Hello all,

Just expanding on an element of another thread here....I am wondering how much demand there is for teachers to travel to student's homes to give lessons?

Thanks...

Hi

Don`t even go there.I`ve had to do this in the past (due to personal circumstances).Think of the TIME (when you can be teaching at home)it takes to travel from one destination to the next,petrol,wear and tear on the car and so on plus parents saying "You are 10 mins late" and cancelled lessons (this can throw your timetable out and it`s not pleasant sitting in a freezing car for 45 mins).

Even if you factor these into account with your fees it`s still not worth it.Finally think about this-some people`s houses and instruments are simply appalling. (I had to climb over stuff in one house to get to the piano).

When I first started teaching, I visited people's homes, also due to my circumstances at that time, but I don't do it much now for the same reasons Guest-Who mentions. I didn't have many problems with cancellations, not turning up, etc, once I started billing in advance and charging for lessons if they were cancelled by the student-but with the travelling time taken into account, I find you can basically fit in double the amount of students working from home. Plus, you have control over your environment-I suffer from mild asthma, and spending an hour teaching in a room shared with a large dog and a haze of cigarette smoke wafting in from the kitchen made me realise how important this is! That said, I think there is a demand for visiting teachers-perhaps because not everyone will do it. I still have 1 home visit on my books, but it's literally on the way back from 1 school I work in all day, so it fits in fine, and they do pay me extra for travelling.

Yes, I agree with both.

I don't do it mainly because I can't justify travelling time when I have students waiting for a place.

I would consider it within a few minutes walking distance, at non-peak teaching times.

However - having said all this, I think there is demand for home visits, and if you have some good reason for not wanting to teach at home you might want to consider it. Try to plan by area if you give it a try.

Maggie

I teach one night a week at the homes of students. I can only justify it as they are all with 5 mins of each other. I teach 6 students inc. 2 sets of siblings and then 2 other children who live between A B and my house. I allow 10mins travelling between the times and I am usually on time. Also the parents are very reliable provide drinks and everything is warm and ready when I arrive. This really gives me a break from teaching at home and in school. Change of scene.

I have in the past had a bad experience with lack of parking near a students house, and families trying to DIY while I have teaching or siblings screaming and crying in the same room but I stop those ones at the end of term after a subtle warning.
I do charge extra for the travelling, it is a flat fee per lesson. I have also found that the parents that use this are those that cant leave younger siblings at that time in the evening or those without transport whose children would otherwise not learn.

Not come across the smoking situation yet but I always give a trial before I commit myself to home visit for both parties involved.

Yes, I agree with previous comments.
I think also there is an element of taking the lessons more seriously if they have to come to you. They have to be punctual and it is your home. You are in charge. I think you have to assess each situation separately.

Katie

Friend of mine chooses to travel to lessons. He doesn't want his home to also be his office - when he goes home after teaching, he doesn't have to clear up after drinks given to pupils, tidy up music - he isn't always reminded about work related stuff. He doesn't have to let people he doesn't know that well into his home, or worry about whether he has washing hung out all over the living room. And I think it makes it easier about insurance and stuff too?? (Though I could be wrong) So there are quite a few advantages. It does depend on individual situations, and on location - he would not be so keen if this wasn't such a rural area with easy quiet roads between most pupils. But there are definite pluses as well as the downsides.

QUOTE (sarah-flute @ Jan 31 2005, 08:11 PM)

Friend of mine chooses to travel to lessons. He doesn't want his home to also be his office - when he goes home after teaching, he doesn't have to clear up after drinks given to pupils, tidy up music - he isn't always reminded about work related stuff. He doesn't have to let people he doesn't know that well into his home, or worry about whether he has washing hung out all over the living room. And I think it makes it easier about insurance and stuff too?? (Though I could be wrong) So there are quite a few advantages. It does depend on individual situations, and on location - he would not be so keen if this wasn't such a rural area with easy quiet roads between most pupils. But there are definite pluses as well as the downsides.

Luckily I have a separate room for my teaching. I don`t offer drinks to pupils unless they ask,but parents very often are made a cuppa if I am.Doesn`t take a lot of my time to wash them up. Sheet music is put back in its correct place after I have finished using it.

Appreciate his concerns about letting strangers into his house,but I`ve never come across an axe bearer murderer yet...especially when escorting children to lessons. Wouldn`t know about washing hung out all over the living room floor...he sounds like a typical man...but how about using the kitchen,bathroom or bedroom for that? Or may I suggest hanging it from the ceiling...if they don`t look up he should be Ok As for people he doesn`t know very well,I have forged long standing relationships through lessons.

Insurance question: Had an interesting run in with the council a few years ago...it`s not the same as selling cars in your front garden.Sorted. I claim £350 per year for "using one room as office".My car insurance is low and the mileage is low.When I was on the road I clocked up a minimum of 20,000 miles per year...I think.Cost a fortune keeping it maintained.

Yes I take your point about individual circumstances,but I just couldn`t bear to travel to people`s houses ever again.

I wonder how he would cope if he had kids to look after too?

QUOTE (jpiano @ Jan 31 2005, 06:25 PM)

Plus, you have control over your environment. That said, I think there is a demand for visiting teachers-perhaps because not everyone will do it.

I had one guy who came for 1 lesson.Afterwards I spent the next 1/2 hour opening all the windows,doors and spraying the house because he suffered from the most dreadful BO. Oh and I spent a few mins retching after he had gone. Had to rearrange the next lesson because of it,but she was very understanding about it.He permanated the whole of the house with his stench.Disgusting.Why people are too lazy to wash beggers belief. He must have thought me strange because I had my jumper pulled up over my nose...

Still get a few enquiries for home visits,but I politely decline....

QUOTE (sarah-flute @ Jan 31 2005, 08:11 PM)

Friend of mine chooses to travel to lessons. He doesn't want his home to also be his office - when he goes home after teaching, he doesn't have to clear up after drinks given to pupils, tidy up music - he isn't always reminded about work related stuff. He doesn't have to let people he doesn't know that well into his home, or worry about whether he has washing hung out all over the living room. And I think it makes it easier about insurance and stuff too??

True, pluses and minuses both sides. I don't have a seperate room for my teaching-but I find it's easier working in my own home where I have everything to hand. I've wouldn't usually offer a pupil a drink in a lesson-and it doesn't take any more planning to sort out and keep tidy music, etc at home-in fact it takes less organisation than when I go to school and teach and have to know in advance exactly what materials I'll need to bring. And I don't like having loads of washing hanging around the house anyway because it looks really horrible. As for the issue of strangers, I've never fortunately felt threatened at home-but I used to teach in a really rough school where I felt very unsafe and isolated-it just shows problems can occur anywhere. Never had anyone with a BO problem at home, but have experienced this in students at school.
A friend of mine used to visit a home where the parent never had her son ready for his lesson at the correct time, and sometimes had to literally drag him away from his bike he was riding round the close when she arrived. And I once spent a lesson in someone's house practically sitting inside the Christmas tree which had been put right next to the piano.

My piano teacher comes to my home. I am so pleased that she does. She usually makes sure she has other things to do nearby to justify time and travelling expenses. In the past she has used our house to teach our children and others too - probably beneficial to her as we paid for heating etc. The key is mutual respect and consideration. There are undoubtedly financial and tax implications of the various teaching settings.

QUOTE (GuestWho! @ Jan 31 2005, 10:07 PM)

Appreciate his concerns about letting strangers into his house,but I`ve never come across an axe bearer murderer yet...especially when escorting children to lessons. Wouldn`t know about washing hung out all over the living room floor...he sounds like a typical man...but how about using the kitchen,bathroom or bedroom for that? Or may I suggest hanging it from the ceiling...if they don`t look up he should be Ok As for people he doesn`t know very well,I have forged long standing relationships through lessons.

LOL to be fair I overstated that somewhat - he's not the sort of person to have stuff all over the place. But it is a small house and the washing is usually hung in the corner of the living room if I've noticed when I have visited (he's a friend as my as my piano teacher). As for having a seperate room, nice if it's possible, but I don't know many people who have a room they are able to set aside. I wouldn't have. My piano is in the living room and there's no other room it could fit in - and wouldn't have a spare room even for other instrumental lessons. Certainly less likely to have such a space if you are a teacher who's just starting out & it's your main or only source of income. Another consideration is your piano - said friend has recently bought a Clavinova but that is in his room, and the "family piano" (his brothers live there while at home from uni) is not his to get rid of and would not be suitable for teaching on - it isn't very good at all. & there is not room in the living room for two pianos even if he wanted his decent one down there. Unless one has a spare room to teach in, which must be brilliant, teaching at home will have to mean your home is also your work place, your living room is also your "office" in effect. Some people don't have a problem with that - others do.

Yes of course one forges relationships with one's pupils - after time.

I realise there are many downsides to teaching at home... just wanted to point out that there are advantages too. Each to his or her own, eh?

Hello.

Yes, I teach just in students' homes. I use my travel time for listening to books and talks on tape as well as honing the worship songs I write, and I charge a higher fee to cover the travel. I guess I just enjoy it this way, and it fills a gap in the market (to refer to the original question) for those with young children, or those who don't want their kids to miss lessons at school (or even as the parents have been recommended me, I suppose..!)

I have a car recommended by Which? magazine as very reliable, and I find that works out fine. Mileage is tax deductable.

Smells from washing powder occasionally are a bit too much, but people who are willing to pay for lessons in the home are often well committed to the lessons.

As a man, I insist on another adult always being present in the house (of course!), as once you're known and trusted, it's easy to become a child-minder - these days not a good idea in so many, many ways for a male music teacher!

If I advertised particularly, I guess I'd be overbooked in my area. Things tick along fine.

I just enjoy it this way. If a lesson is travelled to but there's no lesson, I charge a travel fee whatever, plus lesson fees (if their cancellations for the term are used up - we all have our own ways of dealing with this).

I doubt that I'll swop to home teaching until I'm an old, old man, unsteady on my pins and all that (no reflection on other teachers who do teach at home!!!). I suppose we all have different preferences that affect how we prefer to do the teaching. And what we're used to makes a difference too, I'm sure.

Best wishes,
DomRUK

QUOTE (DomRUK @ Feb 2 2005, 12:42 PM)

If I advertised particularly, I guess I'd be overbooked in my area.

*nod* for after school lessons my teacher-friend has been booked up for some time - and it's less than a year since he finished his uni course.

Yes there is a demand for teacher coming to a pupils house. No. 2 daughter had her 'cello teacher come to the house for about a year when she was in Year 11, as she really needed the extra tuition whilst taking her GCSE music. We were lucky as we had a suitable room, but we did have problems with parking, it wasnt about the voucher it was just finding a space after 6pm when all the spaces were taken and the teacher had to lug her 'cello a block or so to our house. We solved this by asking a neighbour if we could occasionally use his drive at the front (paid for with home baked cakes), but yes it was a nuisance.
By the way I also work from home and some of the heating costs can be claimed back from the tax man, if you have a designated room for your work, and that includes music teachers teaching from home. Just keep all your gas and electric bills and include them in your tax return!

Yes - there is a big demand for teachers to go to pupils' homes.
I do it, but if I had a bigger house that was not mid terraced (I teach brass so don't want to fall out with the neighbours!) then I would definitely teach in my home. It is a complete drag, as so many others have said, travelling to people's houses. It has been very interesting, though, to see what conditions the children have to practise in. Some don't have a music stand and contort themselves into the most amazing angles to see the music. They don't have a proper chair to sit on (slumped in a sofa is a favourite, until you put them right). Some are falling over stuff on the bedroom floor. Not many have a keyboard for me to use. Although I don't play piano, it's really useful for things like explaining what sharps and flats are, and how harmony works. And occasionally I will be brave and try and improvise a simple chord progression! So it's frustrating to not have a keyboard there. I have also experienced the Dad doing DIY in the kitchen next door - why does someone pay for music lessons and then not support the child? One of my customers who have a brother and sister that I teach, have planned the whole thing like a military operation, so that myself and a piano teacher are there at the same time, teaching in rooms next to each other. After 20 mins we swap over and take the other child !!! Seriously. You can imagine the sound pollution. It's very interesting visiting pupils houses and I've got to know the parents very well. They are so at ease with me that they are still in their pyjamas in a couple of homes, and at another I get given pots of home-made marmalade from the wife of an adult pupil. But at the end of the day it's not cost-effective, and I'd advise anyone who can, to teach in their own home.

I successfully teach piano in children's homes and always have a waiting list. I did some violin teaching but found this more stressful as I would have to take my violin, bag with music etc, and a stand as I usually end a lesson with a couple of duets, so now the violin pupils come to me. If you are starting out and don't have a room available at your own home, you would be in demand for teaching in pupil's home. Try and make sure you stick to one area per evening and have your mobile and pupil's nos. handy. Incidentally I have become quite good friends with some of the parents. Good luck.

Fiddlertwo, an elderly friend tells me that *her* childhood violin teacher used to arrive at her isolated family farm on horseback with her violin clamped under one arm! The day that she brought her pupil her own violin, she rode with a violin under each arm!

Thanks for all your comments. Very informative and certainly plenty of food for thought there.

For me the benefit of teaching away from home would be the change of scene and the privacy/consideration for my wife, who after a hard 9-5 day at the office doesn't have to come home to the noise of beginners violin scratches (which, let's face it, can be quite an endurance for those in the next room trying to relax!) and strange people entering the house regularly. Incidentally when I say 'strange' I mean 'strangers', not people who are *strange*...!

Re that teacher on horseback I had to close my eyes to get the picture and still can't

My mother (born in the early 30s) tells me that her and her brother's extremely elderly teacher came on a bicycle with her violin and music strapped on the back and the bike was an old bone shaker from about the first World War. The sight of their teacher cyling up the lane with her equally WW1 bloomers caused great mirth but rain or shine she was there until they went to boarding school.

lonefiddler. I remember coming home to something similiar and now I work from home. However if you work towards having a designated room (We put our girls together in the largest room in the house and hijacked a room) Its my office/study in the day and music room after 4pm and tentative sound prooofing you can work from home. If the room is needed for music during the day and this may be one hour per week, then I go and have a comfort break, or go shopping.

If your partner works 9-5 they will probably be home by 6. So you can teach for 2 hours every evening and if you do shared lessons for the lower grade you could combine your expeditions to students houses with teaching some students at home and its great when your partner comes in with a cup of tea and you can discuss students.

My hubby teaches music theory to A level students who need to catch up quick (no grade five) and they like to come in the mornings between 9 and 10.00pm, (registration in the 6th form seems to have gone out the window! ),this is done with two or three students and came about by word of mouth so the room is used occasionally (and seasonally then)

We have also been asked by other teachers to use our music room and have done so a few times - so you never know??

QUOTE (Ayshah @ Feb 4 2005, 01:54 PM)

Yes there is a demand for teacher coming to a pupils house. No. 2 daughter had her 'cello teacher come to the house for about a year when she was in Year 11, as she really needed the extra tuition whilst taking her GCSE music. We were lucky as we had a suitable room, but we did have problems with parking, it wasnt about the voucher it was just finding a space after 6pm when all the spaces were taken and the teacher had to lug her 'cello a block or so to our house. We solved this by asking a neighbour if we could occasionally use his drive at the front (paid for with home baked cakes), but yes it was a nuisance. By the way I also work from home and some of the heating costs can be claimed back from the tax man, if you have a designated room for your work, and that includes music teachers teaching from home. Just keep all your gas and electric bills and include them in your tax return!

hi - interesting and debateable one! personally i would not be a mobile teacher if only from the financial point of view BUT there are advantages:

1) no wear and tear on your own good piano
2) no more constant tuning of your piano
3) not having the music area/room always heated and decor updated

these are about all the advantages but to be honest the comfort of your own home is hard to beat and no stress element what so ever - also the pupil has full concentration in a tranquil atmosphere too which is a bonus for them.
good luck anyway and the way the law is directing anyway it soon will be that an adult will have to sit with the pupil to protect both teacher and pupil against issues of child abuse - i'm shocked they haven't done it already as it is a vulnerable situation aty present having pupils coming to your home alone!

QUOTE

2) no more constant tuning of your piano

It still needs regular tuning if only I play it....