Are music colleges preparing you for the real world with a marketable degree? An article by Bill Zuckerman outlines a few characteristics that need to be changed or revitalized in music programs around the country. “Make Entrepreneur Initiative courses a Core Requirement over Super Advanced Music Theory Classes” While the fundamentals of music theory are necessary for the success for a great musician, I would...
Read MoreWritten By Wayne Estes Last week a student of mine looked at me, smiled and said, “I get it now.” And another one grasped her head with both hands, smiled and looked at me, made an exploding sound and wildly moved her arms off of her head simulating a volcanic explosion. THIS is what I truly love about teaching. It is the impact we bring, no matter...
Read MoreI recently launched an online piano lesson course for kids, and have been taking marketing course after marketing course to figure out how to get my brand out there!
In doing so, I’ve learned a lot of very valuable information about using Facebook as a marketing tool for businesses. If you find your target audience, your advertising can be incredibly affordable AND valuable. Here are some tips for ways to utilize Facebook to get your studio name to your target customers:
by Jennene Estes It’s that time of year where parents and students alike are gearing up for summer. Vacations are being planned, plane tickets booked and everyone is looking for a constructive way to fill their child’s time with enriching activities. Music lessons are of course a big part of that, but how can private music teachers go that extra step to provide a group experience...
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If you look at my almost 4-year-old son you would agree that he is a happy and healthy little boy. He is almost always smiling, has an incredible memory, and is almost as tall as his 6-year-old big sister.
If you observed him at his preschool or in a swimming lesson, you might jump to the conclusion that he is a brat or that I am a terrible mother who must let my child do whatever he wants.
You see, my son has an array of diagnoses and special needs that aren’t visible to the typical eye. His special needs are the result of early trauma that have affected his brain deeply. His needs manifest themselves in his behavior, his struggle to focus, his ability to transition from one activity to the next, his ability to keep his body in check and many other ways that make nearly every moment a struggle because his brain has difficulty processing all the information and stimuli around him.
We haven’t been able to just sign him up for any activity we think he might enjoy, and we often don’t attend group events, Sunday School or story times at the library. We have to be very thoughtful about what will allow him to be successful, and discuss with the teachers and group leaders whether or not they are equipped and open to learning about how to deal with a child that has special needs.
You might say that having a son with some extra challenges has created a soft spot in my heart for working with kids who have developmental delays or need a little bit of “outside the box” thinking to work with them. In my years of teaching piano lessons, I have worked with kids on the Autism Spectrum, children who struggle with Sensory Processing Disorder, ADHD and even one who had vision difficulties. Often times, these kids have tried piano lessons before and had a negative experience. They have a teacher who is not willing to adjust expectations, or perhaps one who has labeled them a “bad kid” instead of understanding that the child’s brain might just be wired differently.