Notebook And Pencil For My Studio

I recently bought this pretty notebook and even prettier pencil both for practical reasons and as a little treat to myself for making it halfway to one of my teaching goals. Hooray! It's fun to celebrate little achievements, don't you think?

I was talking with my mom about the logistics of student payments (my least favorite part of running my piano studio) and she suggested that instead of a more formal "bill" I write the month's dues and the price of any books I purchased on a long, thin piece of lined paper and hand it to the student after the lesson. That way things are more informal and casual but I'm still maintaining accountability, keeping track of payments, etc. My mom's years as a paying customer in this business make her such a great resource for me as I navigate the ins and outs and right and wrong ways to handle things!

I liked my mom's idea and I wanted to find an elegant pad or notebook that looked nice enough to leave out on the piano. Since I run my studio out of my home and because I care first and foremost about the music, I try to keep the "business-y" things as unobtrusive and clean as possible. I never want the money stuff to make my students uncomfortable or give them the impression that I care more about that than the teaching. Something as simple as how I write "bills" (and making them aesthetically pleasing!) makes a difference, I think.

Anyway, I'd been eyeing this local paperie and finally I had an excuse to drop in! And I found the perfect thing--this notebook is slim and understated, the pages are lined and perforated, and it's exactly the shape I was searching for. As I kept browsing (the shop was dreamy) I couldn't help but notice these regal black pencils sitting tall in a jar. They're beautiful and well-crafted and I decided that a lovely notebook deserves a lovely writing utensil to keep it company. Plus, the black and ivory and gold match my pianos. That may or may not have been a factor.

I guess I'm a simple soul because this $8 purchase pleases me so much. These two pretty little things sitting on my piano remind me that I'm slowly but surely figuring things out.