| An Introduction for Musicians | | | | would be foolish. You have developed a product |
| For many of today's musicians, working as a | | | | (your tuition service) that is in such a need the |
| private music tutor has many benefits over | | | | demand out numbers the supply - the number of |
| working within an educational establishment. Firstly, | | | | lessons you have available per week. |
| you are a lot freer to choose where, when, and | | | | Building your "studio" into this size is an achievable |
| depending on how well you teach, WHO your | | | | target, but one not as many as could reach it |
| students are. This will also let you continue | | | | actually do. Those who do are employing valuable |
| whatever employment or other commitments | | | | marketing techniques whether they realise it or |
| you already have. Building up your student base | | | | not. |
| slowly allows you to commit time to each of | | | | One of these marketing techniques is so subtle, |
| them to find out their learning style and prepare | | | | many don't even realise they are doing it when |
| for their lessons without feeling overwhelemed | | | | they are advertising in their local newspaper or |
| suddenly with 30 new students starting next | | | | shop window. This is a basic example, but stick |
| week. | | | | with me; this idea can be applied at any time in |
| Starting out, the idea of being an "expert" can | | | | your teaching career. By advertising in a local |
| feel rather daunting... especially for those of us | | | | newspaper, you are already targeting the first |
| who learned by gigging, and may not be the best | | | | most likely people to use your tuition services... |
| sight-readers. Others among us have studied | | | | your local community. Unless you are famous for |
| music and/or education to higher levels. But no | | | | being an incredible musician, people will neither just |
| matter where you stand between these two, | | | | ask if you would teach them, or travel to find |
| those first few steps into teaching music as an | | | | you in the hope you teach music. This one simple |
| income is terrifying. | | | | ad is telling the local community "I live in this area, |
| Two main advantages I have seen in my time | | | | and I have spaces available to teach music |
| working as a private music tutor are | | | | lessons." I would save the expense and time on |
| 1. You have a lot more potential to work the | | | | that website until further down the line if you live |
| hours you choose, and where you choose. | | | | in a small town, the paper would provide a far |
| Allowing your other commitments time where | | | | higher return on income when you are starting |
| they need it. | | | | off. |
| 2. If you teach children, generally, they are far | | | | To develop this further, think what your ads say |
| more likely to behave and be responsive to | | | | about you? Do they say professional, or do they |
| teaching when either on their own as there is no | | | | say "I can play a few tunes on the piano, let me |
| one to show off to. School music lessons - | | | | teach you cos I really need the money" |
| especially in junior high school can be pretty hard | | | | Here are my top 5 mostly marketing techniques |
| to control. | | | | for musicians aspiring to earn a decent income |
| 3. You can vary the genres and methods you use | | | | from private tuition. |
| as you see fit, not as a strict school curriculum | | | | 1. Choose a name for your "studio" this can be |
| requires. | | | | anything from "Maria's Singing Tuition" to "Bass riff |
| 4. You can focus all your attention on one student | | | | School". Choose one and use it in ALL your |
| who WANTS to learn... if they don't, why are you | | | | advertising |
| teaching them - your morale will take a huge | | | | 2. Make sure you include contact details on |
| blow, and your time would be better invested in | | | | everything - advertising is an obvious one, but |
| working with an interested student. | | | | what about your pupils' notebooks in case they |
| Monetary benefits will come into the equation | | | | ever need to cancel a lesson? |
| somewhere... let's face it; they have to in this | | | | 3. Make at least two copies of your teaching |
| world. However, if all you can see are pound signs | | | | schedule. One that stays with you (especially if |
| and have no real interest to teach, work with | | | | you are as forgetful as me), and one that |
| others, or enjoy music... perhaps private tuition is | | | | everyone else in your household can see. This |
| not for you. | | | | allows them to know when not to disturb you, or |
| In my personal opinion, private teachers can | | | | when you'll be home. |
| make a very comfortable living, and with some | | | | (A third copy is ideal to keep with your musical |
| commitment and effort can easily make £40 | | | | instrument as a reference.) |
| upwards per hour. | | | | 4. Make sure that the two copies in point 3 have |
| It is not unheard of for tutors to have a waiting | | | | contact names and numbers for all your students. |
| list of students who want them as their tutor. | | | | Should you ever have an emergency, this allows |
| Once you find yourself in this position, although it | | | | all your pupils to be contacted by another person |
| isn't time to relax, it is most definitely time to | | | | in your family should you not be able to attend. |
| congratulate yourself. You can now (within reason) | | | | 5. Don't be afraid to tell people that you teach |
| charge what you REALLY feel you are worth per | | | | music - especially if you have spaces available. |
| lesson/hour, as you have people desperately | | | | Word of mouth is the best form of advertising, |
| waiting for your time. | | | | and when you combine this with the power of |
| If you didn't increase your price at this stage it | | | | NETWORKING, you can only succeed. |