How to teach music privately?

Deciding to Teach Music Privately

Teaching music privately offers flexibility and control compared to teaching at a school. Private teachers set their own hours, policies, and lesson plans customized for each student (Source). However, private teaching also requires self-motivation, business skills, and a steady flow of students. Teachers need patience, strong communication skills, and expertise on their instrument to succeed (Source). Before launching a private studio, set goals for student enrollment, teaching standards, and recitals or performances to work towards. Outline expectations for students and policies for lessons and practice. Prepare educational materials and curriculum tailored to different skill levels. Decide on your niche – will you teach kids, adults, hobbyists, or serious students aiming for college music programs or a career in music? With planning and commitment, teaching music privately allows sharing your passion on your own terms.

Creating Your Music Studio

As a private music teacher, you’ll need a space to conduct lessons. Here are some options to consider:

Renting or Using Existing Space

Look into renting studio space by the hour at a music school or community center. Make sure the space is soundproofed, has a piano or other instruments, and provides any other equipment you need. If renting is not in your budget, consider teaching out of your home or even doing lessons online.

Equipment/Instruments

Determine what instruments and other gear you’ll need based on the type of lessons you plan to offer. For example, piano teachers will need either an acoustic piano or digital keyboard, plus a piano bench. Guitar teachers should have a few different guitars available. You may also want to invest in sheet music stands, recording devices, metronomes, and other teaching tools.

Technology

Technology can enhance music lessons. Consider what you need – speakers to play accompaniments or backing tracks, a tablet or computer for digital sheet music, or a webcam and audio interface for online lessons. Reliable, high-speed internet access is a must if you’ll do any lessons virtually.

Finding Students

One of the most important aspects of starting a private music teaching studio is finding students. There are several effective strategies for marketing your services and building an online presence to attract new students:

Post frequently on social media sites like Facebook and Instagram showcasing your skills and expertise. Engage potential students by sharing practice tips, behind-the-scenes of your studio, Q&As, and short musical clips. Use relevant hashtags and location tags to extend your reach.

Create instructional YouTube videos to demonstrate your teaching style. Post beginner tutorials, practice exercises, and piece walkthroughs to attract new students looking for help.

List your services on online directories and job boards like Craigslist and local Facebook groups. Highlight your credentials, availability, and pricing. Refresh posts frequently.

Design professional business cards and brochures to distribute at local schools, music shops, and community centers. Offer a free introductory lesson or consultation to convert leads.

Partner with nearby schools and youth orchestras to offer workshops or ensemble coaching. Volunteer for demonstrations at school music nights and recitals. This exposure positions you as an expert.

Leverage your network by offering current students and families incentives to refer new students. Word-of-mouth is often the best advertising.

Setting Policies and Prices

When starting to offer private music lessons, it’s important to determine the length and frequency of lessons upfront. Most private lessons range from 30 minutes to one hour, once per week. Some teachers offer biweekly lessons as well. Decide what works best for your teaching style and availability. Consider starting with 30-minute lessons for very young beginners, then progressing to 45-60 minutes as they advance.

Establish clear cancellation and makeup policies too. A 24-hour cancellation notice is standard. If a student cancels with less notice, determine whether you will still charge for the lesson. Offer a limited number of makeup lessons for student absences per term, but avoid open-ended policies. You may choose to set a cutoff date after which makeup lessons expire.

When setting your rates, you have several pricing models to consider: you can charge a flat fee per lesson, offer discounted package deals for multiple lessons purchased upfront, set tiered pricing based on lesson length or student level, or charge hourly rates. According to How Much To Charge For Private Music Lessons, teachers often charge $25-60 per 30-minute lesson and $40-100+ per 60-minute lesson depending on experience. Make your rates competitive but also account for your qualifications and teaching costs.

Building Lesson Plans

Creating effective lesson plans is essential for teaching music students successfully. As you build your lesson plans, it’s important to keep some key elements in mind:

First, set specific goals with each student that align with their musical interests, skill level, and areas needing improvement. Having measurable goals will give lessons focus and allow you to track progress over time. Refer to method books like Alfred’s Basic Piano Library or the Suzuki Violin School to select repertoire that supports student goals.

Next, structure the lesson time wisely. Lessons typically follow a similar format: warm-up exercises, review of previous material, introduction of new concepts, practice and repetition, assigning homework for the next lesson. A sample 30-minute lesson plan may devote 5 minutes to warm-ups, 5 minutes to review, 10 minutes to new material, 5 minutes to practice, and 5 minutes to assigning homework.

Finally, choose engaging activities andexercises. Incorporate theory, technique, ear training, and sight reading. Provide opportunities for both solo and duet playing. Keep students active and limit lecture time. Refer to sources like Tips on Lesson Planning for Music Teachers for more ideas on structuring effective music lessons.

Teaching Lessons

When teaching music lessons, it’s important to engage different learning styles. Some students may learn best by ear, while others prefer reading sheet music. Get to know how each student learns and tailor your teaching approach accordingly. For example, play melodies for students to mimic if they learn by ear or provide sheet music exercises for visual learners.

Giving constructive feedback is also vital for music students. Avoid being overly critical, which can discourage students. Instead, point out what they are doing well and provide specific, actionable tips for improvement. Feedback should be kind but honest. Praise the student when deserved while also gently correcting issues.

To maintain student interest, incorporate a variety of activities into each lesson. Don’t just drill techniques nonstop. Play fun duets together, improvise, or learn songs the student is excited about. Also, set goals and celebrate progress. Seeing their improvement will motivate students to continue.

For more teaching tips, check out this video from experienced instructor John Gotsis: https://www.facebook.com/johngotsismusic/

Preparing Students for Performances

Performances provide important performance opportunities for students to demonstrate their musical progress. As a private music teacher, you’ll want to help students prepare both technically and mentally for these events.

Start by identifying appropriate performance opportunities based on the student’s age, skill level, and interests. Local recitals, talent shows, competitions, and community events are good options to consider. Make sure the performance aligns with what the student has been working on in lessons.

Next, help students overcome anxiety about performing through mental techniques like visualization and positive self-talk. Also incorporate performance practice into lessons by doing mock recitals and getting feedback. Consider recording students so they become comfortable with the experience. Refer to this source for more on managing performance anxiety: Adjunct Music – Applied Music Instructor

In the weeks leading up to the performance, focus lesson time on polishing and memorizing the pieces. Work with an accompanist to rehearse with piano or other instrumentation. Run through the program from start to finish to simulate the actual performance. Provide tips on proper stage presence and etiquette.

By selecting the right opportunities, preparing thoroughly, and building confidence, you can set your students up for successful performances.

Communicating with Parents

Effective communication with parents is critical in private music instruction. As a teacher, you should provide regular progress updates and create opportunities for parental involvement. This helps ensure parents stay informed and engaged.

Set up a system to provide updates after lessons. For example, send a brief weekly email highlighting what was covered and the student’s progress. Give praise for successes and gently note areas for improvement. Ask parents to practice with their child between lessons. Seek their input on practice habits at home. Building this open dialogue makes parents feel invested (cite: https://aileensmusicroom.com/).

Address any concerns promptly and professionally. Parents may reach out with questions about practice time, lesson pacing, or recital preparation. Make yourself available to discuss issues. Work collaboratively to find solutions. Avoid being defensive. Your rapport with parents directly affects student motivation and retention.

Get parents engaged by inviting them to attend lessons, recitals, and concerts. Encourage them to reinforce what you cover in lessons at home. Share practice tips and resources to support their involvement. When parents take an active role, students feel more inspired to excel (cite: https://www.thedomesticmusician.com/). Together, build an encouraging community around your student.

Tracking Student Progress

Tracking the progress of students is a crucial part of teaching music privately. As a teacher, it’s important to have systems in place to assess if students are meeting milestones and developing their musical abilities over time. Here are some key ways to track student progress in private music lessons:

Set clear milestones and goals. At the start, identify musical concepts and techniques you want students to learn in a certain timeframe, like learning basic chord progressions after 3 months. Share these goals with students and check in regularly on their progress. Consider using a progress tracking sheet to record skills gained.

Conduct periodic assessments. Schedule playing or written tests every few months to evaluate students’ current abilities. Assess if they are retaining knowledge and meeting the milestones set. Adjust teaching strategies if some concepts need review.

Use portfolios and recitals. Have students collect pieces, recordings and other works in a portfolio to showcase growth. Recitals also demonstrate progress by performing polished repertoire for an audience.

Tracking progress allows teachers to provide feedback, motivate students and show that their hard work is paying off. It helps ensure students are advancing their musical skills over time.

Growing Your Studio

As your studio grows, retaining students and recruiting assistance become crucial. Below are some tips for expanding your offerings and managing growth:

To retain students long-term:

Host regular recitals and performances to motivate students and showcase progress
Offer rewards and recognition for loyal students, such as certificates and feature opportunities
Check in regularly with students and parents to ensure satisfaction and address any concerns

To recruit assistance:

Hire qualified teachers to take on additional students and styles of instruction
Bring on administrative help for scheduling, billing, and communications

Build a substitute teacher roster to fill in when you are unavailable

To expand offerings:

Provide group classes, ensembles, and workshops to complement private lessons

Partner with local schools and organizations to offer programs
Create performance groups students can audition for
Host summer camps and intensives

An effective online presence can also help retain current students and attract new ones. As recommended by Nicol Riccardo in Growing Your Music Career by Growing an Online Presence, build a professional website and leverage social media to showcase your studio. Share student and event updates to engage families and promote your programs.