How to Teach Private Music Lessons (8 Tips)

17 Nov, 2022

How to Teach Private Music Lessons (8 Tips)

Are you a musician looking for a job that is both rewarding and financially smart? 

Whether you’re a stay- at- home parent, a busy student, or just looking for that extra side-hustle, teaching music lessons may be a perfect fit for you. Private music teachers make around $40-80 an hour, and get to pick their own schedule. Getting started is easy- I’ve written down some helpful tips for you. 

Considering teaching virtual lessons? Check out these 7 tips!

First off, here’s why I love teaching.

I’ve been teaching private cello, voice, and guitar lessons since 2015. I started teaching while I was in college studying music, and still teach as a stay-at home mom when my husband has the kids. I can honestly say that I truly enjoy teaching. It’s so fulfilling to interact with students regularly and see the benefits that music brings to their lives. I’ve seen first hand how music lessons can improve a student’s confidence, creativity, and self-discipline. Helping them overcome challenges and accomplish their goals is equally amazing. On another note, I’ve been able to make $1,000-2,000 per month teaching for just 5-10 hours per week, which is just perfect for a busy student or parent. 

Enough about me- let’s dive in.

How to Teach Private Music Lessons (or boost your current studio)

  1. Advertise

When advertising for private lessons, it’s helpful to get a little creative in designing and sharing. I use Canva to make my advertisements- they have tons of free flyers to choose from. Remember that flyers should catch the eye and be very simple. Make the information on the flyer clear and concise. 

Here are things to include on your flyer:

  • Title: “Private Cello Lessons,” for example
  • Location: where your services are offered (include city, state, and virtual if you offer it)
  • Photo: A photo of yourself with your instrument, helping it be quickly recognizable and personal
  • Specify level and age range: If you only want to teach beginners or one particular age range, you may want to specify this on your flyer. A little note: I choose not to limit the age of my students, because although I prefer to teach beginner-intermediate, I love my adult students. But you may want to consider what age range you are comfortable working with.
  • Contact information: I created an email specifically for private lessons, and use this on my flyer (no phone number). This way someone can email me for interest, I state my *pricing and availability, then if they decide to go forward I will send my phone number for further contact. 
  • *I would not include pricing on your flyer, but save that information for when they contact you for more information. This looks more professional and gives you a chance to engage with them first. Hopefully you’ve priced your lessons appropriately so that when they compare you to competitors, they still choose you. We will get more into pricing below. 

As far as where to advertise, ask yourself where someone wanting to learn your instrument would go to find lessons. I would suggest posting on social media on your personal and community pages (where rules permit), creating a Google Business profile, and physically hanging the posters in music stores and schools (with permission of course). You can also create social media pages for your private studio and share photos and videos of your students learning (again, with their permission). 

As your studio grows, you may also want to have a website where you can have all of your information in one place. I have found it helpful that with a quick link sent their way, prospective students can see my bio, reviews, and pricing all in one place. 

  1. Choose your price and payment method

Your pricing will depend on your qualifications, lesson length, and current rates. You will need to check average rates for your particular instrument in the area that you live. Consider your level of education and experience compared to your competitors. Try to be reasonable in your pricing and consider what you would be comfortable paying as a student. You may also consider raising your prices slightly as you gain experience. Regarding frequency of payments, my students pay for the entire month at the beginning of the month. I prefer this over weekly payments because it encourages commitment. When lessons are cancelled, I simply make a note and save the credit towards the future month. You’ll also want to create your own absence policy and be sure your students are aware of it. Either way, keeping it all organized is essential. These printable attendance sheets and payment records I made may be of use to you. 

  1. Decide lesson length

While private lessons are traditionally 1 hour long, I teach 30 minute lessons- and here’s why. I find that students, particularly younger ones, focus much better for a quick, very focused 30 minute lesson. I’ve even taught 20 minute lessons to my youngest 4-6 year old students to help them focus. I prefer to be focused, move quickly, and not dilly dally or chat too much. I do like to catch up on my student’s lives for the first minute or so, but if that goes on for more than a minute, I will add the time taken to the end of their lesson, so that they are getting an honest 30 minutes of learning. Still, remember that students may have plans immediately following your lesson, so try to be mindful and considerate of their schedule. All this being said, you may prefer longer lessons, and that’s great too. I would just suggest efficiency and focus. 

  1. Set up lesson structure

You may structure your lessons in several different ways, and you may even structure them differently depending on the student’s age and needs. For example, lessons for younger students may need a bit more preparation (games, treats, stickers, point-reward system, etc.). Younger students do better if you switch activities often, play more, and talk less. For older students, you can usually just move through their technique book and performance piece week by week, with hardly any preparation. 

I give each student one technical exercise and one section of their performance piece per week. 

Here’s what we do during each lesson: 

  • Tune, if applicable 
  • Review assignment: They play what was assigned to them from the prior lesson, and we correct any technique as needed
  • Introduce new technical concept(s). This is where we pull out our technique book and learn a new etude or exercise. Though technique should be taught throughout the entire lesson, I use this time to really hone in on a specific technique the student needs to learn.
  • Work on performance piece(s): This and your new material explained above should take up the majority of your lesson time. You may spend more time on their performance piece or etude depending on their progress.
  • Review and give assignment: I try to make sure my students know exactly what they are expected to prepare for the following lesson. I give them specific measures and goals. It’s extremely helpful to have students write down their goal for the week. For that reason, I’ve created a lessons tracker printable for you. See that printable here. 
  1. Help students LOVE their lessons

I’m passionate about this. I firmly believe that music lessons are not just about becoming the greatest musician in the world, though that’s a worthy goal and hard work is important. I firmly believe that it’s about the student. I often ask my students WHY they want to sing or play the cello, and more often than not, it’s because they enjoy it! They are looking for a fun outlet to express themselves and grow as an individual. They heard the sound and thought it would be SO cool to learn that instrument themselves! They felt that spark of joy- motivation- connection. I believe it’s our job as teachers to treasure that spark, that desire, and help them have the experience they were yearning for. 

That’s not to say that hard work is unimportant. Students should work hard and hopefully they will. But remember, as the teacher, to focus on the student. Remember to help them feel loved. If they miss a week of practice, the surest way to get them back on track isn’t a lecture (in fact that may just lead to them quitting). The surest way to get them back on track is to assure them that it’s okay, to help them rediscover their motivation, and help them continue forward knowing they are loved and accepted. I might be crazy, but I rarely assign practice time. I assign music to prepare, and ask the student to share their own practice goals with me. And here’s the cool thing- I find that in this positive environment, students are more likely to learn and work hard. They are more likely to come back the next week, even if they think they failed the week before. Why? Because they know they have a teacher who genuinely loves them and believes in them. That, I believe, is our job. 

  1. Choose books, music, and materials

One amazing thing about teaching lessons is that you get to be creative and form your own curriculum. You may choose a method that’s already laid out, like Suzuki. Or you may mix several methods and teach how you feel is best. Amazon and your local music store will have some wonderful choices!

Here are some of the books I use for cello lessons:

Here are some of the books I use for voice lessons.

  • Full Voice Workbook Series (amazing for kids! I love the workbook for teaching music theory, solfège, and sight singing. Check out the whole series!)

You may discover new books throughout your teaching career that you want to add to your curriculum. This can be a fun way to spice up your teaching experience. You may also ask other teachers which books they use to add to your materials.

  1. Hold recitals

Holding consistent recitals helps students work efficiently towards a goal. I try to hold 2-3 recitals per year. I typically find a music store with a recital hall and charge a small recital fee for participants to cover the cost of the hall rental. Since the pandemic, I’ve also held all- virtual recitals. 

Here are some steps for planning a recital:

  • Find a date when most or all of your students are available. 
  • Book the recital hall (remember it may need to be booked 6-12 months in advance, especially for busy seasons like December and May). Not sure where to hold your recital? Try music stores, community centers, and local churches. You may have to get a little creative if a stage is unavailable. But that’s part of the fun, right?
  • Notify students of the recital date, time, and location.
  • Help students choose recital pieces: make sure students know their recital piece several months in advance. I like to plan for 3-4 months of learning the piece and try to have students completely prepared 2-4 weeks before the recital.
  • Create a program: Google Docs or Canva are great free options for designing your program. 
  • Remind students and families of the date, time, and location as the recital draws nearer
  • Add the recital fee to the corresponding month’s tuition. For example, if the recital is in December, charge the fee in addition to December’s tuition.  If you are charging a recital fee, make this expectation and the amount clear from the moment you establish a date.
  1. Stay organized

You’ll want to keep your teaching schedule, attendance, and financial records organized. Check out this planner I designed specifically for private lessons teachers.

It includes weekly and monthly schedules, attendance sheets, payments record sheets, student progress trackers, and blank note paper. I tried to make it very practical based on my  experiences teaching. Enjoy! 

I hope you’ve found these 8 tips helpful. Best of luck in your journey at becoming a music teacher and making a difference for your own students.

Sincerely, Maddie T