 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: thecuriousclarinet
Date: 2012-10-18 18:14
I have taught lessons in the past, but it was while I was in college, so I already had a reputation in the area as the go-to clarinetist. I have moved to a new area, and I am trying to make music connections, and get my clarinet studio started. So far I have made a website, and I have sent emails to all of the music teachers (band, etc.) in the area. In the email I told them I was new to the area, looking to make new connections, and would love to come by and say hello and put up flyers/business cards with my info for students to contact me about lessons.
So far I have gotten two responses back. One from a woman who is a music teacher at an elementary school (I didn't know what the program consisted of, so I asked if she could tell me some about it), and she invited me to come meet her next week. I also got an email from a high school teacher. The email just said, "November 6th 2pm is band. Remind me you are coming."
So....I need a plan. What do I do and say when I go in? For the high school band class, I'm sure I will be introducing myself to the students. I'm not sure if I should play a sort demonstration of something to get the kids interested....and I don't really know what to say, besides that I teach clarinet lessons. I want to come off as confident, like I know what I'm doing, and that I am a competent teacher. I really am a great teacher, I'm just shy and not sure of myself in large groups of people. I've introduced myself to a class of students once a few years ago, and I feel as though I wasn't prepared and it didn't go very well. I didn't end up gaining any new students from that introduction.
Any help and advice of any kind would be greatly appreciated. Questions I could ask, things I could play and say, how to interact with the kids, how to make connections....I will take any advice you would like to give!
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Author: kdk
Date: 2012-10-18 18:39
To tell you the truth, I'm not sure being put in front of a group of students to introduce yourself is a productive way to find students. Meeting the teacher face-to-face could be useful, and that is maybe what the HS teacher has in mind. I doubt if he/she will want to give up rehearsal time for you to do a demonstration of any kind for his/her clarinets. You should probably ask whether the teacher has in mind simply meeting you personally or actually having you spend time introducing yourself to the band's clarinet section.
In general, the most important part of the process of building a class is to have local band teachers recommend you to their students. Most of the time when my students at school wanted to start private lessons, I'd give them a short list - two or three teachers of the student's instrument - whom I knew about either personally, by reputation or from recommendations of other teachers whose judgment I trusted. The trick then is to get onto a couple of local band directors' recommended lists. Once you've gotten a couple of students in this way, the teachers who recommended you will see the progress their students are making and, if the results seem good, more recommendations will follow. Gradually, you build a reputation that spreads.
I don't know what kind of community you've moved to, but if there are music schools in the area, it would be worthwhile to let them know of your interest as well. You aren't as flexible in scheduling at a school and you generally make less money than you would teaching the same students on your own, but the school's reputation (if it has a good one) will draw students whose parents might have a greater trust level in an established business.
Good luck. It takes time, especially with so many people trying to teach themselves through Internet resources like this BB.
Karl
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Author: William
Date: 2012-10-18 18:55
I would offer to give free clinic/demos at the schools you will be visiting. Let the kids play for you, work on their school music and play some of the passges to show them "how it goes". Be positive and make what you do fun. If they like you, they may sign on as private students.
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Author: brycon
Date: 2012-10-18 19:46
I have built up rather large studios in a couple places. My advice to you would be to contact other musicians/teachers and get a feel for the area- how large are band programs, are there any performing arts schools in the area, are students required or expected to take lessons, average rates, et cetera.
Some directors will "hire" teachers and funnel their band kids into lessons, and other places will essentially leave everything up to the students. I have found that in both of these situations it is best to visit the school during a band class and play something for the students. If time permits, something like a masterclass may also be helpful.
This may amount to little more than showing off, but most students are absolutely delighted to hear someone play well. Moreover, they can put a face with your name, and it gets them excited about playing the instrument and about taking lessons with you.
The way this process worked for me was: the band director would introduce me and give the kids a brief rundown of my meager accomplishments, I would play a short (short is important) excerpt of a virtuoso-type showpiece, and then I would take questions. Most importantly, I would make sure that the students were aware of the importance of lessons in their musical development and that I was in fact offering lessons.
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