As music teachers we face a constant challenge. How do we live for 12 months when our regular, guaranteed income is only 9 or 10 months? Unlike school teachers, we are usually independent studio teachers or work for a music school that is unlikely to spread out our income over 12 months. Summer is wonderful, don't get me wrong. But financially it can be a...
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This past spring, I decided to take a bit of a risk with my studio.
I’ve taught private piano lessons for about nine years. Since having a child two-and-a-half years ago, I’ve kept my studio relatively small. I only accept twelve private lesson students, since I like to be a mostly stay-at-home mom. In March, all my private lesson spots filled up, and I began a waiting list. I have always hated turning students down both because I love my job, and let’s be honest–no one likes turning down money. But I know that being home with my little one is most important right now, and in order to make a substantial enough leap in income, I would have to take on quite a few more students which means quite a few more hours away from my little one.
So, I decided to branch out from private lessons. Before moving from Wisconsin about two years ago, a public school there had approached me about teaching piano lessons in a group setting as part of their summer school program. I was all set to begin a certification process, but ended up moving to Montana before I could see it through. The idea of teaching group piano entered my head again this spring when I thought of the way it would work out really well in allowing me to teach substantially more students at my studio without taking away the amount of time from my daughter that it would require if I was to teach each of these students privately.
So I took the plunge.
Feeling overwhelmed with your business planning?
“When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.”
Don’t hesitate to enlist help! Being an independent teacher, I am fiercely independent, self-sufficient, and sometimes stubborn! However, when I become willing to ask for help, it seems the teachers magically appear.
Everyone needs a little help every now and then. Many of us have not had the business training that running a successful busines requires – I am the first to admit that I am lacking in these essential skills. This month I will feature the newly formed Piano Teacher School founded by Kathleen Theisen and Kristin Yost. Kathleen Theisen is an assistant professor at Western State Connecticut University and Kristin Yost is the founder and director of The Centre for Musical Minds in Frisco, Texas. Both of these enthusiastic teachers are not only very successful in their music careers but are also thriving entrepeneurs. And now they are here to help! They have developed practical courses to help independent teachers with the myriad of different activities involved in the daily tasks of teaching.
Piano Teacher School offers affordable online courses in four areas: Business Planning, Organization Strategies, Image and Branding, and Technology. Their goal is to “maximize the efficiency and productivity of your music studio.” Each class offers videos on private links and includes personalized one-on-one coaching. There are detailed descriptions of the classes on their website at pianoteacherschool.com – each sound fabulous and I would like to take them all, if only I could find the time! Courses are also accepted by the Music Teachers National Association for recertification.
I am constantly looking for ways to generate income while providing excellent service. This year I plan to offer "one stop shopping" for my students on my web site. I am exploring several affiliate programs that will allow me to earn income based on their purchases....
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I think the fall is probably an expensive time for most studio owners across the board as we prepare to head into another year of teaching…
Here’s what my business records show for this month:
Membership renewal in my national, state, and local teachers’ associations: $135
Ad in the local paper: $45
Ad in local parenting magazine: $100
New teaching materials for lessons: $50
Business license renewal: $25
You get the idea.