Hi All!

I've just been offered an opportunity to teach in a local store around the corner from my house (literally a 5-minute walk). The available studio has two pianos and a large music library.

The cost is reasonable and there are no restrictions or requirements according to the shop owner, whom I have known for years. I would just be a private contractor using the space for a very reasonable fee. I hire a sitter for my children anyway, so this would actually mean fewer distractions (such as when they get away from their dad or the sitter and burst into the studio... argh).

Despite the fact that I love my piano and my home studio, part of me thinks this might be a good opportunity, if even only for one or two days a week. The two pianos tuned together is a real draw...

Are there some considerations I am missing? Other teachers here who have taught in a home studio and a store studio? This is not a music school, and like I said, the owner just wants to have good teachers. I have a tendency to be a little impulsive, so I don't want to just jump in before I think this through. I have complete support from my spouse either way, so that's a good thing. It's just up to me now.

Thoughts?

Hi, I've taught in students' homes and currently teach in a store. Although the store does not have acoustic pianos, and the rooms are quite small, I like the benefit of being in one location, and the fact that the store handles everything (getting students, billing, scheduling). They have a huge library so parents can browse and buy music right on the spot. The drawbacks are that the games or equipment you may want to incorporate into a lesson (playing music applicable to what they are learning for example, using drumsticks to tap rhythms out, or just basic walking out a rhythm) is almost impossible to do. I say go for it. Do you have to find your students or does the store do that for you?

I considered the same thing recently but I decided that the extra money I save by being at home (or in my students homes) is more important to me at this time.

Good idea to list the pros and cons. I can already see a few important pros in your post (2 pianos, no kid distractions, walking distance from home). The main con I always see in this sort of arrangement would be not having your own personal music library and resources at hand. You would have to think about this and the way you teach to see if it would be a significant factor.

Another thought: Will the pianos be well-maintained?

Is there a no-competition clause should you decide to leave the store? Do you have to sign any documents?

Hi Adrienne,

Is the store is giving you referrals? If so, it would be a benefit of teaching at the store. The other question to be weighed is how much of a problem is it at home keeping kids from interrupting? I'd hate to see you go from a grand piano in a nice space to a windowless studio space.

There is also the option of installing a lock of some kind so the kids can't burst in on you...and creating privacy so they can't see you i.e. curtains or the kind of stick on privacy paper so they can't see in glass doors.

Such great questions! Thank you.

Irenev ~ I'm actually fairly well-established here, but the store would also refer to me, so it would be a plus. I've occasionally been referred to by the store in the past, since I buy most of my music there and know the owner and other teachers there. Also, I would not be inheriting any current store students, FWIW.

currawong ~ Yes, the music library might be an issue, though there is an extensive library there in the studio (not the store inventory -- actually part of the studio). There was a piano tuner at the store... though I think he may have retired, so presumably I would have to request tuning or bring my own tuner, which might be an issue if I have to pay to tune 3 pianos a year. At any rate, the pianos have been tuned to match at present time, and I would press that issue if need be.

Minniemay ~ There is no contract or non-compete clause; it's more of a family-run store that happens to have, for the first time in like 30 years, an empty studio. There is no minimum or maximum number of students I'd be "required" to teach at the store, either. But I will ask about it again to be sure.

Hi Ann! Yes, I know, I would miss my piano... but I wouldn't be teaching ALL my lessons there (you know the store, right?), only a day or two probably. Even if I could lock the door, the kids can push out the plexiglass from that one window if they really work at it, and 3-4 hours is a long time to ask kids their age to play quietly, LOL. This way, they could have friends over to play after school without my having to be the mean mommy.

It would be a real help not to have to sweep the carpet twice a day and share the little bathroom with two kids, two cats, my spouse, and 20 students . . . not that that should be the determining factor.

This is an interesting question... one I've thought about too. Sometimes I fantasize about having my studio separate from my home. Just seems like it would be nice to get out of the apartment every day and have a more "official" location. Also solves the problem of the roaming, bathroom-needing students that we all know and love.

However, working from home is also soooo nice. It means I can do my own thing up to the moment a student appears at my door. If I get cancellations, I can spend my newfound time doing stuff around the apartment, getting online, etc. If I did have a child, I think I would like to be in the same building so I can check on things between lessons and also in case of emergency. So, even though I like the idea of a separate studio, I think the benefits of working from home outweigh the problems.

Some day when I am wealthy I will have a multiple-story home with the teaching studio and office on the ground floor and the living areas completely separated but just upstairs. I think THAT is the idea solution.

I agree about teaching from home! I am always tinkering around until the moment the first moment comes to the door. The down side, though, is that some of that tinkering is straightening my house. Also true with cancellations, you can make use of the time better at home. Also, I can keep an eye on my teenager coming and going from my view of both the piano and the front door. I love having access to a couple of rooms full of music.

Recently my piano's action was in the shop, getting some work done on it, and I taught a few lessons at a local music school. I have to say - the pianos were ridiculously crappy. I can't imagine being in one of those rooms all day. But, sounds like the music store has decent pianos.

Hi Adrienne,

Expecting young kids to play quietly is unrealistic. So it makes sense to teach at the store. This would be a good solution to a temporary problem. After a few years the kids will probably be content to quietly play online games while you teach. And then you can get back to full time at your home studio. I hope things go well!

Yes, I know the store. You'll get to enjoy seeing Freddie--such a character!

That he is!!

btw, the store is literally right next door to my hubby's coin shop, so you'd have good neighbors.

I think it's a good idea, Adrienne. There are some families who would start their search for a piano teacher by asking at a music store, so if you're looking to recruit, I think it would help.

I teach 2 nights a week at a church studio similar to what you are explaining. I do my own thing there and make my own hours, and they also have decent enough pianos. I teach the other 3 nights at home on my grand. They are very different experiences and both have pros and cons similar to what has already been mentioned.

At home, I have all kinds of resources readily available that I don't carry to the other studio (which is a 30 minute drive). But I have learned to plan ahead and bring the music, games, CDs, books, handouts, etc. that I will need at any given lesson. I bought myself a nice, large bag that helps me to carry things around and sort them. I keep a notebook at the store studio where I jot down things that I know I will need for the next lesson. Then when I go back home, I grab those things and put them in my bag to bring next week.

It's not as convenient as having all the resources 2 steps away from the piano at home, but it's really not that bad, either. I rather enjoy working away from home on occasion. I think you might find it to be a nice mix of at home and away from home.

Good luck!

I also like having all my resources available in my home studio, including my nice piano. I like my studio so much, that I don't want to leave at all sometimes


When I used to teach away from home, the best thing about it may have been my use of downtime. I actually made better use of it then, because there was nothing else to do except practice!

I went over and spent some time in the studio this afternoon. It was definitely nice to be around some other adults, LOL!

I don't think I would gain all that much by moving lessons there, aside from avoiding the annoyances I mentioned in the first post. The pianos are mostly-decent Yamaha consoles, but they are very old and cosmetically leave something to be desired (we're talking brown paint here, folks, some of it even got on the keys; but I know, that's just cosmetic). It appears the mute pedals are permanently "on," so the sound and touch are very odd...

If I could get in there are redecorate and put my own desk and chairs in . . . then maybe it would work, but I'd have to commit to it first before he'd let me do that, I'm sure! The shelves full of books are really something to behold... felt really sad about the former occupant... her personal belongings are still there, knickknacks, photographs, calendars, and lots of brand new purchased piano books.

Monica ~ I know the shop! I will have to go in and say hi sometime now. :)Freddie gave me a Rice-Krispies treat while I was there, LOL. He also rolled his eyes about my Baldwin L, LOL. Nothing like a little piano guilt trip, right??

Uh-oh... that doesn't sound good. I suspect your students would find it frustrating to have to adapt to that at lessons, and you'd get a whole lot more of the "I played it better at home" stuff.

This may seem strange, but I think I'd go in with my camera to see what the camera's eye see's in this environment.

You mentioned a few things to us about what you saw and the camera thought came to mind. Maybe it's because I've watched too many HGTV decorator shows and real estate being "staged" for selling, but this place will be your home for awhile and it speaks and represents you.

When you said your predecessor has left things there, two things come to mind:
1) you are really sharing the space with her,
2) she has left abruptly.

And, I would wonder what that was all about. It would make me want to find her and chat her up.

Of course, several of you know the store in mind, so perhaps my doubts are unjustified.

I have never known a music store or music studio located in a store front to have great pianos. The little rooms leave a lot to be desired. And, you are totally helpless when the trumptet teacher starts to teach in an adjacent room and you and your piano student are their captive audience.

I think at home is a great place to be after all. But, that's my personal opinion.

Betty

Betty ~ the circumstances under which this studio became available are rather sad, as the previous teacher unexpectedly passed away last fall. Her studio remains completely preserved. She was there for 30 years. Her entire career's worth of piano repertoire, theory and analysis texts, dictionaries, etc. are still there -- like 40 years of materials, including shelves of brand new books for students. It's a treasure trove, but seeing all of it was a bit depressing, in a 'Dickensian' kind of way . . . this is probably what my studio shelves will look like!

I think it would be more work/stress to move over there than to stay here and keep teaching my children to adapt to lessons in my home. I've been teaching here for years, anyway!

I'll let you all know if anything changes. Thank you so much for helping me work through this decision. See you around PW!

Adrienne, It may be useful to get a free estimate from Handyman Connection. You could find out what it would cost to get a lock on the door...adjusting to door unevenness. A carpenter with a little creativity would be able to adapt a sliding bolt to fit uneven doors I would think. Just an idea to consider if there are continued problems with the kids bursting in on you during lessons.

Thanks, Ann.

I can't wait until they just leave the doors alone entirely... the hardware is 80 years old and expensive to replace. If only they wouldn't yank and pull on those glass doorknobs. Argh!

Actually, my husband can fix the French doors; that just doesn't prevent the kids from leaning against them or turning the doorknobs, which is disruptive enough given the age of the doors (*please don't break* *please don't break*) At least my students' mail pockets hanging on the doors (those pocket style shoe holders) provide some visual privacy. I use a doorstop to keep the door closed, though Kid #1 can still push it open if she tries. Keeps the cats out, though.

I must add... these distractions are never an issue when I have a babysitter... only when Dad is home, LOL. But don't tell him that. It's a sensitive topic.

Still wish I could help out at the store. I just can't imagine being able to convince my students to make the switch. New students, upon coming here for their first repertoire party, would be rightfully angry to find out my other students play on this piano every week. Or maybe they wouldn't give it a thought. I don't know. When I was a child, a piano was a piano.

Sorry for all my rambling. Nice to be on PW again after not posting for a long while.