Does anybody who is a student, school/college/uni teach their instrument to other people.

I've been asked to teach a 6 and 8 year old piano but they would be learning from scratch. I would love to do it but I feel that I'm not at an advanced level on the piano yet. Alot of my tutors have recommended that it would be good experience?

What does everyone else think, and what are your own experiences?

Thanks
PSL

I DO!
I have a piano student in for her Grade 1 June 21st.
Its such a rewarding experience, as it helps me brush up on technique whilst correcting her. Recently we've been doing loadssss of wrist flexibility stuff, and its topped me up too. You also learn something new from every lesson, and I find myself thinking like a teacher in my own practises...
ITS ALL VERY VERY BENEFICIAL

Go for it

I don't feel that anyone has the knowledge or experience on their instrument to teach until they have a university degree, or at the very least significant performance experience. There are always exceptions though.

a university degree for teaching an instrument?
I think thats a little far, to teach to diploma level, yes, but to teach atall i disagree completely,

Id say after grade 6 you can begin teaching pupils from scratch, but probably not very young children, I'd say probably year 6+

I can't see how anyone can possibly have enough experience to start teaching at only G6+. After all, my 10 year old daughter has got Grade7 Distinction and she certainly couldn't start teaching!

Please wait until you have G8 and several years performance experience at least.

By the way - my daughter is Y6 and i wouldn't want her to learn with someone who has only got G6.

I agree completely. Grade 6 is far too low to teach ANYONE at any grade level. You simply do not have the knowledge of your instrument to teach correctly. Only experience (or extremely prodigious talent) can give you that knowledge.

Would you let someone someone in fourth form teach a third form maths class full-time? Of course not.

I have to disagree with the University Degree remark. I used to have a flute teacher, fully qualified, who was absolutely terrible. Im Grade 8 Piano and have a few piano pupils. Okay, I am 17 which is quite young to teach, but I have a Grade 3 piano student, who I taught from the beginning with a 135 distinction under her belt.

my sister did but personally, i don't have the patience

but you should go for it, dear, perhaps when you're a little more experienced, but i don't i'm not sure if you're better than the grade you are at now. but when you feel ready, you should try!

Like I said, there are always exceptions. I used the bachelor of music as standard of experience/knowledge/ability that a musician should have before they start teaching.

And there are many, many things in life of great value and worth that cannot be measured by tests, targets and exams...

*Government, are you listening??*

Well said, if only important people who make silly decisions in government came on here... some of these posts would teach 'em a thing or two
But they're probably too busy making silly decisions...hey did you know, a study at oxford or cambridge has proven that if you have a bad teacher, you're less likely to pass! Bet you didnt know that lol...
the things they come up with.

anyway, it's not so much the qualification but the competance of the teacher, I wouldn't go anywhere near beginners until you have at least grade8, and complete motivation and determination to take people from the very beginning, and keep them...however if you wanted to help/teach say a grade 2/3 with their work, when they have the basics covered and it's not too technically demanding of you, but you have to have the technique to carry it off...I would maybe see if you could shadow a teachers lessons for the level you're aiming at before trying anything too, just to give you a good idea of how to go about things.

good luck!

I started off with a family friend - she was learning at school in a group and was doing grade 2 later that term. She was worried about passing, and the teacher refused to give individual lessons, so they approached me. I'd passed my grade 8 six months earlier, and had 3 sessions with her - we did quite a lot on scales and aural test - which she'd done very few of, and sight reading practice. I also listened to her pieces and gave her some advice - I didn't want to tread on the other teachers toes too much! She passed, with 117.

When I started in sixth form I also started helping out in the school concert band. There were 4 pre-grade 1 flutes, who played the oboe part as we had no oboe! I took them and some other students out of the rehearsal into a practice room to go over the notes and rhythm, and make sure they could play all the notes.

As a result of this, two of the girls I was helping were without a flute teacher, and I was approached by their parents and asked to teach them. They were at different stages, so had different lessons, but they play duets at the end of each lesson to give them more experience in ensemble playing. One passed her Grade 1 last summer with 127, and the other passed her grade 3 last term with 105. They are both very different students, but I've really enjoyed teaching them and have learnt a lot in the process!

Apart from all this rambling, I would say teaching is a good idea if you feel confident enough to do it. I've been approached by other people since, but have said no - on the grounds of school work and also time! My flute teacher has been very supportive. She was pleased when I told her I'd been asked to teach some pupils and has always been willing to give me ideas for any difficulties encountered.

Above all, I'd say go for it!

Hey
Thanks for the replies!
I have had teaching experience, with secondary and primary school children. In secondary I was helping out with listening, composition and other grade1/2ish piano players. I absolutely loved it! I loved the fact that I could pass my enthusiasm on to other students.

I completely understand with what people are saying about having a solid standard in piano, I'm hoping to do grade 8 next year.

As from August as part of my course I will study a subject which is learning how to teach your own instrument, which I think should be great.

My tutors have encouranged me to help the two children out, one of them already plays trumept, so could probably read treble clef a little.

I think I would like to get a few more months experience in college with the teaching subject, but as I said I love working with children and I do think it would be a good idea but as some people mentioned it would be a good idea to get a bit further with piano.

Thanks for all the replies!

You have to be the right kind of person to be able to teach.

My music teacher at school has degrees and diplomas coming out of his ears and hes a fantastic pianist but his teaching skills are below mine! And I'm only 16! I could teache better than he does. Also, my clarinet teacher has no grades at all and is the best one I know.

Just because you're qualified, doesnt mean you're any good!

i am 19 and a music student in university.
i teach and most of my classmates teach.
i used to have more than 10 students from the local music shop but since i stopped the contract with them i now have 3 private students, a grade 1-ish kid , a 41 year-old beginner and a grade 6-ish teenager.
i agree that people should have at least grade 8 + some deep knowledge about theory and music history before they go into teaching. personally, i don't have so much performance experience myself but i think that's not the point, good performer doesn't equal to good teacher. i am studying my 2nd instrument with a player of a professional orchestra but i just don't think he is a good teacher.
as far as now, i think my students are doing ok, 1 got his audition to a local wind band this saturday

thats just a bit different though isnt it you cant really compare with what you have just said about daughter.... your daughter probably would start teaching if she was lets say 18... of course a 10 year old wouldnt teach even if she had an FRSM.

I teach about 4 children who have just started out. i have grade 5 practical and im doing my grade 5 theory in november. one girl who came to me didnt know how to read music at all,.. and now can sight read simple grade 1 - 2 pieces without my help... so it shows that good things come out of someone who isnt according to some people fit to teach because i am living proof...

I stand by my original post markaruso - I can't see how anyone can possibly have enough experience to start teaching at only G6+, let alone G5. The early stages are just SO important to the future of any musician that I don't believe they should be left in the hands of someone who only has G5 or G6. My 10 year old HAS managed to teach some of her friends to read basic grade 1-2 pieces but she would not class herself as a teacher. Similarly, some of her friends have taught her basics of playing the saxophone and she can now play some G1 pieces etc but they too are not teachers and I wouldn't send my daughter to someone with just G5 or G6 if she were to start to learn to play the saxophone for real.

if you are saying im not fit to teach then your wrong.

actually because of the reason which you pointed out which is a very good reason ,.. i only teach 4 people ,.. 3 of them are through family,. i charge £5 half an hour ,.. so you couldnt class me as a proper teacher of the guitar as such ,.. its more like favours,.. but i have given all students a better understanding of the music. so i think ive done a good thing.. i havent led any young people in the wrong direction,.. im not thick i know what im doing.

because these people couldnt read music before,.. now they can ,.. you telling me thats a bad move on my behalf? dont worry i havent been telling them theres the note of Z and S.

tell me one thing,... if someone didnt know how to read music before and now can ,. is that a good thing ive done? or bad? tell me

I just wanted to say (as a student) that when I first started learning the clarinet, my teacher told me that the notes were the least important thing to learn. I've said before on here that I couldn't understand that at the time, but I do understand now that it's much more important (for a wind player) to get right things like embouchure, breathing, tone etc (as well as rhythm), and I'm sure other instruments must have their own challenges, all of which are more important than reading the notes.

With regard to theory, I've got a Distinction at every grade up to and including G5 but I wouldn't teach even the lower levels with only Grade 5 - personally I don't think I have enough insight to correctly answer any questions that might arise.

Okay, Thanks for the replies!
There are two very contrasting replies here
My teachers are encouraging me to teach the two students just the basics of piano, but as alot of people have suggested I would rather be at least grade 8 and be fully confident in myself as a performer before teaching them further. Plus, the children who are wanting me to teach them are still very young.
I feel a little scared to teach them the basics now incase of what others have sugggested that I could teach them bad habits, I wouldn't want that upon a student at all.
I'm now unsure.
I thought it would help me in a way aswell to improve as a performer and to get lot's of experience before applying to do a PDGE.
What was the age that everyone started teaching?
I'm 18 at the moment.
Thanks
PSL

What i meant was they can now sight read,.. so no not just name a D an E or G but actually know where it is ... play it and yes with good form.

You see ...putting grades and experience behind us for a min,.. because of that you have more than me ,.. but putting it aside,.. i can say i am a better teacher than you. reason being is because your shallow minded and that will show when you teach people because of your way of looking at things you may have also directed someone in the wrong direction. i just think its rubbish how as soon as you see what my grades all of a sudden decide im not good for teaching,.. or not good at all., ,. your saying basically "oh you cant teach good " etc... when its rubbish ,.. how do you know i have nothing to offer? you dont how well i can play or what im like as a person.

but anyway. everyone to there opinion, all i can say is that by november this year i will have my grade 8 classical guitar,.. so what does that tell you?

Just to clarify, because you've made it sound as if I'm a teacher, which I'm not, as I said in my post.

We're all here to offer our different experiences, sometimes people find them useful, sometimes they don't. Hopefully you'll find someone else's experience more useful to your particular circumstances Markaruso

As a general thought...

If you are teaching (whether it be clari, flute, violin, piano, theory, whatever), you must, before thought of anything else, be absolutely, 200% certain that what you are going to do is going to be good practice, and will not leave pupils with bad habits/poor or wrong knowledge.

If you are unsure, it's best to get more experience in your instrument/more theoretical knowledge before teaching.

People who are learning music deserve good teaching from dedicated, caring, knowledgeable people. There's a load of people who contribute to these forums who fit that category (I'm being taught by two of them at the moment!) It's far, far too important to be left to chance. Regular forumites know how seriously passionate I am about this...

If you are reading this, and just starting out on your teaching journey, I wish you all the best.

I would want a teacher who is positive,.. and that you are not...i still find it funny how you are saying that someone who is 15 and has grade 8 is a better teacher than someone who is lets say 30 and has grade 5. it doesnt work that way. your saying a age doesnt make a difference,.. are you telling me that an 8 year old with grade 8 would be a better teacher than me? you just arent making sense.... you learn more from someone who has life experience,.. its not all about the grades,.. i can tell your a fairly oldish person because your very much "by the book " black or white.. yes or no type person .. and thats why i still stand by my point when i say i am a better teacher than you ,... not meaning better as in knowing more knowledge because i wont know more than you ,.. i just mean better "TEACHER" you were very negative by saying that someone cannot say that they will pass there next exam,.. thats a real put down on someone. be more positive and say "yeah come on now lets do this,.. try your best i know you can pass" if you do that you will have more enthusiastic pupils,. more passionate.

and by the way ,. i think you referred to me as someone who has just scraped grade 5 ,.. i must be missing something here,.. are you a mind reader? how do you know this stuff? this is a downfall i have noticed for you,... you ASSUME... you assume that im no good... you assume that people cannot teach and arent good teachers before grade 8 or above.. its very negative. i also think you have misunderstood the meaning of the word "TEACHER".... it doesnt mean how much you know ... you can be a good teacher with satisfactory knowledge as well as vast knowledge like you have. I can still be classed as a good teacher.

Its actually quite stupid how far this has gone,... if you brief it down ,. all i am doing is just teaching a few family friends kids guitar and music theory.. and not even for the proper fee. an for some reason you have found the need to pick at the idea that im doing it.

ive had enough really you can reply to this but im not interested... shall i be the adult and stop it?

thanks for the heated debate it was fun.


sax grade 1 .

cello grade 5

im sorry but do you teach these?

Hi Piano*singing*lover

I think that a number of important points are mentioned in your post here, which in my view stand you in good stead to be a very good teacher when you think you are ready.

Firstly, the fact that your possible start in teaching is supported by your own teachers. I think that having the backup of your own teacher is invaluable at the start (and probably beyond that, but as I've only been teaching a couple of years I can't say).That, more than anything else, is going to help you teach your pupils the best of technique, rather than a raft of bad habits.

Second, that you are aware that you have scope to improve your own skills, which will give you a useful view of the learning process.

Finally, we don't know you, so can't tell you if you are ready to teach or not. Only you, in conjunction with your teachers, can tell that. You may feel ready to teach before you reach grade 8. Personally I wasn't - I didn't take on my first pupil until I'd almost finished the process of taking my LTCL.

Whatever you decide, good luck with your own and any potential pupils' music-making

...and it's not just people just starting out on their teaching journey where this is important.

edit...I've not said when I started teaching. I was 21, my first pupil was a grade 5-ish clarinettist. Remember it like it was yesterday, except it very much isn't yesterday...

Well said!

Not a lot really. Just that by November you hope to have learnt 3 pieces, scales, aural tests and be able to sight read to a standard deemed worthy of Grade 8. It doesn't tell us how good a player you REALLY are nor how good a teacher you are. Your posts seem to tell us plenty though and I suspect that when you are a bit older you may, like all good teachers do, look back on your early teaching and reflect how little you really did know when you first started out! At least I hope so, as your last post came across as quite arrogant for such a novice teacher IMHO.

Hey
Thanks for the replies!
Firsty, Marcaruso - I didn't post this topic for people to have a debate or to judge who is a better teacher than others, these forums aren't the place for that. I posted to ask advice on something which I felt strongly about.
I want to be a teacher and I have had my heart set on it for a few years now, I know that in school my teachers were brilliant with me, they were enthusiastic, cheerful, helpful and most of all a true inspiration, which still continues to inspire me to this day.
Those are all the qualities I want to have as a teacher, I want my pupils to feel as good as I did when I was at school, I want to encourage and pass on my enthusiasm for life and for music to a younger generation and hopefully they will turn out to be musicians also.

I take it seriously when it comes to beginners, as I posted I am taking grade 7 this year, but I don't feel too confident in the sightreading aspect so...if some people here who are teachers and who I respect as professional musicians feel that I could do more bad than good then I will not teach them till I feel very confident and am post grade 8 in piano.

As I said, I want to be the best teacher I can be and I will give all that I can give to make that a reality. I love working with children and being able to pass on and teach something that I enjoy most in life onto children would be a privalige and the most satisfying job I could ever ask for

Thank you to all those replied and gave your professional opinion. I honestly respect it very much!

Thanks PSL

Sorry the post went off on a tangent,.. it did get a bit silly i must admit lol. I will not say any more petty comments.. i think we all had our own point,.. lets just beg to differ.

take it easy guys ,... and the old man noodle hehe

Goodness, noodle, you never told me you were having the operation!

yeh..
and if shes old... some people on here are probably ancient.

oh its a lady? in that case i best be nice. its gonna turn into a love hate relationship lol

You've got a good attitude there PSL. I think if you carry that through, you'll inspire many an aspiring musician. Best of luck!

I started teaching in my final year of uni (specialising in performance) when I was 20. I, as most people probably do when they first start, felt a little nervous about teaching but also knew it was something I wanted to do. I started with 3 pupils who had just taken Grade 1 so they had already learnt the basics, and gradually took on more pupils. When I graduated I got onto the PGCE with instrumental teaching at RNCM and I have to say this teaching experience set me up very well for this course. I found the teaching placements very easy because I already knew what to expect and how I would teach various things. I knew my own teaching style and was confident in it. The PGCE helped me develop this and refine it. If teaching is something you want to get into then I would definitely recommend getting some experience before or during the training (if you choose to do a PGCE or similar). Also, the teaching I did through my degrees was a nice break from everything else and I think the kids enjoyed my lessons too! I'm avoiding the debate but hope that my comments have helped!