Today I'm going around the local area to put up an ad in the hope of getting a couple of piano pupils.

I'm going to start small - hopefully with 2-3 pupils a week - as I already have a job that I love.

I'm fortunate that I have a supportive teacher and it is thanks to her that I'm even considering
teaching. I'm also working towards resitting the viva part of the teaching dip and next time I hope I'll be more relaxed about it. I could barely speak last time.....

Anyway, I just thought I'd share this with you this morning as it's a big, big thing for me.

I'm always lurking around the forum - there's so much I can learn from all of you.

Wish me luck!

S x

Huge good luck to you, Sioni!

All the best Sioni - hope you get a few lovely pupils to teach.

Good luck with teaching - it's the best job in the world, for all that we come on here for a moan sometimes.

Remember to put a few details up on various websites too. There's musicteachers.co.uk and http://www.piano-tuners.org/piano_teachers/index.php - I've got loads of enquiries from this one.

Don't be afraid to ask for help on here - we're a helpful bunch and will always try to answer anything.

Catey x

Hi Sioni, good luck from me too. Be not afraid, we all have to start somewhere.

Great - soon you can have two great jobs that you love! Good luck!

I'm sure there's alot I could learn from you too Sioni!

A year ago, I was made redundant from my job, decided to go full-time private piano teaching and so needed new pupils. I've found that ads in shop windows only reap very occasional results, enquiry-wise. (Try to get on free boards or you'll spend a fortune on advertising for nothing as I did). I wrote to a whole load of schools, colleges and libraries (nothing there). Most of my business comes from personal recommendation, so I should cover that base too. (I know it's hard when you are starting out). Leaving business cards at music shops has brought in some - that might be a good place to start. Good luck!

Sending lots of encouragement.I've been at it for more years than I care to remember and have never tired of it. You will love teaching I am sure - and whenever you need support you'll find it on these forums. Lots of luck!!

All the very best, Sioni, with your additional career, and very good luck with your viva.

The very best of luck. And remember, we all started with just 1 or 2 pupils - and we were all as scared as you!

Yes - exactly - I put an ad in a local shop window and it produced 3 pupils which was all I wanted at the time. One of those pupils lasted for well over 10 years. Then word of mouth got about and I always had a waiting list.

Thank you so much for your kind support and encouragement today - it really means a lot.

I'll let you know if I manage to get any pupils!

Sioni.

Good luck Sioni I started teaching piano just over 2 years ago with just one pupil. Through word of mouth I now have 22 pupils, all of which have come to me via personal recommendations. It is scary to start with but as others have said, it is very rewarding too.

Good luck Sioni. Don't believe that we teachers ever get blase about teaching.

I don't think the little frisson of - not fear exactly - but half excitement, half anxiety, ever quite goes away.
One-to-one teaching is a great privilege, after all, and even those of us who've been doing it for ever worry about our pupils (you haven't noticed that of course, from the forums!!) and wonder whether we are doing the best for them..