My wife and I are both instrumental teachers (peris) fulltime. We both feel that teaching private pupils in the evening is doing the same job and therefore have the potential to make us stale - no relaxation time.
My inlaws think that we should teach some private pupils a couple nights a week to boost income since there is a demand for our lessons outside school.

Does anyone else feel the same?

Surely this is a matter for you to decide for yourselves? Do whatever suits you! I do a lot of peri work & have a few private pupils - I feel I need the money & I do enjoy it. But, there's a great deal to be said for having more time to yourselves, so don't go into private work unless you really want to or need the money.

I think it depends on what you teach...if you have variety in your work then you should be alright. I teach piano, theory and pre-instrumental music, but also do occasional accompanying, singing and conducting. The combination of this and nice long holidays will hopefully keep staleness at bay.

This time of year doesn't help feeling that way though! Its been a long haul since September and we have just been through exams. I do find that at this time of year it can get difficult to be motivated!

I am beginning to think that it is so difficult to make a decent income at music teaching that maybe its necessary to work like mad during term time and then enjoy the peace in the holidays.

I should maybe follow up on what I mean by stale.
As peris between the both of us we running 3 different school bands on different nights till 5. In our lunchtimes we run ensembles. When we come home, had dinner walked the dog etc we do our paperwork etc. We both give a lot to the pupils that we teach not because of the money because we want ours to get the best experience.
So by doing private lessons we feel that we will become more tired early on each term and not be fresh - lively - enthusiastic.

I really don't think my inlaws understand!!!

Of course you are in demand as private teachers. As far as your in-laws go, it may be hard to please them, but that is life. Don't overdo the evening work.
You are doing exactly what so many totally committed peris and musicians do, and deriving job satisfaction at the same time. It may not maximise your earning potential, but it will keep the two of you more contented, and your marriage healthier.

Ss

With those details, it does sound like you are very busy! I don't think stale is the word you are looking for...exhausted might be closer!

Like everyone else has said, you know what's right for you both...and that's none of the in-laws' beeswax!

I'm a peri - teaching Piano Drums and keyboards at schools as well as whole class recorder and curriculum music lessons. I absolutely love my job... and i have about twenty private pupils a week as well. As long as you can make it work for you and you have time to yourselves it's all good!

My main advice - Work when you want to! You can find yourself doing this odd half hour on a wednesday right in the middle of the evening because that's the "only slot my child has". Well... bad luck then. Decide what nights you want to work and stick to it.

The extra money is great! But the enjoyment of passing on an enthusiasm and technique of playing is even more rewarding

Enjoy

Would it be very fair on your dog? Does someone look after it during the day? If it's on its own all day is it fair to ignore it all evening too?

As others have said, I can't see how it's any business of your in-laws (unless, maybe, they're helping you with your mortgage or something) . It's your life! My teaching work is now mainly home based, with peri stuff just 2 (short) mornings a week. So I have time to practise! ( or shop; sunbathe; read etc..)

I'm glad someone brought that up. I've had dogs (one at a time until now) all my married life, and used to leave them all day. I now realise that is unfair on the dog, and would never do so again, or advise anyone else to do it. Dogs need company too and get lonely, and that is when, in certain breeds, destruction occurs.
I now teach at home, and my husband is semi-retired, so they are not left for alone for very long - three hours at the most - and I am in the house. Also the students like to meet them - one is a 5 month old labrador puppy, the other a 3-year old lab. It's his birthday to day! Both black.

Working long hours does have it's consequences. I work as a peri for about 25 hours a week (including travelling) and do private work for about 30 hours a week. I have Saturday afternoon and Sunday off - I'm usually shattered then. However, when I take a week or two off for a holiday in the summer and Christmas, I feel like I've earned it. I'm in my prime (IMHO), but in fifteen to twenty years time I would hope to work a lot less. I have to get up early to do paperwork, marking and planning.

From September I've decided not to work in Schools on a Friday. That day I'll arrange music and print it, practise my own pieces, work on my websites and maybe relax a little by going for a short walk!

Don't worry about the dog, he is very self reliant and stubbern and sometimes a bit dopey!
He has three options
1. He takes it upon himself to come to work with us, either if we are base school or travelling. If we are in base school he gets a run with another dog atleast 3 times in the day. If we are travelling he either goes with this dog and stays in their car or he goes around schools with us. He has his bag which accompanies him all the time. Including hairdrier if he gets wet, jacket if it is cold, fan if it is too hot, brush, spare bottle of water and lots of biscuits. Before anyone starts shouting about the sun etc, we look after him, but this is where he is dopey, we once parked the car half part in the shade, windows open with a nice bowl of fresh water, but the front seat was in the sun, we come back to the car to find the dog sitting all cosy in the front seat. It is great taking him around with us, it is a companion on what can be a lonely job at times.
2. He is stubborn and won't come to work with us, we are sometimes in a position to come home at lunchtime, that way he gets out to run around, but normally all he does is comes down to see you and then runs back upstairs which leads me on to
3. He is quite happy spending all his life on our bed, he has the cream da la cream of beds (as a student, my landlord bought me a bed that was cheaper than his) but he doesn't use that one.

Incase anyone is wondering he is a dalmation.

I take the real chocolatedog to school with me too - it's great getting out in the nearby fields at lunchtime for a breath of fresh air (except when it's chucking it down with rain!! but even then it clears the cobwebs!!! ) I play chase the shadows in the summer time - park my car in one spot for morning school and then change the spot in the afternoon after I've walked her.......

Sounds just like my dog



I cut down on private lessons for this reason. Working at school during the day left me tired for private teaching in the evening. Now I feel I have much more energy and enthusiasm for my evening pupils.

Please can I be your dog?!!!

If you're happy with your earnings and your life, then frankly, who gives a brass monkey's what the inlaws think? If you need some extra income then sure, you could supplement your income by teaching in the evenings, but only do it because it's what you want to do/to supplement your income for your own reasons. Can't help thinking it sounds like you work hard anyway, and that any pupils you had because your inlaws kept on about it rather than because you wanted to would end up being a source of resentment, which wouldn't do you (or potentially also your pupils) any favours whatsoever!