| In Private Music teaching the teacher often is | | | | don't take on every student |
| forced to teach small groups or one on one | | | | Increasing your retention rate is vital for all |
| lessons at low fees, which are sometimes fixed | | | | businesses - but particularly for music teachers - |
| by the school or association they teach within. | | | | where your income is determined by the number |
| In a private studio or in a school, the monetary | | | | of students you are teaching multiplied by the |
| arrangements for this kind of music lesson | | | | dollars that you charge. |
| involves the parent paying the teacher "per | | | | If you can cut down on the number of students |
| lesson" and it is these kind of teachers that this | | | | you lose, while you simultaneously increase the |
| article hopes to help increase their income. | | | | quality of those students you'll have a better |
| In this article are four strategies for increasing | | | | income, and a more satisfying teaching career as |
| income as a private music teacher - some of | | | | well. |
| them may not be suitable for every teacher, but | | | | There is no way you should accept every |
| hopefully they will give you some insights on how | | | | student that you get offered. Not every student |
| private music teachers can improve their income. | | | | is going to be right for you - they often are |
| Strategy #1 - Never refund or credit a lesson | | | | looking to learn different things to what you offer, |
| because its in the clients best interest | | | | and they might not be as reliable in terms of |
| Students miss lessons. It's a fact. People get sick, | | | | paying their fees and attending lessons as your |
| there are special sporting events that happen, | | | | regular students, so you should always meet and |
| there are times when for whatever reason | | | | interview prospective students before you agree |
| students are going to miss their music lesson. The | | | | to teach them. |
| fact is that this is unavoidable. What you can do | | | | By avoiding "problem" students in the first place |
| as a music teacher is have a policy that says that | | | | you'll be able to spend your time with more |
| "lessons are always made-up, they are never | | | | productive activities and better quality students.. |
| refunded or credited to your account", however | | | | and this will increase your income in the longer |
| the important thing that is often missed in this is | | | | term. |
| the WHY of that statement... it should be because | | | | Most of the problems with retention can be |
| it is necessary for the student's progress on their | | | | traced back to one thing - the students lack |
| instrument. | | | | motivation because they don't practice enough. |
| If you use this philosophy you won't ever have to | | | | We have various strategies for increasing |
| argue with parents over it - because its in the | | | | retention rate by encouraging practice at the Fun |
| students interest, not yours! If you start the | | | | Music company teachers blog, which you'll find a |
| arrangement with this agreement in place you'll | | | | link to at the end of this article. |
| find it much easier to enforce it - the parents will | | | | Strategy #4 - Add passive income streams to |
| make the effort to make up the lesson rather | | | | your business |
| than you having to insist on it. If you have | | | | Teaching income is active income - if you stop |
| outcomes for the student (such as an | | | | teaching the income stops. That is ok.. because it |
| assessment or exam) in place it makes it even | | | | is like any earned income. What you should be |
| easier to make sure that it happens. | | | | looking to do is also add passive income to your |
| You will need to make time to make the lessons | | | | business. |
| up - it might be necessary to allow one or two | | | | Do you write any teaching materials which can be |
| days in the holidays or during non-contact time to | | | | used in music classes or lessons? |
| do it, but you'll find that the ability to do this will | | | | If so you are in the perfect position to add |
| be worth it in extra income. Very often the | | | | passive income to your income mix. All you have |
| parents will not bother making it up, and you'll not | | | | to do is find a way to publish your materials so |
| have to credit or refund any money! | | | | that your students and others can access them. |
| Strategy #2 - Find your Niche and make yourself | | | | It can be as simple as getting the materials |
| exclusive in that Niche | | | | printed and bound at a copy shop just for your |
| If you have something special about your | | | | students only. |
| teaching you'll find that you'll attract more and | | | | Do you purchase books and music for your |
| better quality students, and you'll be able to | | | | students and pass them on to them? |
| charge more. | | | | If so you may be able to negotiate bulk discounts |
| For example, lets say you teach the guitar. | | | | from suppliers and then add the full retail cost of |
| If you teach anyone who comes you'll probably | | | | the books to the students account. Parents will |
| end up with some young children, some high | | | | appreciate the convenience of not having to go |
| school children, and maybe one or two adults and | | | | into a shop to purchase the books if you put it |
| you'll have to teach a variety of styles depending | | | | through your business. |
| on the type of music that the students like. | | | | Can you sell leads to other teachers or |
| If however..... you start a niche business, | | | | businesses? |
| specializing in only one area you'll eventually find | | | | For example students all need to purchase |
| that people will seek you out because you are a | | | | instruments. Sometimes possible is an |
| specialist, and you'll be able to charge more for | | | | arrangement where you can can get a monetary |
| your services and you'll be able to only take on | | | | commission from a music store if you refer your |
| the students you want. | | | | students to purchase their instruments there. This |
| Examples of a niche business for guitar might be: | | | | is certainly possible on the internet, via the use of |
| - A business that specializes in guitar for young | | | | affiliate programs. |
| children - A business that helps adults fulfill their | | | | I hope this article has given you some ideas of |
| dreams of playing guitar in a band - A business | | | | ways that you can improve your income as a |
| that specializes in heavy metal guitar | | | | private music teacher. I was a private music |
| These are just examples - there are literally | | | | teacher for over ten years, and I've used all of |
| thousands of possibilities, but the niche must be | | | | these strategies during that time. Private music |
| something that customers actually want, it cant | | | | teaching should be fun and rewarding, and it gives |
| be something that you think might be good! | | | | you freedom to practice what you love, which is |
| Strategy #3 - Increase your retention rate and | | | | sharing the joy of music with others. |