Skills and Attributes Needed to be a Private Music Teacher

A look at the essential skills, training, salary information and working conditions of music instructors who teach from their private home studios.

Private music teachers are trained individuals who have established their music studio as a home-based business. They provide music instruction to children and adults of all ages and levels.

Music instructors teach students proper technique, musicianship, practice strategies, music theory and appreciation. Music lessons are taught either one-on-one or in group classes.

Key Skills Needed to be a Private Music Teacher

Music teachers need strong written and spoken communication skills. They give music lessons to a wide range of students, from preschool children to retirees. Having the versatility to communicate with all of these age levels is not just an asset, but a necessity.

Listening skills are vital. Music instructors need to listen carefully to musical elements such as notes, rhythm, articulation, pedaling, shaping, tempo and flow. Based on their assessment, they help their students correct inconsistencies and learning errors.

Music teachers should possess good perception and observation skills. They need to detect and correct improper technique and posture which, if left unchecked, could lead to musician injuries. Effective music teachers are sensitive to their student's body language. They also need to be attuned to their students' shifts in mood and energy level, then make adjustments to better meet the needs of their students.

Independent music teachers also require strong administrative, planning and organizational skills. Aptitude, learning preferences, motivations, needs, interests and personalities are unique to each student. Therefore, lesson plans need to be personalized for each student.

Education and Training Requirements for a Private Music Teacher

Education and training requirements vary, depending on the subjects taught and instrument. All music teachers have taken years of music lessons. Many perform as soloists or collaborative musicians. Some music teachers are also adjudicators, examiners, composers, music publishers or clinicians.

Music teachers who teach classical music have achieved a high level of proficiency in their instrument, many holding a music diploma or degree. Teachers who fall into this category include: piano teachers, voice teachers, music theory teachers, strings teachers, woodwinds teachers, brass teachers and percussion teachers.

On the other hand, there are some teachers with extensive performing experience and practical music theory knowledge but they lack certification from a music conservatory or university. Coaches and teachers active in the popular music industry are in this category.

Teachers who offer group lessons such as Kindermusik, Music for Young Children, Kodály, Suzuki or Yamaha go through additional program-specific training.

Job Responsibilities of a Private Music Teacher

Private music teachers are self-employed. They are responsible for all facets of running their own business, including:

• Developing lesson plans, teaching materials and time-lines tailored for each student

• Preparing students for music examinations, festivals and competitions

• Lesson registration and scheduling

• Set lesson tuition, develop and enforce studio policies

• Communicating with parents with regards to performance opportunities, student progress, issues and registration deadlines and requirements for examinations, festivals and competitions

• Sales and marketing

• Administrative tasks such as bookkeeping, filing, research and development, cleaning, troubleshooting technology issues

• Keeping up with their own professional development

• Staying current on trends on music pedagogy and studio technology and software available

• Ensuring the safety and welfare of their students while under their care

Independent music instructors can keep up with their professional development through continuing education and being involved with a professional music teaching association such as the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) and the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers' Associations (CFMTA).

Salary Information and Working Conditions for Private Music Teachers

Unfortunately, the figures are not well documented. One site, Indeed.com lists the average salary for an "instrumental music tutor" as $52,000. Whether that  reflects the salary for someone who teaches at the post-secondary level is unclear.

It is safe to say that private music teachers earn more than music teachers who teach in a music store/school. Private music teachers establish their fees based on their education, teaching experience, performing experience and track record.

The market can be somewhat volatile. Combined with the limitations to teaching, there seems to be a significant number of instructors who teach music on a part-time basis.

Private music teachers provide instruction in their home studio. Some have their office in a separate room from their teaching studio, while others teach and do office work in the same space.

Home studios contain a professional library or audio/visual recordings, music scores and textbooks, at least one instrument, a metronome, good lighting, good seating, voice mail or an answering machine to take calls during lessons, music stands, a washroom and a waiting area. Some studios have a computer, rhythm machine or recording equipment. Many piano teachers for instance, own more than one piano. The second instrument is used for ensemble playing or teacher demonstrations.

Although some private music teachers offer lessons during the day, most teach in the afternoon and evening, when their students have come home from school or work. Some music instructors offer lessons on the weekends.

Private music teachers generally teach throughout the school year, although some offer summer lessons or workshops. January to June are especially hectic as that is when students polish and memorize their pieces to the high degree of fluency required to perform at recitals, examinations and music festivals.

Private music teachers need a diverse skill-set to succeed. In addition to possessing a high degree of knowledge and proficiency in their instrument, they must adapt and change their teaching approach to match the needs of each student. They must be highly organized as they balance the needs of their students, the administrative needs of their business, and their own professional development. The pace can be intense but the rewards of sharing their love for music and hearing each student develop their own musical voice are priceless.

Originally published on Suite101 on June 11, 2010. Information updated March 10, 2013. All rights reserved by Rhona-Mae Arca.

Finding Harmony With the Right Music Teacher

Signing up for music lessons involves a long-term commitment. Great care should be taken to find a music teacher that is a good fit for the student.

Whether the goal is to develop one’s artistic ability, prepare for a career in music or play for recreation, music lessons can benefit musicians at any age and level. When someone signs up for music lessons, they enter into a long-term relationship with a music teacher that can last several years. For it to be a fruitful relationship, great care should be taken to find a teacher who is a good fit for the student and his or her family.

What Prospective Students Should Think About Before Taking Music Lessons

There are several considerations a student and his or her family should make prior to registering for music lessons:

1. whether the prospective student is ready for music lessons

2. which instrument to study

3. the family's commitment and attitude towards music lessons

Having a clear sense of where one stands with respect to each of these areas will make it easier to determine the best teacher for the student and the family.

Looking for a music teacher is similar to shopping for the perfect hairdresser. At the core, a student will blossom with a teacher they “click” with and who does good work. Parents will appreciate working with a teacher whose teaching philosophies and operating procedures complement their vision for their child's musical education

Types of Music Lessons, Learning Environments and Instructors

Music students may study privately (one-on-one) or in a group class. There are several beginner music class programs available, such as Music for Young Children, the Kodály method, the Suzuki method, Yamaha and Kindermusik.

Lessons are offered on a variety of instruments. The most common instruments people choose when commencing their musical education are the piano, voice, guitar and violin. Lessons in music theory, a specific genre (e.g. jazz), improvisation or music composition are also available.

Music lessons are offered in several venues. Students can study at a music school affiliated with a music store, a music school affiliated with a conservatory, at a private music teacher’s studio or in the comfort of their own home.

There are several types of music instructors, each offering their unique blend of experience, knowledge and teaching approaches:

1. Certified teachers who have completed their post-secondary education and some have taken pedagogical training and are members of a professional music teachers’ association.

2. Student teachers who are advanced students in the process of completing their professional accreditation.

3. Professional musicians who regularly perform and/or have done commercial recordings.

4. Teachers who lack accreditation; however, their skills, education received and experience are exemplary and enable them to offer quality music instruction.

Tuition varies depending upon the teachers’ educational and performance background, professional affiliations, track record, teaching experience and how their studio is set up. However, good chemistry with the teacher, qualifications, high quality education and complementary vision should rate more highly than cost when making a final decision.

Tips on How to Find a Music Teacher

The easiest way to find a music teacher is to ask around. The benefits of talking to one’s family, friends and colleagues are two-fold: not only can they give names and contact information; one’s contacts can provide details on their first-hand experience with a particular teacher.

Another method to finding a music teacher is to contact a music teacher’s association. Many teaching associations such as the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers’ Associations (CFMTA), the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) and the European Piano Teachers Association (EPTA) have an online directory.

Checking advertisements is a third option when searching for a music instructor. Some teachers place advertisements in a community newsletter or newspaper, while other teachers put up posters in local stores.

After the audition-interview, the teacher also considers whether the student and family are a good fit for the studio. The music teacher may recommend another teacher if he or she feels that the student's and family's interests best lie with a teacher with a different background or approach.

If there are any special needs, such as a health condition, learning disability or if the student is an adult, these should be addressed when first inquiring about lessons or during the audition-interview. It is acceptable to inquire about the teacher’s experience in an area of special consideration.

Music lessons are a long-term investment. Taking the time in advance to find a teacher that is qualified, has a good track record, “clicks” with the student and shares a complementary vision with the student’s family goes a long way to making the relationship a harmonious one.

Sources:

Alberta Registered Music Teachers’ Association website and Membership Renewal Package (accessed June 30, 2010).

Canadian Federation of Music Teachers’ Associations (accessed June 30, 2010).

Music Teachers National Association (accessed June 30, 2010).

Originally published on Suite101 on June 30, 2010. All rights reserved by Rhona-Mae Arca.