Lately, there have been several private music educators that have wanted more information about how to build their clientele. I haven't had much experience in teaching privately, but I have listened to private music teachers share about how they got their start. If you teach in a public or private school, it's quite easy to let your students know that you will be offering music lessons. However, if you aren't teaching at a public school or if you don't have a close affiliation with children at local boys and girls clubs, or area churches, you will need to advertise.

There are many ways to advertise. Since many private teachers may start out on a shoestring budget, one of the quickest and least expensive ways to get the word out that you are giving lessons is to print your own flyers. Include your phone number, the instruments that you will be teaching, your hours and perhaps even your rates and then hand out at least twenty to public music teachers in your area. Ask them if they wouldn't mind refering their students to you. Many teachers, such as myself, are happy to do this.

Another way to get the word out is to find your local "free ads" paper. Generally, there are plenty of publication companies in mid-size to large towns, that will print your ads for very little money. These papers are circulated in front of grocery stores, drug stores or convenience stores for free. We have a local news company that prints these types of ads called, the "Thrifty Nickel". Check in your yellow pages for these companies.

Another good way to build your clientele is to be visible in the community, sharing your instrument. Yes, you may have to volunteer for many of these functions for the community, but the pay off can be quite good, especially when folks start recognizing your talents as something desireable for which their children can learn. If you are good at what you do and you LOVE what you do, it will show! It will be your stongest selling card.

Some comments that relate to the private music business, found while researching this topic, are as follows:

I have found my fear of not having enough students lessens as my studio poilicy is strengthened. I send out an invoice 1 week before the last week of the month, due the last week of the month. It includes not only the lessons for the next month, but any books I might be owed as for reinbursement from the previous month plus any costs for upcoming recitals. My students' parents are paying a month in advance and it is all paid up by the 1st of the month. As for missed lessons, I've just implemented something new. I print out a calendar of the month. On it I have all the times of the day and the students first names... I have a few openings so I write the word "Open" by it. Then, if a student is owed a missed lesson, which is only reschedulable if they were sick or if for some reason they needed to cancel and gave me at least a 24 hour notice, it is the parents job to look over the calendar and call me and ask for an open time. It has taken so much stress and worry off me. It allows me to keep to my teaching hours without having to make up lessons on my days off.

When I began teaching privately in my home, over 25 years ago, my rates were $2.50 for a half hour lesson. Now, I charge by the semester, an equivalent of $22 per 40 minute lesson. A number of years ago, I settled on the philosophy that my charges would be what I feel my time and expertise is worth, no matter what the local going rate happens to be. Although, an initial studio load may be small, if you develop a reputation as a "great teacher", you will soon have a waiting list of prospective students. Word of mouth is the best advertisement. I accompany for our local elementary, middle school and/or high school choral concerts for free. I do this because of the constant struggle to keep music an important part of the public school curriculum and to do my small part to help kids have a good musical experience. I find that my being available for the public school music teachers opens a door for referrals to my private teaching business and for other accompanying jobs for which I do charge a fee. It's much better advertising this way, than paying for a 3-liner in the local newspaper!

When I began teaching piano three years ago, I was willing to accept anybody as my student. However, now that I have established myself as a teacher and have been gotten several referrals, I find my time is very limited. This has allowed me to be more selective. I have used practice charts, and music demonstrations to show my students that learning to be a musician CAN be fun!

Simply put your best foot forward, everyday, every lesson, every minute, if you plan to expand a child's knowledge of not only piano, but in the arena of life. Don't slack off, keep working and contact parents when you have truly exhausted all options open to any teacher. But first, ask your STUDENT what they want to accomplish and how they feel they should go about attaining their goals. You may find the answer will help you and your student work more effeciently and in the desired direction.

In my studio policy, I require certain things from each student, in order for them to be allowed to continue studying music in my studio. Decide what your boundaries are and stick to them. Piano lessons, while hard work must always be fun. I suggest attending the World Piano Pedagogy Conference.

Food for thought:
"Remember how it was when you were the student? We can remember that we love our instrument, right? But what about the times we level-off in our learning experience? What did it take to get us out of our slump? Did we hear a new piece somewhere? - in or out of the home and studio. Was it a new piece we tried and found interesting? A new style? Be attentive to the student . If they mention something that they would like to work on - get it! They will astound you everytime how hard they will work on something that they are truely interested in. It is alright to be at a challenging level if they initiated the interest. They will prove it to themselves! Affirm their accomplishment step by step over and over again. Recitals are an opportunity for the other students to hear something that they would like to work on and accomplish. We were not born with a library of musical exposure. Variety is the spice to learning and growing in music education. Put yourself in their shoes. Are they understanding your instruction? Double check. If not, approach it from a different angle. Be creative and have fun teaching. Your students will, too. You can turn a "ho-hum" student into an encouraged and accomplishing individual. As a private teacher, you have a huge impact on a child's life. A little encouragement and personal understanding works wonders. Value the student and they will value their time with you and their instrument."