I have posted this on the teachers forum as well as not sure which category it fits in...

I have returned to playing violin (at approx grade 5) after many years absence, and I am very interested in taking up piano (probably did to about grade 1 or 2 many moons ago). I am a teacher, but not a music teacher and have a great deal of experince teaching all ages, abilities, backgrounds etc and know that I am good at it.
I am absolutely loving relearning my music and now definitely have a long term (lifetime) goal to stick at it and improve.
Recently, I have beginning to think a lot that I would like to teach music. It is an itch that won't seem to go away. Am I being daft? My teaching skills are excellent and I know that if I became skilled in piano and violin that I would probably teach then well. I have an excellent teacher at the moment with high expectations so I know that I will be taught to play well.
I don't expect to do this in the short term, if at all. Maybe I would not be any good or maybe I just won't grasp the instruments well enough to pass on my expertise. But, if I set myself a ten year goal I would expect that I could reach violin and piano grade 8, and all being well could teach children/adults taking lower grades. Maybe I could achieve all this, and be good ...who knows....? I expect it would take a lot of hard work.
Has anyone learned as an adult and then gone on to teach, or knows of anyone? Has it worked out, or not. Just very curious at this stage. I am in my forties by the way..

Hi Viledin4u,
I'm in my fifties and came to teaching 10 years ago as a second career and now work as a private tutor of Classics and EFL - and love it! But I've become addicted to studying music theory and intend to work through the ABRSM grades. It has proved difficult to find a local music teacher willing to tutor beyond G5 and I would love to be able to offer theory courses myself in the future.
My practical skills are pretty basic (as you can see from my signature) although I aim to take all the grade exams no matter how long it may take! I don't give up easily and enjoy a challenge.
I doubt I would ever teach an instrument but definitely aspire to teach theory. I look forward to reading replies to your post from music teachers or student teachers.
Best wishes.

I aspire, but I can't imagine myself ever being competent enough to teach so I don't think it will ever happen.
There is so much I have to learn myself first.

Yes, me

Started having singing lessons at age 35 and a bit. Started teaching singing after passing my first diploma. Got my teaching diploma in 2007.

Still thoroughly enjoying it and glad I made the swap.

I do aspire to teaching. On top of my day job as a nurse, a few years ago I had a small private practice of beginner classical guitar pupils, some kids and some adult, after getting a merit (128) at grade 8. I also ran a couple of children's guitar ensembles, which was great fun. I was completely honest with them all about my limitations and lack of experience, but I had alot of interest and was turning pupils away due to demand. There was no-one else close by offering relaxed friendly at-your-own-pace classical guitar tuition. I knew I had good solid technique and a nice positive manner with pupils, even if I was not the best player in the world. I got a few through some abrsm exams successfully. I was not taking income away from another better qualified person, there was nothing else on offer in my town.
Now I've moved location and instruments, I don't currently teach. I know I shall take a long time to get to grade 8 violin. My accompanist who is a music teacher said I should and could teach beginner violin after just getting my grade 4 which I think is ridiculous! But there is demand, and she said I would easily get pupils if I wanted them. Demand exceeds supply of teachers. However there are "proper" teachers about and I wouldn't want to step on their toes.
I would love to teach theory to children. It's a long term dream to do the theory grades when my kids are older.
Good luck all with your dream, viledin4u (love the name!). I believe that great players do not necessarily make good teachers, and good teachers are not necessarily all especially great players, or indeed need to be up to a point. My teacher is a wonderful teacher but freely admits he is not the player he wishes he could be. He has grade 8. I wouldn't change teachers until I'm getting up to grade 7-8, by which time he'd probably agree he'd taught me all he could.

I am so pleased to have received nothing but positive and encouraging comments and would like to thank everyone for taking the time to post. Funnily, I really expected most posts to be from the 'proper' teachers commenting on my lack of experience at the moment.
Well they say where there's a will there's a way. I definitely feel the will is there, now I have to work on the way (ie the financial side which I estimate to be about ?100 per month in violin and piano lessons plus music books, exams etc etc etc..). Ironically as I have a young child I am not working much at the moment so have a bit of time during my days as she has just started school....BUT because I am not working much I am not bringing in much money. It's a shame you can't get grants for these things...

Hi There,
It's been a wee while since I was last on the forum but was really interested in your post. Teaching piano is something I'm secretly working towards. I say secretly as I've not really mentioned it to anyone in case of being laughed at, dismissed right off, etc....l!!

So here's my story...I started piano lesson at the age of 14 then stopped at 18 due to studying/ work/ other things. I'd done up to grade 3 then nearly two years (aged 30) I went back to lessons and went from around high grade 3/ low grade 4 to grade 7 in that time. It's something that I really love and it would be fantastic if I could give other people the same enjoyment as I get out of it. I feel that I enjoy it so much more as an adult than a did as a teenager.
It'll take a lot of work, time, effort etc but I've got a plan of what I need to work on:

- Sightreading- I'm not great at this but I'm always so impressed when my teacher can do it so well and I know that I'll need to have this skill to demonstrate pieces
- Aural (singing in exams in particular) this is something I really struggle with and, although I do give it a go in the exams , I'd feel a total fraud trying to tell someone else how to do it. I've always bluffed my way through it for the lower grades but at grades 7/8 I really need to nail it.
-Second instrument- I'd like to take on a second instrument to compliment what I'm learning on the piano but most (well, ALL) of my time is gobbled up by piano at the moment so not sure how manageable it would be.
- Higher theory grades- not sure if there's any value in going beyond grade 5 but, for my own interest, I'd be interested in what's expected.

I'm hoping the ABRSM will be running its "Introduction to Vocal and Instrumental Teaching" one day workshops next year as I think I'd find it really useful and would be a good opportunity to meet others thinking of going down the same path.

....So yes, I aspire to teach but, for now I'm keeping quiet about it