Hi,

I've seen some threads on how to find teachers, but I am a teacher just starting out and wondering how to find students.

A bit about me - I have played piano for a long time, and am crazy about both piano and teaching. I don't have a music degree but I read pedagogy books and try to be as knowledgeable as possible and see what other teachers are doing, etc. I haven't taught piano before, so I'm not really at a point yet where I can find new students by referrals.

I tried craigslist, but there doesn't seem to be a very good response on there.

Thanks!
-Mr.

Hi Mr.

Apolgies if you have already thought of these things, but you might want to try:

1, Set up your own website, outlining all you offer. (many
prospective students do their initial search, online)

2, Place ads in your local community newspapers (if any)

3, Get listed in an online business directory, local to your area.

4, Print some business cards, and hand them out to local music stores, etc.

I am sure that others will come up with more ideas.

Good luck.

Good suggestions. In addition:

5. Contact any local schools and see if you can put an ad in their newsletter.

6. Put up an ad on community notice boards, especially ones which are associated with other activities like dancing classes, band practices.

In my area the community newspaper has very good coverage. It's often the first thing people consult when they want everything from a tradesman to, well, a piano teacher. You need to understand your area.

7. And joining the local branch (if you have one) of a music teachers' association is also a good idea. Talking to other teachers is valuable in itself, of course, but you might even come across someone who is downsizing their studio, or moving away.

8. If you're involved musically in some community group such as a choral group, a church etc you might get some queries that way.

The main ways I have obtained students in the past have been:
- word of mouth
- catching a retiring teacher's students
- being visible in musical activities
- advertising in the local paper
- other musical contacts
- having an entry in a music teachers' register

To continue the theme :-) .....

9. I teach students in their homes, so having a sticker made for the rear of my car, with my website address and phone number, was $35 well spent.

10. My piano tech often gets asked for recommendations. Yours might be happy to give your name to those who ask him about local teachers.

(Your turn, ROB )

Need to take my shoes off now

11. This is a 'don't' rather than a 'do'...
Don't fall into the trap of offering really low rates to attract your first students.
It can be counter-productive, and difficult to backtrack, later on.

Can't beat that one. You win.

Nah! twas teamwork :-)

Check out this awesome book called "Promoting your Teaching Studio" by Philip Johnston:

http://www.insidemusicteaching.com/bookstore/studiopromotion/index.html

"How to make your phone ring, fill your schedule, and build a waiting list you can't jump over — the complete guide for professional music teachers who want to grow their studios"

Well worth the read!

12. Add yourself to the list of teachers kept at your local music shop, and have a bit of a chat to the staff so that they get to know you. You might be able to leave some cards as well. It's free

Some more ideas....

13. Call your local yellow pages and ask how much it costs to be listed in the pages as a 'home business'. This is different than having a business phone and being charge business rates (which are usually outrageous). A listing under 'music instruction' costs me $10 per month; if I want a nice 1" column add that has more info, it's about $40 per month.

14. Send a letter to all of your local elementary school music teachers (you don't have to know their names, just address it 'music teacher'). Introduce yourself, what you teach, and include a few business cards.

*Falls off my chair* Thank you everyone for all the helpful ideas!! You guys are great

-Mr.

I agree. Us, piano teachers, must also learn how to use these innovations and technology to make us more effective teachers. Having your own music teacher website can be your most helpful tool in achieving your goals as a piano teacher.

Good luck!!!

I use these Music Teaching Directories on which you can list your teaching profile. Students find you by zip code and email you from the site.

www.learningmusician.com

www.getlessonsnow.com

www.lessonportal.com


This site is a Private Music Teacher Manager Service: billing, scheduling, communication in the music teaching studio. I know several teaching members of Piano World are now using this helpful site. You can communicate with your students and you can have your own website through their service. I think it's very affordable.

www.MusicTeacherHelper.com

:)I know these will help you if you will check out their offerings.

Betty Patnude

I second all of these suggestions, but especially the yellow pages ad one. I have gotten a lot of calls from my ad. There are only two other teachers that advertise in the yellow pages in my area, well one and the local conservatory, and so it may be an untapped venue for advertising for lessons.

Also, a lot of these suggestions are about visibility. Doing lots of musical activities will get you visible: accompany for the local community or church choirs, community musical theater groups, contact high school teachers about accompanying singers and instrumentalists for Solo/Ensemble contest.

Are you planning on teaching in your home? The best thing that I ever did was to move my studio from my home to a studio downtown. I have storefront windows and signage so that people walking by notice I'm there. And of course, they can hear music outside . This might be something down the road to invest in, but it was well worth it.

Lastly, you may want to get certified in teaching piano. If you are certified through MTNA, for example, they will list your name on their national website for teacher searches. This is something that I plan on doing coming up as well.

Just seconding the idea of a personal website. My first few students when I moved here were attracted through posters I put up in the neighborhood, but since then, they have all come from the internet. You would be shocked at how often people just search on Google for a piano teacher.

Set up a website that says the are where you teach on it. Also set up a Google business listing!
http://www.google.com/local/add/businessCenter

There are a couple of music sites on the line: Learning musicians and Get Lessons now. Kijiji is a free website. In my area there is a small local book flyer that comes out every two weeks called the Penny Saver. Some supermarkets still have a board to tack up advertisments or business cards. Flyers at public schools works. Hope this helps.

This is probably the most effective way (in my honest opinion and cheapest): make a Youtube account, post a lot of your pieces and state that you are willing to teach. The more subscribers you get, the greater your network and thus, better your chances of students.

Good luck.

You might also consider advertising on superpages.com Most use the yellow pages to look for a local piano teacher.

Here's a blog post I wrote on that very subject: http://clariniano.wordpress.com/2009/04/28/marketting-tips-for-private-music-teachers/

Meri