Hello teachers!

I am currently waiting to start my second year studying Music at the University of Manchester and am keen to start teaching instrumental lessons, mainly for experience, but also possibly for a few £££s

I have obviously taken my Grade 8 (a couple of years ago), got a distinction, and am hoping this year to take a diploma - I play the clarinet by the way! I can't play the piano very well (got grade 5 last year but due to lack of practice this is slipping away rapidly! (although one of my goals this year is to get back on track with it)) - but I'm sure I could play along with beginners to work on grade 1-4 pieces etc.

Just wondering is anyone has ANY advice about how I should get started?? With regards to EVERYTHING, really..

- Where should I advertise/target for potential students (I want to teach beginners until I gain confidence).
- How much should I charge?
- Should I offer theory/history teaching alongside (as I am a music student as well)?
- Should I teach grades, or 'just for fun'?

etc. etc...


Sorry for the long post, or if a similar thread has been started before!

And thanks for any help!!

Caroline xxx

Try local schools, library, musicteacher.co.uk, let the music department office know you're interested in teaching in case they get any enquiries and just generally let it be known you're looking for pupils.

Charge enough to reflect your standard (a competent musician) but also to reflect your inexperience at teaching (everyone has to start somewhere).

It's up to you, really - you should be able to judge whether you feel competent in these other areas; partly depends on what you've covered so far in your degree course, I guess.

Probably best to keep an open mind about this until you start teaching. Graded exams have their uses, but are not right for all pupils.

NB These are only my opinions! I certainly found instrumental teaching was a very useful way of making some extra cash while studying - much better than working in a supermarket - and an enjoyable and rewarding experience.

At Manchester Uni you could advertise on the boards upstairs.
Some music students in MUWO (As far as I know you're not in it?) teach some of the other non-music students.
I would say write to some primary schools in the area but when I did (while i was at uni), I got 2 replies (both not needing tuition) out of about 30!
The best way around Uni and RNCM is to get as many clarinet-playing contacts as you can because people are always needing to pass on some students or being asked to do some more tuition but don't have the time for it. That's basically how I started while I was at uni and I was able to build it from there.
Hope that helps and good luck with 2nd year!

You must think of the business side too. Like David, I've answered several threads like this too.

Technically you sound ready. However you need a business head on you too. Not just a marketing head, but an accounting and administrative head, one that is prepared to keep the inland revenue happy, one that will make sure you don't get ripped off, one that plans and sorts out schemes of work and other niggly nitty gritty bits too.

It can be done whilst you are a student as Scaramouche has proved, but she'll be the first to tell you you have to take it really seriously from the work go.