How can you combine your musical performances with your teaching?
You’re a musician and want to teach music lessons in your specialty? Then you might wonder about the best way to combine your performances with your job as a music teacher. We listed a couple of crucial points for you here.
When are classes most in demand?
This is entirely up to you – as a musician and a teacher, you are primarily self-employed. With us, you are part of a big platform that connects musicians and aspiring ones with qualified teachers. As part of this self-employment, you decide when you’re available. For instance, afternoons will be in high demand if you teach many children. Usually, those times will not rival your musical performances. If you teach adults, this is a matter of agreement. In reality, you will barely have performances every day. Instead, many will take place on the weekend and thus during the time you don’t teach. Therefore, you don’t necessarily work with competing concepts. You can expect most inquiries around June and October when deadlines for registering with music schools are coming up.
How are lessons divided up?
This is done in agreement with your students. As a teacher, you can provide possible time slots. Lessons will usually take place at fixed times. Thus, you will teach student A on Tuesdays at 3 pm, while student B will take their lesson on Wednesdays at 2 pm. After all, students also want to plan. Music lessons should prove to be a regular occurrence. Teenagers usually plan their afternoons themselves while children depend on their parents. In both cases, fixed dates are required since hardly any parent can attend lessons on short notice.
Generally, lesson packages should be used up in a certain period. Otherwise, it’s a flexible arrangement between you as a teacher and your students. So, it’s your decision if you want to teach on the weekends as well. A major advantage is a certain flexibility that comes with being a member of our platform.
What if I have to step in on short notice?
You are a stand-in for an orchestra and are sometimes called upon spontaneously? There are solutions for that, too. Keep in mind that your students want to work with a reliable partner. As long as you communicate transparently, your students will know that you might have to move lessons spontaneously. If anyone doesn’t like that, they will not choose you as their teacher. Other students will prove to be flexible themselves, and as long as you teach the lessons they paid for, your concept will work. Our policy is that teachers generally have the right to cancel a lesson, even at short notice, while students have to cancel at least 24 hours in advance. This gives you a certain amount of security, but you shouldn’t cancel without reason, of course. Your students should be able to rely on you.
What is the best way to plan the whole thing?
Most musicians are already experienced when it comes to their performances, and teaching is a new element to add to it. Usually, the dates for performances are determined well in advance. You can work at eye level with us. That’s why we have established the following approach as ideal for us:
Register on our platform: Of course, we want to know who wants to teach on our platform. After all, we represent everything that happens here with our name.
Create your profile: In addition to your experience, your general profile is also important. It gives your students an impression of you and your skills.
Verification and personal feedback: As already mentioned, we vouch for this platform with our name. One of our teachers will contact you and verify your qualifications. Needless to say, you will receive qualified feedback on this.
Activation: After all this is done, you will be activated on our platform and can get started.
Open communication is key
We can’t stress this enough: Openly communicating with your students or their parents is the be-all and end-all. Remember: You don’t have to give an account of your schedule to anyone. But you need to provide regularity and an open attitude. The most important thing is that everyone involved knows what to expect from you.
Don’t worry: Everybody can get sick unexpectedly. But right now, it’s all about combining your musical performances with your teaching. And this will work best if you can plan.
Lessons and planning
In many industries, you first draw up an annual plan, then divide it into monthly plans before proceeding to weekly plans. In that case, it’s enough to make a monthly plan. When you are creating a symbiosis of teaching and playing concerts, you will have to work differently. Once you have your performance dates lined up, you can plan your availability. Think about what’s realistic. What can you accomplish? How often do you want to offer lessons? How long will your lessons be?
When thinking about this, be sure to prepare and plan your travel times. You can’t teach until 6 pm if you want to play a concert at 7 pm somewhere else. When will you have to be there? How long will it take to get there? How long does it take you to switch into a mindset that you require to perform at a concert? It’s better to give yourself a little too much time in the beginning. Later, once you have some more experience, you can always go for a tighter schedule.
Does it even make sense to combine music lessons with concert activities?
For many musicians, this makes sense. Especially during times when there are fewer concerts – we all know these times, especially since Covid hit – it makes sense to have another string in your bow. You may even be able to offer virtual lessons without the need for attendance. Of course, teaching in person is optimal. But if this isn’t possible, you can show your creativity and still teach.
It can be extremely beneficial for young professionals to teach music lessons in addition to starting their music careers. This could include music theory as a tutor for school students or music lessons. Admittedly, there is a bit of planning involved. But if you have the talent, it can be a second source of income, especially if you don’t have many performances lined up yet. This way, you can arrange your gigs with a stable income to rely on.
Don’t I have to be very flexible as a relatively new musician? How can that work with teaching?
Every concert hall, opera, and event company has to schedule. No one will contact you and hire you for a concert the next day. Contracts and dates need to be arranged and coordinated, and concerts are required to be announced and marketed. This usually takes weeks, if not months, so don’t worry about it. With some planning, you’ll have no problem giving lessons and performing at the same time.
I didn’t study music education - can I still register with you as a music teacher?
In principle, that is fine because we are an independent platform and thus not bound to the requirements of a municipal or state music school. However, our students expect qualified teachers, which is why we naturally conduct a quality check that is carried out by one of our experienced teachers. So ask yourself what kind of teacher you want to be. No one is born a master. We just want you to offer good lessons. However, especially for children, we recommend pedagogues. For our platform, however, we expect our teachers to have either a Master’s in Performance or proof of significant stage experience.
How much travel time should I expect?
That’s one of our greatest advantages! You teach where you want to teach:
at your studio: If you already have a studio of your own where you plan to teach, you can add this information to your profile. Of course, this also applies to a rented studio, as long as you can offer reliable times for lessons and a good atmosphere.
at your place: Many teachers give lessons at their home. For this, you need a space suitable for holding classes and perhaps permission from your landlord and neighbors. Remember: It’s better to be safe than sorry.
at your student's place: Make sure to select a convenient radius that is easily reachable by public transportation or by car.
Bottom line: You don’t have to plan any travel times because you are completely flexible in terms of location.
I have more questions – where can I ask them?
There are several options:
Talk to us: Since this is our platform, we will be able to answer the vast majority of your questions. Just get in touch and don’t hesitate to write to us, because even during your work as a teacher, questions may arise from time to time. We are interested in productive and beneficial cooperation, which is why good communication is so important. We are also happy to assist you with any rescheduling.
Talk to other teachers: When it comes to organizing and conducting your lessons, it is advisable to ask an experienced teacher. Simply get in touch with the person you trust and benefit from their experience. This way, you will always learn something new.
Has this sparked your interest, and do you want to get started right away? Then register today by creating a profile. We are looking forward to getting in touch with you
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