 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: LeWhite
Date: 2004-07-05 03:12
Hey guys
I'm thinking about doing some teaching soon, which is really exciting! I'm going to teach privately and independanty of an educational institution. I'd love some pointers about getting students, the legalities of it all (I'm in Australia) and finding the best and cheapest place to teach from: Obviously not my home as I am renting with others, perhaps at my college (have to find out if I am allowed to), but perhaps renting a room in a studio somewhere would be a good option.
Any help appreciated, thanks!
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2004-07-05 23:47
Travel to the students' homes, if they're nearby?
As for students, you might drop by local colleges, high schools, middle schools, etc. (depending on what level you'd like to teach) and let them know you're around in case someone needs a referral.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: clarinetpro
Date: 2004-07-06 02:08
Offer free clinics to the elementary, jr high, high school, jr colleges and colleges. Chat with the music directors and offer to help them for free with sectional rehearsals. The school teachers have to learn about you too.
BTW......Don't charge even a penny! Your name will get around and then students will find you. Don't forget your business card....... !
Don
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Author: diz
Date: 2004-07-06 02:22
Advice ... I teach from home (which suits me as I live alone).
Never let your students ring up and say they are going to be late and let them ... once you're lax all hell breaks loose.
I charge for ten lessons up front ... and give a receipt or ask for cash on a lesson by lesson basis ... I declare it all, however, so the Tax man loves me.
Young students get bored very easily so make their lessons interseting. I devote a little bit of time each lesson to sight reading (both at their instruments and by clapping simple rhythms from "flash cards").
Also, if the students are more advanced, I ask them to write me four or five paragraphs on a composer they are learning (life and times) and to name one person who is a contemporary artist: painter, sculptor, author, wheatever, and this gives them a general feel for the period. My students hate this, but they do it, and it becomes very useful when sitting their theory or musicianship exams.
Without music, the world would be grey, very grey.
Post Edited (2004-07-06 02:25)
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Author: GBK
Date: 2004-07-06 02:32
Diz... I especially like the music history portion of your teaching method (4-5 paragraphs with related artists, etc...).
Good for you - Bravo! ...GBK
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Author: Brenda
Date: 2004-07-06 15:13
For sure! If you know the curriculum of the upcoming exams (you're the teacher, you should know!) then it can be introduced into the lessons so that the student doesn't even have a clue that this stuff is important. Then when the exam comes the student will remember the person who taught them these seemingly little things, and will thank you for it because the exam was a breeze.
How many of you teachers put up posters and stuff on your studio walls? This is the kind of thing that school teachers do just so the kids absorb information just by seeing it all the time. I'm thinking of: the circle of fifths - the piano keyboard, labelled with note names - note groupings (sixteenths, eighths, quarters, triplets, halfs and whole notes - wouldn't these be neat to have made up in 3-D and hang them as mobiles from the ceiling?). Then how about pictures of composers? Posters on how to conduct? Good grief, I'd have to pay for extended home insurance!
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Author: diz
Date: 2004-07-06 22:11
ron ... I'm about the most unsophisticated teacher you'll find buddy, afterall, we Aussies hardly have running water (that's certainly the case in drought ravaged Sydney) or electricity.
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Author: Brenda
Date: 2004-07-08 02:26
There's one thing that's become an issue here in Canada and probably elsewhere as well. School teachers have been told specifically to either have a hands-off policy towards their students, or a "shoulders and above" policy in order to avoid lawsuits. Elementary teachers objected, stating that the wee little ones just have to have a hug when circumstances warrant it. But that goes to show how far society has gone.
When I teach I invite the parents to attend as well. If they want to be in the studio with us, fine. But there's a seating area outside the room, and we'll soon be replacing the door with a French door, with windows. Then the parents can see inside at all times.
If the parent doesn't come, then the teacher must be very aware of these issues and always be above reproach.
On a separate thought, I've started to use a notebook to record the assignments given to the student that week, and the next week record their progress. For example, how many seconds their long tones were this week, the specific exercise requested to work on for the week and so forth. I think this lets the student know how serious I am about following up on what we had discussed, and I remember where we are in that individual's progress. It should be fun to see these notes in a couple of years when the student has advanced - he'll be able to see how far he's come!
Post Edited (2004-07-08 02:27)
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