Hi,

I'm 16 and have grade 8 piano and grade 5 theory (working towards DipABRSM in piano, and music theory).

I would like to teach piano to children, I just don't think I could teach adults...it would be too scary

However, I have never taught before...and I don't know how to enter people for exams etcetera.

I also feel that it would be unfair to put myself out there as a "piano teacher" as such, because obviously I couldn't get people to grade 8. I was thinking of teaching up to grade 5.

I think it would be easiest to work with a book like my teacher did when i was around 5 years old, (it was called "play piano with chester" or something". It basically teaches the child reading notes/rhythms etc.

Up to what level do you think I can teach, I was thinking around grade 5.

What should I advertise as, to stop, say, a 30 year old aiming for FRSM diploma student approaching me...

I presume you probably get LOADS of these posts so thanks in advance

Hello, this is what you might like to think about. Google EPTA (European Piano Teachers Association) and ISM (Icoporated Society of Musicians). Do look at joining at least one as a student. This will put you in contact with experienced piano and other instrumental teachers. They might even provide you with a mentor. Also could you ask advice from your own piano teacher? How approachable are they? Have you talked about this with your guardians? Think about whether you want to teach from home or travel to pupils houses? How would you keep your self safe? The last question is very very important. I started teaching piano when I was 14, so if you want to PM for more advice I would happily make some suggestions.

As far as teaching material is conerned, do you have a good music shop nearby, can you ask the assistants for advice? Plan a lesson for a complete beginner with no musical experience. What do you need to explain? How can you explain it? Can you simplify a difficult idea without turning it into something completely different?

Even if you don't want to teach adults, how would you deal with the parent of a child who is asking you to teach or achieve the impossible?

Do look at some of the threads running on the Teachers' Forum, and think how you could deal yourself with situations which you might come across, without getting into a nasty argument.

Good luck, plan your next steps very carefully, discuss with someone a bit older, but who is positive about how you can achieve your goals, and then go for it!

Well I spoke with my parents and they say that when I start my A-levels I won't have time in the evenings to teach, so it was a "no".

However, seeing as my main need at the moment is to get money, I have decided to play in restaurants.

Would these books alone be OK for playing ina restaurant?

-Quiet classics by Keith Snell
-Cocktail Pianist
-some Pam Wedgewood

And do your parents agree to you playing in a restaurant ?

I started teaching in a 'gentle' way when I was about 14. I taught my 2 sisters, one pupil at 5 p.m. on a weekday and a family of 3 on a Sunday morning.

It was a very good way to earn a bit of money, I enjoyed it, the pupils did well and, as a teenager it was good because the hours didn't really impinge on my school or social life.

If you play in restaurant, what time will you be getting back at night ? Will you be paid a fee or just off tips/putting out a 'hat'? Do you know any or are you going to have to trail round the restaurants asking ? Do any of them have pianos or do you have a keyboard, amplification and means of transport ?

Frankly, as a parent, I'd be more worried about you playing in a restaurant than having a couple of pupils to the house after school.

dolce@piano has made some excellent points. I would add that most restaurants that have live piano music would not think of employing a 16 year old, and not only because of the licensing laws.

How good are you at playing by ear? You will get constant requests, not only for 'Happy Birthday' but also for 'As time goes by' , 'Lady in Red', you name it. In my experience, most restaurant pianists don't use sheet music at all. In fact, for a while I taught the resident pianist of the Savoy, who was trying to come to terms with sight reading, as he felt it would be helpful to be able to 'decipher the dots'. He could play any tune you named - by ear. But after a few months we abandoned the sight-reading - he found it just too frustrating.

Maybe time for another re-think?

Me too! A couple of pupils coming to the house is an hour of your time, with no need to waste time travelling anywhere and with not too much preparation time. You could be studying till ten minutes before the pupils arrive and have your books out again immediately after they leave. (Would you have to practise for restaurant playing?) As for payment, too, I reckon that teaching would be more lucrative; employers tend not to pay more than they have to, especially to somebody young - and you might have to buy clothes for this; you wouldn't for teaching.

Just a few arguments for you to use with the parents! I have an A Level pupil who teaches, and it's doing her a power of good; she thinks about things in a new light now that she's at the other sise of the stool too.

Pub/restaurant pianist makes quite different demands to those needed as a classical recitalist or chamber musician. Like everything, it demands commitment to do well. It is not an easy option for the classicaly trained pianist with a few books of arrangements of popular songs under his/her arm.

But ... if someone is prepared to give you a shot at it, I'd do it anyway. It will be useful experience. Just prepare as thoroughly a you can and give it your best shot.

It's good you are discussing this with them. If it helps I taught from 9am until 1pm on a Saturday, right through my A levels, from home. It all depends on whether your school/college requires you not to work during term time. I'm presuming you are not home educated and after GCSEs, will have time on your hands this summer? How about a trial teaching period, with one pupil, over the summer? A complete beginner would be ideal. It could be basic theory, not even instrumental playing. As long as you don't make promises you can't keep to the pupil/pupil's guardians, you should be OK trying something along those lines. Your parents might be OK with that. Don't worry about people with more qualifications than you contacting you, as long as you don't offer to give them lessons there is no problem!

After GCSEs, is there a music department in your own school who would be grateful for some help in the classroom, say one morning a week? If not, is there a local primary school who would give you some voluntary work for a couple hours a week? If you genuinely love the piano and would like to help others to learn about music, the odd setback is going to happen, but don't let it stop you in the long term. The Diploma you are working for, is that teaching or performing? Don't forget, even if you don't intend teaching privately forever, it can be very useful as a part-time job whilst you study A levels or go to university.

I've never played in a restaurant. If there is somewhere local you have in mind, again provided you aren't taken advantage of financially, you could try it. Do be careful though, if you have a bad experience in such an arena, it could dent your confidence. It might be worth getting some musical theatre numbers (ABBA, Andrew Lloyd-Webber numbers) under your belt. Don't go much beyond Grade 3/4 standard here, simply because the amount of time you could have to play could do you serious damage in your hands, wrists and arms. This is something I do know all too much about!!

Oh and good luck if you are doing your GCSEs.

That's a bit harsh. The OP is only 16 and is following his or her parents' instructions; not unreasonable at that age. He/she has obviously spent time considering whether he/she is sufficiently experienced and what level of pupils it would be appropriate to teach.

I think

On a more serious let's not forget that in years gone by, it would be taken as read the OP would have a career in music if he so chose. Grade 8 was tough enough that passing that would open doors to all sorts of dizzy heights in the music industry. He's already tackling a Dip, so he is pretty committed already.

People like to say some pretty dreadful things about young people today, so when they show some dedication and talent, let's encourage it.

OK now I think I feel better so it's time to possibly but definitely not time to visit the at the zoo.

Thanks all,

by the way, what is the "OP" - Original Poster?

thanks

Yep that's right.

Don't give up on the idea of teaching, simply because it really is the best job out there. Just make sure you join the right professional bodies. As a student it can be cost effective. EPTA is probably the best right now. Hope you find a job which fits in with everything.

I like this one!!

Your comment was rather discouraging.

It's not realistic to be wholeheartedly commited to teaching at the age of sixteen, but I think the OP has shown a fair amount of commitment by having achieved Grade 8 and to be working towards a diploma at that age. This is more than some people manage before they decide they're ready to start teaching.