Nova vs Spreadsheets & Paper

It's time to upgrade from spreadsheets

You became a music teacher to teach music — not to manage spreadsheets. Nova Music replaces your patchwork of tools with one simple, free platform.

About Spreadsheets & Paper

Many music teachers start by managing their studios with spreadsheets, Google Calendar, Venmo, and email. While this works with a handful of students, it quickly becomes overwhelming as your studio grows — leading to missed payments, scheduling conflicts, and lost communication.

Feature comparison

See how Nova Music stacks up against Spreadsheets & Paper feature by feature.

Feature
Nova
Sheets
All student info in one place
Automated scheduling & reminders
Professional invoicing
Automatic makeup credit tracking
Student portal
Practice tracking & gamification
Direct messaging (no personal phone)
Resource sharing without email
Family grouping for siblings
Assignment tracking
Works on any device
Free to use

Ready to see it in action? Start free today — no credit card required.

Why teachers switch to Nova Music

Here's what makes Nova Music the better choice over Spreadsheets & Paper.

1

Stop losing track of who owes you money — automated invoicing and payment tracking keeps you paid on time

2

No more scheduling conflicts — conflict detection and calendar sync prevent double-booking

3

Stop texting from your personal phone — built-in messaging keeps communication professional and organized

4

Makeup lessons tracked automatically — no more sticky notes or forgotten credits

5

Student portal replaces the endless back-and-forth of emails and texts about lesson times and assignments

Which is right for you?

Both tools have their strengths. Here's who each is best for.

Spreadsheets & Paper is best for

Teachers with fewer than 5 students who want to keep things extremely simple

Nova Music is best for

Any music teacher ready to get organized, save hours every week, and run a more professional studio

Frequently asked questions

Why should I stop using spreadsheets for my music studio?

Spreadsheets can't send reminders, track makeup lessons automatically, accept payments, or give students a portal to view their schedule. As your studio grows past 10-15 students, spreadsheets become a source of missed payments, scheduling conflicts, and wasted time.

Is there a free alternative to spreadsheets for music teachers?

Yes. Nova Music is free with up to 10 students. It replaces your spreadsheet, calendar, payment tracker, and email threads with one integrated platform designed specifically for music studios.

How long does it take to switch from spreadsheets to Nova Music?

Most music teachers have their studio fully set up on Nova Music within 30 minutes. You can add students, set up recurring lessons, and start sending messages right away.

Nova for your instrument

See how Nova Music is tailored for your teaching specialty.

Ready to switch from Spreadsheets & Paper?

Start free with up to 10 students. No credit card required.