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Are you thinking about teaching piano lessons as a career?
Maybe giving a few lessons as an extra job, evenings and weekends?
Wondering if being a private music instructor is right for you?
I've learned a lot about teaching and running a studio -- from good experiences and from big mistakes. Success at music teaching definitely takes skill beyond knowing how to play piano!
Ask yourself these questions, honestly, as you explore becoming a piano teacher.
Teaching Piano Lessons
Is it right for me?
Do I want to be an entrepreneur?
Teaching piano lessons involves much more than teaching! It helps to have an entrepreneurial spirit to handle all the other details. You'll be:
- Doing marketing (promoting yourself)
- Collecting payments and dealing with money
- Working with an ever-changing schedule
- Doing lots of customer service/problem resolution
To name a few. And you'll have to find time in there somewhere to actually prepare for the lessons themselves! ;-)
Teaching piano lessons is wonderful. But being self-employed carries extra work that many people don't adequately address before starting out. I'm not trying to be overly negative! Simply realistic.
So, ask yourself if being self-employed appeals to you!
Am I self-motivated?
Being self-employed also means that the motivation needs to come from you!
Lesson preparation, balancing bank statements, paying taxes, creating advertising... I often end up doing these things on Saturdays, or in the evenings when my husband's watching TV. I love having a studio, so I'm motivated to do the extras.
I still struggle with procrastination at times. But being a piano teacher, and caring deeply about the success of my students, has helped change my ways!
Self-motivation helps so much to get the details out of the way so you can focus on teaching. If you're a procrastinator, it's time to be face it! Are you willing to add some organization and self-motivation to your life?
Am I afraid of confrontation?
OK, time to be truly honest.
As in any business, when teaching piano lessons, there will be customers that require confrontation.
Whether it's a parent who keeps "forgetting" that lesson fees are due (and conveniently leaves the checkbook at home) or an adult student that has a tendency to cancel at the last minute, and then expects not to pay for lessons, you need to be willing to have the 'hard conversations.'
This was the most difficult lesson I had to learn as a new teacher. It took over 2 years before I realized that I was close to being burned out -- not because of teaching, but because I felt as though I was consistently being taken advantage of (I was).
If the idea of enforcing a payment and attendance policy leaves you shaking in your shoes, seek out a business mentor who can help you. It's very possible to be polite and firm at the same time!
Am I comfortable promoting myself?
Think about your answer to this question: "Why should I choose you as a piano teacher?"
Whenever you get a phone call, or an email, inquiring about your services, you'll essentially be answering this question, even though people are rarely that direct. Or, you'll be at a dinner party and someone will find out you teach, and ask you why you're different from other teachers in town.
Your answers to all those questions are self-promotion! Speaking confidently about your teaching is absolutely the best advertising -- and it costs nothing.
Self-promotion may feel like bragging to you. Or maybe it's simply uncomfortable. But it's completely necessary! You are your teaching business.
You can do it!
The questions above aren't meant to discourage you.
They're meant to help you examine whether teaching is right for you -- and to save you grief if you decide to give piano lessons!
And I've written more about teaching -- check out piano teaching tips.
Teaching piano lessons is fun, rewarding, and you can certainly make a good living, even if you're in a small town like I am. It could be the perfect choice for you!
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