An advice on getting into teaching private music lessons?

Question

I am 17 years old, a new senior in high school, and I play flute and plan to major in flute performance in college. I need a job to start saving money for not only college, but plane flights to all my college auditions. I would like to possibly start giving private lessons to little kids starting out on flute, and was looking for any advice or warnings people might have to offer. I have thought about this, its not just a whim, and I will definately be organized and have a plan. I have been playing for 8 years, and I am an experienced player, but I have never taught anyone really. Any thoughts? How should I go about trying to start this, and finding students?

Answer 1

As a younger teacher, you need to target your audience carefully. Keep in mind that there are probably very experienced teachers in your area with bachelor's and master's degrees in flute performance, education, or pedagogy. With that being the case, make sure you target people just starting on the instrument that you can help without the student feeling like you aren't qualified enough. Also, you will need a competitive rate. If a teacher with a master's in flute pedagogy is offering lessons at $30 for 45 minutes, you're going to have to beat it based on the fact that you aren't as experienced.

Perhaps you could also give them something a lot of teachers don't: travel to the students' home. You probably don't have a studio, so I'm sure this works in your best interest. The best place to start is usually at local churches. You could also get your high school teacher to recommend you to the elementary or middle school teachers. I'm pretty sure that the parents of those prospective students will want their band and orchestra directors to vouch for your skill. A call from your director will take care of that.

From a fiscal standpoint, make sure you get paid up front. I like to have my students pay me for the next month up front. If they cancel and can't reschedule, you don't lose out. By make them pay upfront, you put the pressure on them to redeem those lessons. After all, you would be setting aside your time for their lesson anyways. This way, you can always plan ahead if they do cancel.

Answer 2

OK, I'm older that U (57) but I've been teaching guitar/fiddle for a long time. Yes, talk to ur local school, maybe they know of kids that want lessons. Also, make up some cards (U can do it on ur computer at home) and leave them in local music shops. I have cards in 2. People go in & ask if they know of teachers. I get a lot of work that way. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Sure, put an add in your local paper or up on the bulletin board of your local super market and other businesses. Student of Flute, to teach children, beginners only. A lot of parents who cannot afford to pay a collage educated teacher may consider a student teacher, I know I did this with guitar teaching when I first started. Also if you could go to their house it would be a big plus because a lot of mothers don't have the time to take their kids.

Answer 4

go where young people already teach music; to your local university that has an academy. Talk to the director and ask either if they need a flute teacher or know where you can inquire. Also, check with local music stores (the ones that sell instruments) to see if they have lessons or know someone who does. Through the years, my wife has taught piano as a college student in an academy, privately at home, privately at another college academy, and currently at a small-business studio that houses piano, vocal, and several instrumental teachers.
Oh and as to finding students, academies do all the work and pay all the bills (for a cut of your fee). Otherwise, start with one or two, keep posting notices and get word of mouth spread.

good luck.

Answer 5

ask ur high school band director for help. he/she could help u figure out how and what to teach. also find a certain age group to teach so that most of the lessons are similar and there is less variations on the playing levels/skills of ur students.

Answer 6

I am a professional flutist, public school teacher, and competition judge. I offer this advice to HELP you, not to be negative.

In this state, you CANNOT solicit from public schools. The teachers there keep a referral list - and it consists of degreed, certified professionals. This is because they also have to fingerprinted and background-checked to work with kids.

So - you need to work along side someone who DOES have these credentials. You OWN private teacher would be best place to start. See if they wish to start a summer Flute Camp for kids - each days, kids have mini-classes in all the necessary skills of flute playing- PLUS they play in a flute choir or ensemble. You r teacher charges tuition, and decides how much you are paid for your assistance. You teacher also covers the insurance, facilities fee, etc. Trust me - you do not just hand out your phone number and wait for the phone to ring! You will NOT make any money at this at your age - even people with degrees are hustling for students.
Again, I am not being negative - this a a REALISTIC answer, from many years of experience, at all teaching levels. Meanwhile, go on Yahoo GROUPS, and join FLUTENET - you will learn a TON!

Answer 7

Offer to help out at all region, all state, honors festivals. Offer to visit a classroom and demonstrate the instrument. Put up fliers wherever you go and include those little tear off tabs with your name and a way to contact you. Most major cities have a website that contains links to music teachers in the area. Make sure you get on that. Get your name onto the bulletin boards of all the local music stores. Offer your students a free bring your friend to class day. They should get a discount or a free solo or similar token. You get a potential new student. Offer coupons to your preset students to give to their sections. First lesson free, free advice on embouchure, free flute clinic, free fingering chart, just to give them a reason to come and see you.

Have a group lesson once every two weeks, or once a month, and invite everyone who wants to come. Have about three to five pieces to play through and focus on having fun. Your present students will really look forward to the social event, and your potential students will be amazed that any teacher could ever be cool enough to think of something like that.

Referrals from Elementary, Middle School, and High School teachers can be very lucrative. Offer short term seminars just before concerts, solo and ensemble etc. to help problem students catch up. Hope this helps.

Answer 8

Start finding students by going to places where young children are. You can avertizeflute teaching flue at the public schools and churches. Working with adults is hard for a 17year old. They are very hard to correct because they always think they are right! And are not afraid to argue with you.
Make sure to start out VERY simple. But I am guessing you already know that.
Be patient. You seem to have a natural gift for flute, some people may not. Personally, I play piano. Every time my teacher raises her voice or says some negative comment after I have worked hard all week, just makes me want to play even less! And not practice just to spite her!
So make sure to be OVERLY encouraging. Epically if dealing with children.
Rewards work very well too! As soon as somebody finishes a song, (on children anyway) make sure to give them a small piece of candy or a cookie. But stay away from stickers. Personally, when I was younger I would have never worked hard all week to get a sticker on my music page...
Make sure to get to know the parents of the kids to. Work with them. Tell the parents what the kid needs to do, how much they need to practice and help the parent develop a system to get their child to practice regularly.

Answer 9

You should definitely approach the beginner band directors in your area. Give them your business cards. Parents of new band students go to their band director for a teacher referral almost exclusively. (Being one of those parents, I know this).

As a private piano teacher myself, here's some more advice I can give you:

Don't start out by sinking a bunch of money into advertising. You can put fliers in most post offices. I've gotten more students from doing that than from the newspaper and phone book combined. MAKE business cards (don't pay someone else to make them), and make sure every new student is given several of them to pass on.

Don't expect to be able to charge as much as the established teachers. Although you have experience playing the instrument, you do not have a degree, and you have no experience teaching. These two factors carry a lot of weight. Don't be discouraged by this, though.... for a beginner student, parents don't want to invest a lot of money yet. We often look for high school students who can just help our kids get started on the right track with their instrument. Later, when we see they are serious, we're willing to pay the big bucks for a professional teacher.

Decide ahead of time whether you will go to the student, or they will come to you.... and be firm.

Decide on your tuition ahead of time.... and be firm. (Call other private instructors. Ask what they charge and what their experience is. Make sure your fee reflects how your experience fits into your market.)

Decide what hours you will be available to teach.... and stick to it.

I would also recommend meeting with other private instructors (preferably those who teach the same instrument). Discuss teaching methods, fees, location, studio setup, etc. Also, observe some of their lessons and/or recitals. From this, you can decide what works and what doesn't.

One strong word of advice.... Do not grow dependant on this income. As a private teacher who is going to be limited to part-time teaching, your income is going to fluctuate. Students come and go for various reasons, especially the beginners. I learned the hard way that it is necessary to require 30 days notice if a student is going to discontinue lessons.

I hope this helps.