I Want to Start Teaching

[MrPepperoniNipples]

I am entering my first year of college this coming Fall, and I'd like to get some students

Making some money is nice, but I really wanna do this just so I can teach and have a student, put together lessons, analyze the student, etc etc
Even if it ends up just being an 8 year old kid who doesn't practice

I'm gonna be living on campus, but I'm going to spend the weekends at home

I know my theory and my technique, in various genres and all
And I plan to find out what the students interests are and what kind of stuff they want to learn before it comes time that they are able to learn it and study up on it

My questions are

1. First and foremost, is it too early to start teaching?
- Will people (or parents) take a college freshman as a teacher seriously?
- It's not that i'm not confident that i'd be able to teach, but regardless of my level of technique and theory, should I teach at this age (19)?

2. How does one go about acquiring students, and where should the lessons take place? Should I find a shop that will let me teach there?

[mcleanab]

Those are all great questions...

Teaching is one of the hardest things EVER someone can do if they are doing it right... there's nothing worse than a lazy or disinterested teacher... just recall those days that you sat in front of one of those and remember how you felt having your time or money or both wasted...

Then recall those teachers that inspired the shit out of you and made you WANT to learn whatever it was to the fullest... and remember what they did to get you there...

Too young? I am a big proponent of doing a lot before and during and after you teach... as in get involved in the industry (work professionally), take those lessons with you to your students and continue doing it long after you think you know what you are doing.

A good practitioner does not a good teacher make. It's a COMPLETELY different skills set. But it surely doesn't hurt...

Will they take you seriously? Some will some won't... if you love doing it and can do it well and the students you get are inspired and work, who cares?

Acquiring students and finding a place to teach is as much of a skill as teaching itself! Ask around! Advertise! Be innovative as to how you do so given your locale and options.

Good luck!

[Solodini]

If you're not sure, practise by teaching friends' younger siblings/cousins for free. Then there'll be no money wasted when you're honing your method. If you're good then they will recommend you. For paying students, I recommend you offer a no obligation free first lesson. That way you can have more people through the door and you can use that time to figure them out.

I don't think it's too early, as long as you're honest about your abilities and aren't trying to teach things you've just learned and don't really understand yet, yourself. As mentioned above, a good practitioner does not a good teacher make. Jahanasaurus on here is 21/22 and has been teaching for a few years. As far as I'm aware, most of his students are quite you'd. That's probably the best way to go while you're starting out.

Also, in Scotland you can pay the government for a certified background check so you can proclaim that you're certified as not being a criminal/risky person, which helps parents to know that you're trustworthy. See if there's something similar around your parts.

[Stealthdjentstic]

Im not that good and I teach on and off, have been since I was 17. Just be really honest.

I usually take on beginners/low intermmediates and once I feel theyre done with me I recommend they take lessons from some people I know that I feel would do a better job.

[SchecterWhore]

Originally Posted by MrPepperoniNipples

1. First and foremost, is it too early to start teaching?

Not necessarily. I think that if you get started early, you develop a better sense of communicating ideas. The hard part about teaching isn't what you know - it's whether you can break that knowledge down to the point where it is concise and digestible while still being substantial and interesting. Trust me, if you've never communicated your music before, it will be an odd feeling to line up your thoughts.

- Will people (or parents) take a college freshman as a teacher seriously?

No. You need to earn their respect. Be serious about your job, be driven, but be fun and approachable. Most of all, don't be fake. Your teaching should be a reflection of yourself. Most people that pass through your hands won't learn the extent of your knowledge, so don't attempt to give it all to them. Rather, give them the essence of your thinking. If you have confidence in the material that you teach, then this will prove to be of value.

2. How does one go about acquiring students, and where should the lessons take place? Should I find a shop that will let me teach there?

Getting students can be tough. I suggest teaching friends or fellow students for a while, just to rehearse your teaching chops. Translating your thoughts into digestible chunks is the trick here, as I've mentioned before. As far as where to teach, I think it depends on your situation. If you have the ability and willingness to teach from your home, a studio, and also drive out to the client, I say you should offer all three. For a while, I only taught out of a studio, as I wouldn't want to bring anybody over to my house and I don't really like to teach at someplace were I have limited access to my resources. Besides, it looks good if you have a place that's set up for the sole purpose of music teaching. If you can land a gig with a shop, that's great, but depending on where you are, it could be difficult to get in without prior experience or a degree.

[Stealthdjentstic]

If you just finished high school I would recommend looking for students there. Thats where I found most of mine. So long as you dont look like a jackass/child molester they will fork over $$$.

[Trespass]

Schools/schools in shops want to hire people with a degree and experience teaching.

Or, if you're a decent teacher. I got into teaching by substituting in for friends every once in a while, and it was basically a trial by fire. I'd let the student know that my teaching style is different than whoever they are studying with, then ask what they're working on and offer my criticisms and suggestions etc.

[Maniacal]

Go on then

[MrPepperoniNipples]

thank you all for the advice and help!

i'll be thinking things over the next few days and take all this into consideration when i am figuring out how to approach the situation