Starting Teaching, Rules and regulations and getting organised?! Options

[chess]

Hi,
What a useful forum this is for one like me who is just starting out - thanks to all who post!

As I start to teach from home it occurs to me that there may be some paperwork to do -
eg has anyone come across any problems with using their home as a place of business? I am thinking of mortgage, insurance, council issues.
eg is there anywhere I can get useful advice about tax/national insurance and keeping records - beginner's book-keeping!

Any other advice on how to get organised?!

[Dugazon]

Council normally shouldn't be an issue: Private tutoring does not turn your flat/house into a business premise, so you don't have to pay business rates. The only problem that could arise is someone complaining about the noise, or your students blocking up all available parking spaces. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Mortgage shouldn't be a problem either, since you don't use the flat/house, or even a proportion, exclusively for business.
I don't even put a proportion through my tax, because I don't want to pay Capital Gains Tax when we sell. You might want to work out what hurts you more - not claiming now or having to pay tax when you sell. For me, it would definitely be the latter, but I guess this is very individual, so there probably is no right or wrong to this.

Insurance IS an issue, because you have people coming in an out, who could damage, steal and God knows what. So you definitely have to tell your insurance provider, and your premium might go up (or you might even have to find a new insurer, since not all companies allow business use).

You should also look out for public liability (e.g. through the MU or ISM) before you start up. I am a member of the Musicians' Union, and they provide cover up to £10mio, free instrument/equipment insurance up to £2000 (more is prossible for a higher premium), free personal accident cover and other goodies like maternity grants, a small funeralcare policy, free legal advice, workshops, magazines etc - all for £12.50 a month, I think that's VERY fair.

Tax is easy and pretty straightforward (I finished my tax-return last weekend in 2 hours), of course provided you keep your records in order from the outset. In my first year here (I used to live in Germany, and the tax-returns there are a nightmare!), I just got one of these "The Best Small Business Accounts Books" (yellow one for weekly cash-businesses, blue one for monthly credit-businesses). I think they are roughly £15, you can get them at WHSmith. I found them very helpful to get the hang of the system here, and now I just use my own spreadsheets. I would recommend them if you have never done your own accounts before.

I would also recommend to get T&Cs from the outset - and stick to them, especially regarding notice periods, cancellations etc. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Good luck, you'll be fine, and most of the people here are really helpful if you have questions ...

[chess]

So useful - thanks Dugazon. I have been fortunate enough to get pupils referred from another teacher in the area who is moving - but now people are ringing I'm thinking I need to get serious and business-like about what has been just an 'idea' up to now!

Another question...do teachers taking on pupils who have had lessons with someone else routinely change the books to the one they want to work from, or let them continue with the other teacher's choice? i don't want to insist people spend more money but neither do I want to be committed to teaching with materials that I wouldn't have chosen!

[KTViola]

Re your last question - in my experience, whether I change their book immediately depends a lot on how they feel about their previous teacher. If they've come to me due to a change of school, or other 'non-choice' on their teacher, I'll usually stick with the material they've got (maybe supplementing it if it's something I really can't get on with) until a natural ending point, then their next book will be my choice. If, however, they've changed teacher because they didn't get on with the previous teacher, I'll be more inclined to try & make a completely new start for them.

It's worth doing a fair amount of research into the various tutor books / methods/ series for your instrument. Find out what's popular with other local teachers, so that you'll at least be vaguely familiar with most of the books that are likely to turn up in your studio. It inspires confidence in pupils (and parents) if you clearly know your way around the method they've got, and have coherent reasons for your own choices.

[miffy]

Before you spend out on extra public liability, check if you already have these things on your insurance, or can have for a small extra charge. The ISM or MU are good to be a part of, they do good T&C ready printed too.
Don't stick to any books you don't like or don't know, you'll often find a student changing teachers would welcome also the change of material.
Decide before you start how you would like to run the lessons, especially whether or not you want parents in the lessons/house and be up front from the first enquiry and lesson, you want this to be stress free and enjoyable not only for your pupils, but also for yourself!
Good luck!
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Misterioso]

Just a couple of thoughts.

Re changing music - I agree completely with KTViola; however, if you are prepared to lend music, it's easier to change or supplement the music they arrive with as you will not be asking for more cash outlay. I log loaned music in and out of a notebook as it's easy to lose track of who has what. But it's also helpful to label it, so you know whose the book is when you're ready to move on.

I made a mistake when I started teaching - I didn't register with the tax office that I had started a business, because I knew I wouldn't be earning enough at first to make me liable to pay any tax. But they can charge if you do this (£100 11 years ago) so do make sure you register!

[Hils]

I made a mistake when I started teaching - I didn't register with the tax office that I had started a business, because I knew I wouldn't be earning enough at first to make me liable to pay any tax. But they can charge if you do this (£100 11 years ago) so do make sure you register!

Yes this is correct, and as far as I can tell the only think missing from DuGazon's excellent reply. Even if you are below the tax threshold in your earnings you need to register as self-employed for NI with the tax office. You may then be invited by them onto a basic accounting for the self-employed course (about half a day if I remember). This may well be worth your while if you feel a little unsure in this area and gives you a chance to ask your questions of the horse's mouth as it were.

[Dugazon]

.

[Mad Tom]

Since I am German and didn't have a National Insurance number yet when I moved here, I had the obligatory interview with the Job Centre to get one - only to be told I won't since I wasn't registered self-employed yet and therefore couldn't prove I really wanted to work.

You were misinformed. You do not need to be working or even seeking work to obtain an NI number. It is enough that you are eligible to work in the UK which,as an EU citizen, you are. All you need is proof of ID (passport/National ID card/Birth Certificate etc.).

[Dugazon]

Since I am German and didn't have a National Insurance number yet when I moved here, I had the obligatory interview with the Job Centre to get one - only to be told I won't since I wasn't registered self-employed yet and therefore couldn't prove I really wanted to work.

You were misinformed. You do not need to be working or even seeking work to obtain an NI number. It is enough that you are eligible to work in the UK which,as an EU citizen, you are. All you need is proof of ID (passport/National ID card/Birth Certificate etc.).

I know this, Mad Tom (I even told them), so does the Citizen's Advice (and probably everyone else who can just read, but I am sometimes not sure these people actually can (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) ).

In theory, it is all quite clear and straightforward, and in theory it is easy to prove they are wrong.
If you mainly have to communicate with Call Centre Agents though, or Job Centre employees who either cannot be bothered or simply don't know what they are doing, it is sadly not that straighforward anymore: You talk to someone different every time and tell them the same thing all over again, you then have to do everything in writing, it takes them ages to reply etc.

I could tell you stories about fellow EU-Expats who were even refused to register with their Health Centre "because they have no right to reside on the grounds of being an immigrant" or "have not been living in the UK for at least 6 months" or "this is only possible if they have indefinite leave to remain, otherwise they still need to be insured in their country of origin", or other shockingly wrong statements. The amount of misinformation, brought forward with immense stoicism, is really quite amazing.

P.S.: Sorry for hijacking the thread (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[Hils]

Oh yes, I forgot that - probably because it's a memory I'd rather erase.

So sorry to reawaken memories of such an unpleasant experience!

[chess]

So useful everyone...thankyou!

All the 'business' advice is setting me on the right path to avoid the mistakes I'm sure I would make through ignorance, or take ages finding out about (especially if I got the same sort of official help that Dugazon experienced - sorry to hear about it).
I also like the idea of lending music as I've been puzzling over how to offer a variety of rep without requiring people to spend lots of money on collections from which I may only use one or two pieces. I thought about copying - I can hear all the cries of 'copyright'! Has anyone investigated the website http://imslp.org/ which offers downloads of scores?

Thankyou again...
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[Cadence]

So useful everyone...thankyou!

All the 'business' advice is setting me on the right path to avoid the mistakes I'm sure I would make through ignorance, or take ages finding out about (especially if I got the same sort of official help that Dugazon experienced - sorry to hear about it).
I also like the idea of lending music as I've been puzzling over how to offer a variety of rep without requiring people to spend lots of money on collections from which I may only use one or two pieces. I thought about copying - I can hear all the cries of 'copyright'! Has anyone investigated the website http://imslp.org/ which offers downloads of scores?

Thankyou again...
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I use The Petrucci Library (IMSLP) all the time!

Its really great, the only thing is to make sure that you check the ratings next to the score you are about to download, as some are better quality than other. After a while, you get to know which uploaders have good copies and which don't - for example, Julliard School of Music have put a lot of music on there as they seem to support it, and those copies are always excellent.

Only downfall is that sometimes if you are looking for a piece of music that no-one has uploaded, it can be a bit frustrating, expecially if it isn't that obscure, and don't forget that anything relatively recent won't be on there, as the copyright will still be valid.

What I especially love about it is that there are often copies of pieces that really open your eyes - for example, original manuscripts, editions that you've never heard of that have intruiging edits, arrangements for duets and instrumental groups of famous solo pieces ... it really is a treasure trove!

Only problem is that amount of printing that it entails!

[chess]

Sounds worth exploring Cadence - thank you!

I've been having a look at the forum on there about copyright, which sounds very complicated, but seems to indicate that anything older than 70 years is OK to download?
I'm not clear whether copyright applies to just the composer or whether publishers can also hold the copyright for works that they publish - this seems unlikely though.

I've gone off topic again...sorry.

[Hils]

I thought about copying - I can hear all the cries of 'copyright'!
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I would ask you to set a good example regarding photoccopying music from the first. I have a little note in my T&Cs to the effect that I am happy to loan but requesting that parents and pupils respect copyright law..

Publishers will indeed often have rights over the works of dead composers particularly if recently edited.

As regards download sites I keep in mind the rule of thumb "if it seems too good to be true, it probably is"!

After all we may be helping to educate the composers and performers of the future who will be relying on income from their efforts.