How to Get Music Students and Teach Lessons Effectively

Name: How to Get Music Students and Teach Lessons Effectively
Rating: 4.6 (21 reviews)

A packed, short course on teaching private music lessons successfully, taught by music lessons expert, John Gotsis.

Highest Rated

Created byJohn Gotsis

Last updated 11/2018

English

What you'll learn

Start from few or no students and grow your private studio to the number you want.
Know the best ways to structure a private music lesson.
Teach music in a way that keeps students engaged and growing musically for a long time.
Be equipped with lesson management strategies that help you handle tricky students.
Implement an effective practicing policy with students that keep them motivated and progressing.
Be familiar with the vast method book options you have for all instruments.
Get your foot in the door to work with local school music programs.
Be able to host highly beneficial student recitals simply and cost-effectively.

Course content

5 sections • 17 lectures • 58m total length

Introduction1:58
Learn three actionable phases to grow from zero students to a full schedule, while mastering lesson structure, practicing policies, and strategies for tricky students to foster lifelong musical potential.

Phase One: Freelancing vs. Joining an Academy5:08
Compare freelancing and joining an academy to obtain music students, considering facility access, lead generation, scheduling, and profit. Decide what best fits your goals and grow your student numbers.
Phase Two: Starting From Scratch4:49
Define your ideal student avatar, choose a home-based location, and tap personal networks, social media, and sites like take lessons, care.com, and Craigslist to attract new music students.
Phase Three: Getting a Foot In the Door At Schools6:16
Learn practical ways to get a foot in the door at schools by offering sectional coaching, private lessons, and ensemble direction, then build trust through volunteer clinics and outreach.
Phase Four: Building to a Full Schedule2:59
Apply word-of-mouth marketing by emphasizing product quality and incentivized referrals, and implement client prospecting with a tracking spreadsheet, email templates, and a disciplined follow-up cadence to grow a full schedule.
Quiz: Getting to a Full Private Lessons Schedule

How to Structure a Music Lesson4:14
Structure music lessons around warmups, piecework, and ear training, using aligned scales, flash cards, note race, repertoire, moveable do with solfeggio for melody, harmony, and rhythm games to track progress.
The Wild World of Method Books, Part 13:45
Explore the pros and cons of method books, learn how to tailor lessons, start with a level one method book, and supplement with pieces for age-appropriate pedagogy.
The Wild World of Method Books, Part 23:18
Explore essential method books across piano, guitar, drums, strings, and wind, including Bastian, Music Tree, Faber piano series, Hal Leonard, Alfred's, Suzuki, Essential Elements, and Accent on Achievement.
Choosing Your Practicing Policy2:57
Set practicing expectations with students and parents from the first lesson, using a star system to encourage four-days-a-week consistency, and structure practice as warm-ups, a practicing sandwich, then fun playing.
Choosing Lesson Length3:56
Choose lesson lengths by age: 30 minutes for under 10, 45 minutes for 10–15, 60 minutes for older students. Schedule weekly lessons to maximize practice consistency and reduce dropout risk.
How to Handle Tricky Students4:23
Balance friendship and authority to guide music students, set clear behavior and practice expectations, keep lessons engaging with goals, rewards, and parent involvement.
Quiz: The Basics of Teaching Music Lessons

We're Creating MUSICIANS, Not Just Music Students5:37
Develop enduring motivation by guiding students from fundamentals to musical identity through a three-phase path: play, connect, grow, emphasizing exposure, positive recital experiences, and lifelong musicianship.
Tips For Hosting Great Student Recitals Simply and Cost-Effectively5:24
Discover cost-effective strategies to host engaging student recitals that motivate practice, showcase progress, and build a supportive community through simple venue, program, food, and equipment logistics.
Quiz: How to Keep Students Growing Long-Term

Conclusion0:52
Develop the skills to get musicians and teach lessons effectively, turning players into musicians who spread the gift of music, while revisiting course topics and continually growing as a teacher.
BONUS: Prospecting Email Templates2:09
Here are email templates for both private student prospecting and school instruction prospecting, complete with initial reach-outs and follow-ups! Utilize these email templates by copy/pasting them to your email program, filling in some of the prompted info, and sending. Enjoy!
BONUS: List of Recommended Method Books0:27
Here is a more comprehensive list of proven, effective method books for you to consider, categorized by instrument. Some of these were highlighted in the video lecture.
BONUS: Recital Equipment Checklist0:16
Here's a list of possible equipment that you'll need to host a student recital. Decide what you'll need from this list, check with the venue to see what they can provide, and then figure out what you'll need to bring!

Requirements

Be able to play an instrument or sing.
Desire to teach private music lessons effectively.
Desire to learn strategies for finding music students.

Description

This is a concise course for any musician who wants to learn how to be a successful private music lesson teacher. No prior teaching experience is required!

Are you curious about whether you’d enjoy teaching private music lessons? Have you ever been daunted by the task of finding students or teaching effectively? Or maybe you’ve taught some students that have quit in the past, and you want to learn how to keep them motivated to continue long-term?

Well, I’m here to share with you the ins-and-outs of the incredibly rewarding industry of music lesson teaching.

This is a concise, approachable course for anyone who can play an instrument or sing and wants to learn how to get private students quickly, teach really well, and foster a connection to music in your students that will keep them growing and thriving for years to come.

I’m a master’s degree-holding music teacher and have taught music lessons for over ten years. I’m also the owner of my own music education business of fellow musicians who love teaching music lessons and helping students become musicians. And now I’m excited to share with you as much of the wisdom that I’ve gained over the years as I can pack into one short course.

So grab your notebook and pencil, get comfortable, and get ready to make a living spreading your love of music to others in a lasting, meaningful way!

Who this course is for:

Musicians interested in learning how to get private students quickly, teach effectively, and earn an income teaching music.
No prior teaching experience is necessary!

How to Get Music Students and Teach Lessons Effectively

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Introduction1 lecture • 2min

Getting to a Full Private Lessons Schedule4 lectures • 19min

The Basics of Effective Private Music Lesson Teaching6 lectures • 23min

How to Keep Students Growing Long-Term2 lectures • 11min

Conclusion & Bonus Material4 lectures • 4min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: