445: Why Giving Make-Up Lessons is a BAD Idea with Jonathan Roberts

We’ve all been there—navigating the headache of rescheduled lessons, disappointed parents, and the pressure to make up for every missed session. In this episode, I'm chatting with Jonathan Roberts, director of South Shore Piano School, about why giving make-up lessons may be hurting your studio more than helping. We unpack the emotional and financial cost of flexibility, how to shift toward professional boundaries, and what a sustainable, no-make-up lesson policy actually looks like in practice.

• Jonathan shared the origins of South Shore Piano School, which now serves over 350 students.
• He explained why they focus solely on piano lessons to simplify branding, marketing, and SEO.
• How inconsistent studio policies across schools created confusion and poor teaching cultures.
• How South Shore Piano School prioritizes teacher well-being, including fair pay and benefits.
• Why he decided to create a video to clearly and empathetically explain their new no-make-up policy.
• How the video received overwhelmingly positive responses from parents.
• The emotional toll make-up lessons take on teachers, from scheduling stress to burnout.
• The importance of empathy and analogies to help parents understand the teacher’s perspective.
• How a no-makeup policy actually signals professionalism and earns more respect from families.
• Jonathan highlighted that options like Zoom lessons, asynchronous reviews, and monthly group make-ups help maintain flexibility without compromising structure.
• He advised teachers to invest in marketing, especially SEO, to reduce fear around losing students.
• He encouraged teachers to face the discomfort of policy change as a gateway to healthier, more sustainable studios.

Links Mentioned

• Watch Jonathan's YouTube Video on Makeup Lessons
• South Shore Piano School Website
• South Shore Piano School Facebook Page
• South Shore Piano School Instagram:@sspianoschool
• Download your latest TopMusic Magazine issue here

Today's Guest Jonathan Roberts is a pianist, entrepreneur, and content creator who serves as the owner and director of the South Shore Piano School in the Boston area, where he leads a team of 10 teachers serving more than 350 students. A passionate advocate for music educators, Jonathan has built SSPS on a foundation of supporting teachers with fair pay and meaningful work, while fostering a transparent, community-centered approach to music education for students and families. In addition to his leadership at SSPS, he is an examiner and U.S. ambassador for the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) Certificate Program, as well as immediate past-president of the Massachusetts Music Teachers Association. Thank you for tuning in! Consider implementing the ideas from this podcast by writing several actionable steps for your teaching practice if it’s inspired you. If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, which helps other teachers find our show. Stay updated by subscribing to this show, and get automatic delivery to your device every time a new episode goes live! We publish on Mondays weekly. TopMusicPro 14-Day Free Trial Heard about TopMusicPro Membership? As a valued podcast listener, I’d like to offer you a special chance to try our community free for 14 days. You can access a treasure trove of teaching resources, professional development courses, and creative lesson ideas. Click the link below to access your exclusive 14-day free trial for our Studio Membership.

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