Build Your Private Music Practice

Milana offers a great booklet entitled, "77 Ways to Build Your Private Music Practice". Many music teachers have problems finding students because they aren't looking in the right places. The fact is, once you know how and where to look for students, you'll be surprised at how fast your music practice grows! This article shares a few of her 77 suggestions. If you'd like to know more, you can refer to the contact information above to find out how to obtain her booklet.

Being successful requires treating your music practice as a business. You are a talented and creative professional, but you still need to make people aware of your services. Become pro-active and use these tips to acquire more students in less time. Are you ready for success? Read on.

ONE: Networking
Call or email all of your friends, relatives, colleagues, and past instructors. Tell them you're looking for students. Do so, especially if you haven't taught in a while and are now trying to build your practice again. Make sure everyone you meet knows what you do. Mention that you teach music to people at PTA meetings, the karate school, the gym, your neighbors, yard sales, post office and other places you visit.

TWO: Become a Local Celebrity
Invite your students and their friends to a party, give out specialty gifts with your name on them and play music games. Let your students perform and be sure you perform as well. Record and sell CDs or cassettes with your student's performances and put your contact information on the back. Students and their parents love to offer these to family, friends, colleague and neighbors. Keep the cost reasonable, but allow yourself to make a little extra from each one. Perform at least once a month to maintain your visibility in the community. Not only does this keep you in the public eye but it also helps you to stay sharp in your performance skills.

THREE: Advertising and Promotion
Put emphasis on advertising your music studio in elementary school newsletters. Parents decide what after school activities are best for their children between ages 6 - 10, and you want to be right there to steer them into music lessons! Also, ask local dance, art and drama instructors to display your promotional flyers in their studio lobbies. Do the same for them in exchange.

Pet stores are a great children's magnet as well as pizza restaurants. Ask the manager or owner to put your business cards on the counter, visible to customers when they are checking out.

Use bulletin boards in music stores, supermarkets, libraries, and other public places to post your promotional materials. Some will let you post a flyer; others only a business card. Make your materials colorful, attractive and unique, with large letters, an attractive message, and your contact information.

Always keep track of how your students found you. At the end of the year, summarize the most effective promotional methods and use them again for the next year.

FOUR: Free Publicity
Scedule a recital for your students and send a media release to your local newspaper to announce it. In clude your business name, contact information and the date and time of the recital. Do this as soon as you schedule the recital so the editor has time in advance to put it in their calendar of local events.

Encourage referrals from your students by offering them a free gift, a free lesson, or a free gift certificate to their favorite place to eat.

FIVE: Referrals
Offer sibling discounts for your students. If the brother of your student wants to take lessons, discount your rate by 25%. You can stop offering this discount once your practice is filled with students, but it may work well for you in the beginning. Create "First lesson Free" coupons, and give them to your students and their parents. Place them in music stores. Your students and their parents will be happy to pass them around to their classmates, relatives and neighbors.

Inquire about the booklet, "77 Ways to Build Your Private Music Practice". You will be amazed at how many more suggestions Milana offers that includes free business card contacts, ideas on trade shows, and how to have fun parties and recitals.