10 Tips for Establishing a Successful Teaching Studio
When I was asked to write a blog post about establishing and maintaining a successful teaching studio, it took me a while to get started. Even just a short time ago, I wouldn’t have considered myself ready to write a post like this. However, as with most things surrounding education, finding how to measure success can be just as difficult as the actual instruction. For this post, I’m going to measure less on the successes my students have had (obviously thanks to the god-like instruction they most certainly received from me and certainly not based on their own work ethic and merits). Rather, I want to focus on the initial steps that I took to establish myself as a teacher and make my teaching the correct fit for my lifestyle and schedule.
Also, did you guys know that there’s a global pandemic going on? I started my private studio before the pandemic, but I’ll also add some of the adjustments I’ve made for some of my points below and some of the results that I’ve seen from those so far.
Pretending for a moment that this is a Top 10 video on YouTube, please be aware that these are my experiences and while I’m certainly excited to share some tips that worked for me, you may find that your circumstances are different and require unique solutions. Each of these tips could probably be a post all it’s own (maybe I’ll do that sometime), so I’ll try to be brief on each one for now.
Tip #1: Know Why You’re Teaching
First thing’s first: why are you doing this to yourself? In all seriousness, asking yourself this question is an important part of getting started and for the longevity and quality of your work. I’ve had friends who think of teaching as a money making tool, and let’s just say, they aren’t teaching anymore. The payments shouldn’t be the driving force of your desire to teach. I’m not here to tell you what the correct reasons are but, whatever they are for you, I would hope they are more about your students’ benefit first. This has been especially important during the pandemic and the successes I see from students is one of the things that is keeping me going right now.
Tip #2: Talking with Private Teachers in your Area
Congratulations! You’ve decided that you are interested in establishing a private studio in [insert town name here].
One of the first things that I would recommend doing is having some conversations with some other teachers in the area. Doing this will allow you to understand how many teachers are serving your area and possibly some more tips that you may not have considered. I certainly learned a lot from doing this when I first started. Also, in talking and making introductions with other teachers in the area, you make yourself a known quantity. Very often, people will move or will be unable to teach all of the students who are interested in lessons due to their schedule. Having your name in their back pocket gives them a number to call when they need help managing workloads. In fact, I know a number of people who have been “gifted” an entire studio’s worth of students overnight. Not necessarily something to bank on, but certainly a possibility.
Tip #3: Getting to Know Your Band/Orchestra Directors
Band/Orchestra directors are essential contacts when teaching because they will (hopefully) be the next biggest advocates for having students study privately aside from you know…you. Attend the concerts, have a conversation, and volunteer. You’d be surprised at how many directors will jump at the chance to have a free masterclass or chamber music coaching for their students. These are busy people and if you can show them that you have the skills to help their students and in turn, help them, you’ll be a name to remember when parents come asking about private lessons. Many directors also have contacts with PTA or booster programs that can fund scholarships to keep students in private lesson programs, especially those who wouldn’t otherwise be unable to afford it. Particularly during the pandemic, directors are eager to find ways to keep students engaged without the daily rehearsals of in-person classes. Private lessons are one of the few alternatives that guarantee students continue to play until they go back to school.
Edit from our Marketing Manager (a singer! gasp): this includes choir/musical/theater directors for those of us teaching voice!
Tip #4: Find Opportunities to Show Your Skills
Speaking of masterclasses, they can be prime opportunities to show what you can do on your instrument. Obviously, the goal isn’t to give a recital in lieu of instructing students but, showing that you have the goods can legitimize your desire to build a studio and mount excitement from students and parents that there is a professional close by. While those students may not have studied music at a conservatory like you, I can promise you that they know the difference between someone who can play and someone who can’t. Do yourself a favor and find opportunities to showcase the former. This can also be an opportunity to use your website (which you have) to post videos and audio (in that order) that show what you can do! Obviously the benefits of having some videos and/or live-streamed performance opportunities can go a long way while we’re unable to be in schools.
Tip #5: Talking with Parents
Now we’re getting into the really fun stuff! So long as you’re working with students who live with a parent or guardian, you’ll most likely be talking with them. The parents are the ones writing your checks so it’s a good idea to build relationships with them as well as the students. Plus, it’s a lot easier for a student who doesn’t want to go to their lesson to convince their parent to stay home when the person driving them doesn’t even know who you are. Aside from just tolerating your existence, being in communication with parents also affords you another ally. Parents who see the value of your work will encourage students to practice and will advocate for you when others in the community ask about where to go for private lessons. Most often, this doesn’t have to be some grand gesture - just a proactive email that goes out every other month or so can be the difference between a healthy and trusting relationship, and simply a monetary one.
Tip #6: Stay Organized
Now that we have the students in the room, it’s best for both you and them to keep organized. When you have a studio of 10+ students, I can promise that you won’t remember what they all are working on. I’m not a fan of practice logs for students (only because I never used them and probably faked it when I was asked to), but some sort of documentation just keeping track of what you’re working on with each student is a great tool. Google Sheets or Excel is awesome for this. Beyond that, make sure you have a studio roster with all of the contact information for students/parents, typical lesson times, and student folders with assignments. Especially with virtual lessons being the norm at the moment, having a dedicated Google folder with assignments hosted on your account is a great way to keep weekly assignments, past repertoire, and other reference material in one easy-to-access place for your students.
Tip #7: Be Flexible
Most high school kids don’t keep calendars. The transitive property tells us that middle schoolers and younger don’t either. In fact, even many parents aren’t that great about it. That means that conflicts will happen. In my experience, the more you’re able to roll with the punches when it comes to scheduling keeps you desirable. Someone who is too rigid can come across as restrictive and that can lead to everyone thinking you’re just not a good fit. That being said, only do what you’re comfortable with and reasonably able to handle.
In the lessons themselves, don’t let students continue to struggle on only one concept because that’s all you have prepared to teach. Switch it up and change the focus of an exercise if you see a student getting frustrated. Sometimes what works best for you is not what your student will need that day. Especially now, don’t be afraid to abandon a lesson plan in favor of letting a student vent a little about what’s going on in their life. You’re probably not a social worker but building trust is an important part of teaching and by being flexible you can show a student that you’re there for them.
Tip #8: Measure Success Appropriately
This one is really important to me. The reality of studying music is that a mere fraction of a fraction of all students will keep studying music through the collegiate level and beyond. That being said, music instruction isn’t about creating a breed of virtuoso soloists. It’s about showing students the joys of practicing and succeeding, performing in front of a live audience, collaboration with others, and commitment to a craft. I have had students that will continue to articulate incorrectly no matter what exercise I throw at them, but, when I talk to their parents, I hear about the differences they see in their personality and school work after taking lessons. It might be a student who has more confidence to think or speak for themselves, or maybe just a student who needs someone to hear them, but no matter what it is, they will be gaining something from working with you. Understand from the outset that all students are not created equal; they won’t likely be the best players just because they are a part of your studio. Every student will need something different from you so use all of the skills you’ve acquired as a professional musician to be what they need you to be. If they become a great musician in the process, that’s just a bonus.
Tip #9: Establish Communication Expectations
You’re a young, eclectic individual. Use your knowledge of different communication platforms to be the best resource for your students, their parents, directors, and colleagues. A lot of students use their phones more than any other device. Perhaps texting about lessons is the best way to reach them quickly. The communication with my students via texting allows them to reach out more frequently during their practice sessions and it helps to establish myself as a reliable resource outside of their weekly dedicated hour. Parents might be more available via email or phone call. Facebook and other social media sites are not something I would recommend using unless you can really stay on top of curating your business content vs. personal content. You don’t need your students seeing everything that you’re up to. Whatever method you choose, just be sure to have discussed it ahead of time with each party and keep on top of it.
Last little note, keep your personal boundaries consistent. Having hours where you’re not available and can have time for yourself is important too.
Tip #10: Be Creative
Sure, being able to play interesting repertoire is fun, but being creative is more about how you approach each student. Maybe assigning etudes out of the same method book is good for some students while others get bored and then don’t practice because they need more variety. Find unique solutions to problems. Instead of working on tone with the instrument, give them listening assignments of different players and have them report back on which one they liked best and why. Rather than just having a string of students regurgitate the same solo back at you for five hours in a row, cater the lesson to their needs and their learning styles. The idea is to make the students their own teachers. It’s not about having them master a skill within the context of one piece or one scenario, it’s about teaching them how to teach themselves because they won’t be studying with you forever. Establishing this mindset from the beginning of a student-teacher relationship has been great for students progressing quickly when you’re not there. The best moments as a teacher, for me, are those when a student comes to me with a revelation about their playing or a piece they’re working on simply because I’ve given them the correct tools to listen to themselves subjectively.
Naturally, there are so many different theories and methods on teaching privately and I encourage you to find what works best for you. Reading about something and executing it with a student in the room can be two very wildly different experiences. Again, these are some of the broader tips that I’ve used to, quite quickly, develop a studio and I anticipate looking back on this post and having more, less, or different things to say in a few years. But for now, this is what has worked for me so far. Therefore, the last thing I’ll leave you with is:
BONUS - Tip #11: You’re Always a Student
Never assume that you have all the knowledge. To walk into a room expecting to learn nothing, even when you have a fancy music degree and you’re working with a grade schooler, would be naive. Teaching, when done for the right reasons, can be one of the best learning tools we have when it comes to mastering an instrument. The different characters and styles you’ll come across will make you look differently at your own playing and can lead to some amazing changes for both parties. Not every lesson will be life changing and those cramped practice rooms or same old Zoom screens can get tiring after a while, but if you stay curious, you’ll be amazed at what your students can teach you.