| This Article describes how private music teachers | | | | metal guitar |
| (those who teach guitar, piano, flute, drums etc on a | | | | These are just examples - there are literally thousands |
| one-on-one or small group basis) can increase their | | | | of possibilities, but the niche must be something that |
| income with simple strategies. | | | | customers actually want, it cant be something that you |
| Private Music teachers are teachers who teach one | | | | think might be good! |
| instrument, usually one on one with a student, or in | | | | Strategy #3 - Increase your retention rate and don't |
| small groups of students. Often these lessons are in | | | | take on every student |
| the teachers or the students homes, or sometimes | | | | Increasing your retention rate is vital for all businesses - |
| they are held within a school situation, often with the | | | | but particularly for music teachers - where your |
| student coming out of a larger class to spend the time | | | | income is determined by the number of students you |
| with the teacher. | | | | are teaching multiplied by the dollars that you charge. |
| Whether in a private studio or in a school, the financial | | | | If you can cut down on the number of students you |
| arrangement for this kind of teaching involves the | | | | lose, while you simultaneously increase the quality of |
| parents paying the teacher directly "per lesson", and it | | | | those students you'll have a better income, and a more |
| is this kind of teaching that this article aims to help | | | | satisfying teaching career as well. |
| teachers increase their income with. | | | | There is no way you should accept every student that |
| In this article are four strategies for increasing income | | | | you get offered. Not every student is going to be right |
| as a private music teacher - some of them may not | | | | for you - they often are looking to learn different things |
| be suitable for every teacher, but hopefully they will | | | | to what you offer, and they might not be as reliable in |
| give you some insights on how private music teachers | | | | terms of paying their fees and attending lessons as |
| can improve their income. | | | | your regular students, so you should always meet and |
| Strategy #1 - Never refund or credit a lesson because | | | | interview prospective students before you agree to |
| its in the clients best interest | | | | teach them. |
| Students miss lessons. It's a fact. People get sick, there | | | | By avoiding "problem" students in the first place you'll |
| are special sporting events that happen, there are | | | | be able to spend your time with more productive |
| times when for whatever reason students are going | | | | activities and better quality students.. and this definitely |
| to miss their music lesson. The fact is that this is | | | | helps to increase your earning potential. |
| unavoidable. What you can do as a music teacher is | | | | Most of the problems with retention can be traced |
| have a policy that says that "lessons are always | | | | back to one thing - the students lack motivation |
| made-up, they are never refunded or credited to your | | | | because they don't practice enough. We have various |
| account", however the important thing that is often | | | | strategies for increasing retention rate by encouraging |
| missed in this is the WHY of that statement... it should | | | | practice at the Fun Music company teachers blog, |
| be because it is necessary for the student's progress | | | | which you'll find a link to at the end of this article. |
| on their instrument. | | | | Strategy #4 - Add passive income streams to your |
| If you use this philosophy you won't ever have to | | | | business |
| argue with parents over it - because its in the students | | | | Teaching income is active income - if you stop |
| interest, not yours! If you start the arrangement with | | | | teaching the income stops. That is ok.. because it is like |
| this agreement in place you'll find it much easier to | | | | any earned income. What you should be looking to do |
| enforce it - the parents will make the effort to make | | | | is also add passive income to your business. |
| up the lesson rather than you having to insist on it. If | | | | Do you write any of your own teaching materials? |
| you have outcomes for the student (such as an | | | | If so you are in the perfect position to add passive |
| assessment or exam) in place it makes it even easier | | | | income to your income mix. All you have to do is find a |
| to make sure that it happens. | | | | way to publish your materials so that your students |
| You will need to make time to make the lessons up - it | | | | and others can access them. It can be as simple as |
| might be necessary to allow one or two days in the | | | | getting the materials printed and bound at a copy shop |
| holidays or during non-contact time to do it, but you'll | | | | just for your students only. |
| find that the ability to do this will be worth it in extra | | | | Do you purchase books and music for your students |
| income. Very often the parents will not bother making | | | | and pass them on to them? |
| it up, and you'll not have to credit or refund any money! | | | | If so you may be able to negotiate bulk discounts from |
| Strategy #2 - Find your Niche and make yourself | | | | suppliers and then add the full retail cost of the books |
| exclusive in that Niche | | | | to the students account. Parents will appreciate the |
| If you have something special about your teaching | | | | convenience of not having to go into a shop to |
| you'll find that you'll attract more and better quality | | | | purchase the books if you put it through your business. |
| students, and you'll be able to charge more. | | | | Can you sell leads to other teachers or businesses? |
| For example, lets say you teach the guitar. | | | | For example students all need to purchase instruments. |
| If you teach anyone who comes you'll probably end up | | | | It can be hard to negotiate, but if you can get a |
| with some young children, some high school children, | | | | system going with a music store that they will actually |
| and maybe one or two adults and you'll have to teach | | | | give you a monetary commission (or perhaps credit to |
| a variety of styles depending on the type of music | | | | use in their store) if you refer your students to |
| that the students like. | | | | purchase their instruments from their store. This is |
| If however..... you start a niche business, specializing in | | | | certainly possible on the internet, via the use of affiliate |
| only one area you'll eventually find that people will seek | | | | programs. |
| you out because you are a specialist, and you'll be able | | | | I hope this article has given you some ideas of ways |
| to charge more for your services and you'll be able to | | | | that you can improve your income as a private music |
| only take on the students you want. | | | | teacher. I was a private music teacher for over ten |
| Examples of a niche business for guitar might be: - A | | | | years, and I've used all of these strategies during that |
| business that specializes in guitar for young children - A | | | | time. Private music teaching should be fun and |
| business that helps adults fulfill their dreams of playing | | | | rewarding, and it gives you freedom to practice what |
| guitar in a band - A business that specializes in heavy | | | | you love, which is sharing the joy of music with others. |