It's all your business: office skills for the independent music teacher

Office Skills = Computer Skills

Had anyone told me years ago I would someday be joined at the hip to my computer I would have laughed. I swore not at any time to touch one of those darn computer thank you actual much. Not even knowing in what way to type, I paid others to impressed sign my college papers, and later my recital programs and studio documents. Having resisted technology for decades, I eventually was forced kicking and screaming into the twenty-first hundred If you feel a similar reluctance to embrace technology, you may be missing without on its many benefits. by means of learning basic office/computer skills, you can save coin free yourself from dependence upon others, gain control over your studio documents and record keeping and at hand your studio more professionally.

Word Processing

Today, a number of essential studio documents are necessityed Being able to use a word processing program, of the like kind as Microsoft Word, to emblem and update these documents saves not alone money, but time. Word processing can allow on-the-spot, easy changes within necessary documents, of the like kind as a studio policy sheet, as well as quick formatting of supplementary materials, similar as a library lending form.

For example, a studio practice work is most useful when customized to your specific straits Personally designed pages may include: weekly assignments, daily practice log notes to parents, scale charts, circle of fifths chart, music history and listening assignments, studio policy sheet, calendar of occurrences and so forth. Each scholar can purchase a bound transcript similar to purchasing a commercially produc practice volume only this one is customized through you.

When taking your materials to someone other to type, you may have asked yourself, "Do I have the time to take care of this during work hours? by what mode long will someone else take to finish my project? Will one else understand what I want?" Whether you are relying upon the kindness of friends, relatives or strangers, you are placing yourself in a position of interdependence rather than independence.

one time you know how to use Word, formatting your choices from the following list of studio documents is simple:

* Policy sheet

* Registration forms

* Studio calendar of upcoming events

* Recital programs

* Scholarship forms

* Practice agreement

* Practice record

* Studio inventory

* exercise inquiry/phone call form

* Lending library record

* Practice record

* Scale/technique chart

* Studio letters

Your studio name and logo can be added easily to each document. Everything may be saved upon your computer and reused or updated with ease, year after year. Imagine by what means cumbersome going to someone other would be every time you necessityed a new letter or updated form!

Online tutorials for Word can be circular at www.fgcu.edu/support/office2000/word/index.html.

Record Keeping

We all must hold accurate financial records for tax views as well as personal bookkeeping. For years I did this completely by means of hand, resulting in the inefficient and time-consuming adding of monthly tuition payments and yearly outlays Today, a number of computer programs are available to track financial records.

A Microsoft package of programs many times includes Excel. Excel allows you in create spreadsheets that automatically will calculate the fully convinced of separate categories, such as tuition payments. eclipse does not perform all functions that might be wanted for record keeping, but it will detain track of studio income and expenses

Online tutorials for beat may be found at www.fgcu.edu/support/office2000/excel/index.html.

Microsoft Access is an office database management program also included in many Microsoft packages. Organizing scholar contact data, mail merging and printing mailing labels all are possible with Access.

Online tutorials for Access may be circular at www.fgcu.edu/support/office2000/access/index.html.

Programs that perform a number of functions and are designed specifically for small businesses are available. QuickBooks accounting software can generate reports upon student activities and payments, write and print checks, retain student records including contact information, hold fast track of income and outlays print invoices, print address labels and more. In other words, individual program can be customized to handle a multitude of needs

Additional information can be lay the foundation of at www.quickbooks.com.

TimeSig2000 is a program designed by dint of independent music teachers for the independent music studio. Available since 1991 TimeSig2000 handles scholar profiles (history of performances, theory horizontals and contact information), scheduling and billing, financial reports for taxes, cluster lessons and tuition/lesson payments. Teachers can go into progress reports for each pupil and print a summary progres report when desired. Scheduling festivals or competitions also is possible if a teacher should at any time have that duty. An online manual is available for help, and annual updates are provided.

More information may be circular at www.casamusica.com/timesig.html.