Risko , and Wentworth Music ’ s Nori Wentworth .
These interviews have been edited for length and clarity .
Nori Wentworth
Along with his brother Neil ( as well as Noel until recently ), Nori Wentworth operates the British Columbia-based Wentworth Music , which has locations in Kelowna , Vernon , and Penticton . With over 45 years of business , Wentworth Music has become well-known in the Okanagan Valley for its lessons programs . The business was first conceived as a private lessons studio , but has since become a full-fledged music retailer as well . Nori Wentworth himself is an accomplished bass player and a member of Kelowna rock group Proper Man .
CMT : What are the main components of running a successful music lessons program as part of a store ?
Nori Wentworth : The most important component is having a very patient and competent person running the administration end of the lesson department . With over a thousand students at our school , that comes with a thousand families that all have busy lives , and they can be quite demanding . Setting up a proper schedule and maintaining it is quite the task , and it requires someone with organizational skills , as well as a caring demeanor .
Also , hiring the right teachers that are not only educated , but realize that they need to also be a mentor and not just a teacher . The
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