Hello everybody!!

I am a grade 7 piano player, and really would love to teach. My big ambition was to be a primary school music teacher, but after a family crisis at the age of 17, I only got 1 a-level and so didnt get into Uni.

I ended up as a travel agent , and 12 years later am still a travel agent!! (BORED)

But having recently taken the piano back up, I have realised I still wanna teach.

Can anyone help with how to start teaching the piano? or any ways of getting into teaching in primary schools with out a degree? ( i have a mortgage and no way of taking time out to study!!)

thanks for letting me bend you ear!!!!

Mullers, not exactly the answer to your question, but you should still consider going to university. There are a lot of places who accept mature students with your qualifications onto a degree course, and most courses let you study part time these days. (PM me if you want some names of places). What's often forgotten is that universities look at *potential*, not the bits of paper you have.

You could maybe work as a teaching assistant in a school without a qualification, but the pay is terrible...

Caire21's advice is good - many universities will look at your desire to teach, not your formal qualifications. Don't forget, grade 7 is worth UCAS points these days!

As for starting teaching piano, there have been several threads on this before, a search should bring up lots of information.

My suggestion might be a bit controversial, but I suggest you start teaching privately right away! Try teaching a few (willing!) friends and relatives to get a feel for it. Read some books on teaching technique, such as the ABRSM's Music Teacher's Companion. THen, why not get your Grade 8, and do the Teaching Diploma, so you have a recognised qualification. Or do the Certificate in Teaching. Good luck!

HI!!

Thanks for all your advise. Think I am gonna try teaching my husband to start with, he is very willing!! So we shall see.

A willing guinea pig is a good start! good luck to you

I think that a major advantage of music teaching is that it's a good career to move to because of the nature that you can do as much (obviously depending on how many pupils you can attract) or as little as you want. This means that you can start off part time with just a few pupils (ideally, as you have found, willing guinea pigs) and branch out from there, that way you don't need to give up your other job until you know you can make enough of a living out of teaching (although you may have little time to yourself for a while!).

Make sure that you're confident and advanced enough in your own playing before you begin; I think that it's very responsible to start with someone that you know who doesn't mind being a guinea pig. It should also be an advantage being your husband as he can tell you honestly what he thinks you're doing wrongly, whereas someone you didn't know as well couldn't be so honest. It may, of course, be difficult as the teacher-pupil relationship will not be the same between a husband and wife as a teacher and pupil: don't let him make excuses and get away with things !