Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Teachers Forum I want to start teaching....help!

Hi everyone. I'm kind of new to the boards (see my intro on Adult's beginner board 'coming out of the shadows'). I'm more of an intermediate player not beginner but I have had a lot of health/physical problems the past few years which have slowed me down somewhat.

I really want to start teaching soon... as in the next year or so. Right now I work at a local chinese resturant and I work weekends. Though I don't mind serving I find it really hard being away from my kids and husband basically all weekend.

So my question is.... What would I need to do before I start teaching? Do you have books/courses that you would suggest I take?

My piano teacher teaches a Ped. course twice a year. I missed the sept. session but hope to do the spring session in 2008. She knows I want to teach and I will be posting this question to her as well but I was interested in your input.

I am currently working on Gr 9 RCM and am studying for my History and Harmony exams. I hope to take my Gr 9 exam in 2009 but it will depend on my health. (I have MS and fell 2 years ago which fractured my lower spine and did a lot of nerve damage to my left side) I know that teaching is very time consuming but I have always loved teaching and it comes naturally to me. I just don't want to do things wrong out of good intentions.

Any ideas or am I shooting for too much too soon?

Dear Dramaqueen, Option here. What about teaching as an understudy to a top quality piano teacher? I was asked by my classical piano teacher to teach as her understudy. In your Conservatory there must be a teacher who would mentor you. My teacher assigned students to me and allowed me to keep all of the money. Most teachers keep a percentage for referrals and the time you will take , asking them questions etc. She trained me to teach, as she had her Master's in Music Education. She was my mentor. She died years later but I still taught as a private piano teacher and found another mentor. My piano studies continuted with him for years too. The same mentor will listen to my Rhapsody in Blue next month and correct me. Just a thought for you. We plan to perform this , the original arrangement together. Maybe two years as he is still teaching at 64 years old, I am 68, and his time is limited. We will record to play for ourselves in our old age as we have a special mentor-student- friend relationship now for 21 years. Mine has been a wonderful musical journey with my two piano teacher mentors. I do hope you will have a blessed life in teaching piano as I have and the friends I have made as a result of my piano passion. Cheers, Sandy B

Finish your grade 9, then find a teacher to teach you the junior pedagogy course. When you pass this, you will be prepared to teach up to gr. 2

Dramaqueen:

Learning to teach piano through pedagogy study is an excellent path for a new teacher and every new teacher needs to do this (my opinion) not just pick up a method and "go" with it. The concepts are structured and related to each other and create a sequence of progress and building blocks. Don't rely only on a method book, empower yourself by knowing how to teach, what to teach, when to teach it, and the why. Every element in music is a fascination subject.

Line up the music you would like to teach up to the grade you feel capable of. Make lost of lists - ask yourself questions to be answered later - You can be doing this part now.

Then, there is the running of the business - what income you need through tuition fees, and think of the expenses you will have in a one year time (IRS accounting time), what will your policies be, how will you conduct your inquiries, interviews, and first 10 lessons. Do you want only beginners or will you accept transfers.

Here are a few pedagogues you will want to know about, the list gets longer. But to me these are essential and all encompassing and confidence building resources.

Google: Martha Beth Lewis
A piano teacher with a long experience and a doctorate answers every question know to man about piano study from the teachers, students and parents prospective. Everything is covered on the web site!

Google: Frances Clark
"Questions and Answers" is her book - and you will want to know all about the Frances Clark Center and her legacy in pedagogy. Her book "Questions and Answers" is available on the site.

James W. Bastien has "How to Teach Piano Successfully" by Kjos music publishers - make sure it is the most recent edition.

In addition, music teachers magazine subscriptions are helpful:
Google: Keyboard Companion - a quarterly
Google: claviermagazine.com - a monthly except July and August

Search: on any key word here in PWF for lots of postings in the archives

If you ask questions here, there will be responses!

Seeking guidance from a mentor(s)is a good thing.

In support of your aspiration, Dramaqueen!

Betty

Observe as many teachers as you can, and take notes. Many teachers will be happy to let you sit in on lessons. Also, develop your teaching philosophy: what do you like about your teacher and former teachers that you would like to emulate? what woudl you improve upon? What level of student are you comfortable teaching? When do you send them on to a more experienced teacher?

There are many wonderful books on piano pedagogy that would probably be helpful to you. I would ask your teacher for a bibliography and start reading!