Written by: Samuel Lellouche, Founder & CEO of Opus1
Managing make-up lessons is one of the biggest operational challenges for music schools. A poorly designed policy can stall growth, frustrate families, and overwhelm administrative staff. But when handled strategically, make-up lessons can improve student retention, keep teachers’ schedules full, and set a school apart from competitors.
The Dilemma of Make-Up Policies
Strict Policies Limit Growth
Some music schools enforce rigid make-up lesson rules. While this simplifies scheduling, it narrows the market to families who prioritize music above all else. Strict policies often cap growth and can create friction with parents who expect more flexibility.
Flexible Policies Strain Staff
Other schools offer unlimited flexibility. Families appreciate it, but administrators are quickly buried in calls, emails, and texts to reschedule. This creates errors, burnout, and growth plateaus. In our case, we were stuck at around 400 students despite strong demand.
The Turning Point: Automating Make-Up Lessons with Opus1
Self-Service Scheduling
Everything changed when we adopted Opus1, a music school management platform. Parents could self-cancel lessons and rebook make-ups online, within the boundaries of our make-up policy. Automation handled:
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Late-cancellation rules
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Credit limits for make-ups
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Enforcement of school policies
Scaling to 1,400 Students
By streamlining rescheduling, we grew from 400 to 1,400 active students by February 2024. Automation allowed us to expand capacity without adding administrative staff, while improving family satisfaction and retention.
Addressing Misconceptions About Flexible Make-Up Policies
Myth: Teacher Schedules Will Have Gaps
Many school owners worry that cancellations will create unused time. In reality, automation keeps teachers’ schedules full by letting other students claim openings. Our teachers rarely experienced empty slots, and often enjoyed steadier workloads.
Cross-Teacher Flexibility
If a student’s primary teacher isn’t available, Opus1 enables make-ups with other instructors. This prevents missed lessons and keeps students on track, leading to longer retention and more consistent progress.
Benefits for Students, Parents, and Teachers
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Students: uninterrupted progress and higher satisfaction
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Parents: convenient scheduling and transparency
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Teachers: stable schedules, reduced cancellations, less frustration
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Administrators: lighter workloads, error reduction, focus on growth
A Smarter Way to Manage Make-Up Lessons
Make-up lessons don’t need to drain resources or block growth. With the right technology, music schools can:
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Increase student retention
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Keep teachers’ schedules full
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Reduce administrative burden
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Scale to serve more students without losing quality
Our experience—and that of many other schools—shows that automating make-up lessons with platforms like Opus1 creates a win-win for every stakeholder. The result is a school that grows faster, runs smoother, and delivers a better experience for families and staff alike.
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