Fortunately, the future of private music studio teaching is that music teachers will always be needed. Each generation of parents are trying to create well-rounded children, and music education is quite often a large part of that equation. As for the adult students, there are always those who look back on their days as young students fondly and will forever want their second chance at playing.

Many factors will dictate whether your private music studio will be successful. Where you’re located in the country, how saturated the market is, and what instruments are needed will be different in each area. Some parts of the country are so competitive that it will always be necessary to figure out how you can be better than the others and more attractive to future students. Other places may warrant traveling to teach, teaching more than one instrument, and greater flexibility.

A lot of people hear the term “musician” and think of a struggling performer who can barely make ends meet. But being a “professional musician” who is well trained and experienced actually has quite a lot of options to make a great living.

In fact, most musicians have so many career choices they don’t stick to just one area. They either do several at a time or their career moves in different directions as they continue to grow musically. If your training and practice is solid, you can create a professional career for yourself just like other vocations. 

Have business cards ready at all times and leave them at music stores, libraries, religious institutions, and anywhere you visit frequently.  Put scan codes on your business card, develop and distribute a brochure about your private music studio, sign up for digital broker sites, market yourself daily on social media sites, create your own web site and lots more!

Do you teach virtually?  As a studio teacher, you can teach all over the world at any time of day.  What sites do you use?  Zoom, Skype, FaceTime?  Private studio teachers are essential to the community and beyond, especially since the world has changed so much.  Now, on-line instruction is even more warranted.

There are many uses for the computer in a private music studio lesson .. from YouTube, to information regarding composers, listening to others play their solo, downloading music and much more.  Always make sure you have the Internet you need !!

Often creative minds get into trouble when they’re not drawn to the business and finance world. Making music and sharing their love is what demands most of their attention, but the real world comes knocking - studio costs, travel expenses, and the dreaded taxes.  Do you declare all the monies that you make?  Do you need an accountant?

If you want to run a successful business (even in a creative industry) you must have your dollars and cents in order. Need some guidance when it comes to tax write-offs for musicians? We’ve got you covered!

Adult music students can take many forms. You may encounter the retiree who is fulfilling a lifelong dream, a stay at home mom whose kids are finally school age and has the time to practice, or a workaholic who needs a creative outlet to burn off steam.

Regardless of their reasons, adults can be a joy to teach. They are intelligent and know how to learn. They can pick up on concepts quickly and will progress at a rapid pace. After many years of working, they’re probably eager to learn something new!

On the other hand, teaching adults can also have its own set of challenges. They can have unrealistically high expectations and may think this is going to be easy. If their son/ daughter can do it, why can’t they? Try to remind them on a regular basis that everything takes time, students need to practice regardless of age, and all the hard work it will be worth it.

Private music teachers are determined to turn up the volume when it comes to increasing accessibility and availability to music education. Traditional music education programs are either losing funding or music programs are frequently on the chopping block in public schools. But this problem is solvable. If we think more deeply about the profession we proudly call music education, we see the ways in which private music teachers can seamlessly bridge the gap and save music education. 

The research is clear that students of all ages and ability levels can benefit from music education. Music education has been closely associated with enhanced language skills, increased cognitive ability, a boost in creative thinking, and strengthened problem-solving skills. 

Music education can not just survive but thrive with the help of private music teachers.

In this day and age, there are many teaching options for your Private Music Studio. Whether it’s seeing students in your home, a studio setting, or virtually, there are many pros and cons to each scenario.  People will typically pay more money for you to come to them. It’s a big time saver on their part, and if they have multiple children’s schedules to manage, they don’t have to worry about things like childcare and dinnertime. A perk to traveling to piano students’ homes (as an example), is that the lesson happens on the same instrument they practice on, which can ease confusion when they’re practicing. Plus, you're saving the parents' (who both work) time and money.

Adults are one of the fastest-growing demographics of music students, and they have their own learning styles, life experiences, capabilities, goals, and interests that should be absorbed into their music education. Teaching an adult learner can be highly enjoyable and deeply enriching but there is a unique pedagogy in teaching adults versus children. What adjustments do you need to make in your approach to teaching adults as opposed to children? The adult student may need special guidance

There is no shortcut to success in teaching music to adult learners. Perseverance, effort, patience, and commitment are needed by both the teacher and the student to maximize success and satisfaction. During the learning process, it is normal for adult students to face obstacles, some of which are described above. Don’t forget they often need more compliments with follow-ups !!

Cell phones have likely been the bane of all teachers’ existence since their inception. Kids sneaking them into class and causing a distraction adds a level of difficulty to managing a classroom that didn’t exist years ago. Not to mention the distraction they cause when you’re supposed to be doing something focused like practicing your instrument. Let me just check Facebook for a second… But are they really all bad? The ability to look up information and take videos of your students while you’re teaching can be a great asset. Am I actually suggesting that a cell phone could be a GREAT tool to use during a lesson? 

Metronome Apps. There are so many great metronome apps with a ton of helpful features. Programable rhythms, customizable screens, syncing, volume control, subdivisions, and polyrhythms are just some of the bells and whistles these apps have. Some are even geared towards specific instruments. 

Video.  Does a student keep using poor hand position? Record them in action so they can watch it back for easier and faster correction. This can be a real game changer when students are preparing for recitals and auditions. It’s impossible to have complete self-awareness when playing, and watching yourself on video can help correct everything from body position to even tempo.

A website is an essential part of any business owner’s toolkit. Especially private music teachers!  Even if you don’t have a full-fledged studio, there’s still plenty of content to put on your website. Not to mention, it can be a great way to get new students. Websites don’t have to be fancy (although if you want to get fancy, by all means do!). For private music teachers, they should give visitors a sense of who you are, what kind of music you teach, and let prospective students know what to expect when they study with you. It also gives you the opportunity to expand your studio through a store or blog.  Include a gallery, links, information about music events in your area and much more.

Don’t underestimate the power of a professional website for your private music studio. With so many options today, the cost can be minimal. Creating it should be fun, and the rewards will be great!